CHS Newsletter - October 24th, 2025
More Classrooms | Service at the Heart | NZQA Update
Principal’s Message
Tēnā koutou, e te whānau o Cashmere High School – Te Iringa o Kahukura.
I’m delighted to share some fantastic news — Cashmere High School has been approved for another new classroom block. The Minister of Education has confirmed funding for 14 new permanent classrooms, including specialist spaces, as part of our long-term Master Site Plan. Over the next one to two years, 24 new classrooms across two-storey blocks will be built on our campus. This investment recognises our significant roll growth and the need for modern, high-quality learning spaces for students and staff, while also freeing up valuable green space currently occupied by temporary classrooms.
Earlier this week our annual Service Celebration recognised the many students and staff who give their time and energy to others. Service is central to who we are at Cashmere, not about titles or trophies, but about contribution, community, and compassion. As the Samoan proverb reminds us, “O le ala i le pule o le tautua” — the pathway to leadership is through service. Acts of service give hope to others and uphold the dignity of all people.
Thank you to Service Pillar Coordinator Ms Kendra Burgess Naude, our teachers, and volunteers who make these initiatives thrive. With just one day left for our seniors, take a moment to thank the teachers, coaches, and support staff who have guided you this year.
Enjoy your weekend.
Ngā mihi,
John Stradwick
Principal
Service Celebration
This week we held our annual Service Celebration, recognising students who have made significant contributions through service in 2025. Awards were presented to students involved in a wide range of activities, including the Humanities, Environmental, and Health and Wellbeing Councils, whose initiatives this year included Relay for Life and Pink Shirt Day, among others.
Other areas acknowledged included sports coaching, Hohepa Canterbury volunteering, and Student Volunteer Army projects. The event also recognised the teachers in charge who support and coordinate these service groups throughout the year. We are also excited about launching a broader Service Programme in 2026, so watch this space.
Service Recognition Recipients
See the full list of recipients here
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Giving Back: Bellyfull
Written by: Deidre Lum-McDonald | HOD Food Technology
Last year, I connected with Bellyful Christchurch as a potential client for our Level 2 Food Technology class, offering students a valuable real-world design-thinking experience. Bellyful is a volunteer organization that cooks and delivers free meals to whānau with babies and young children in need. They have produced this year a total of 2813 meals this year which has helped around 415 families in our community and provided meals to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Bellyful Christchurch cooks their meals once a month from our Cashmere High School kitchen along with utilising a kitchen at another High School. This partnership enhanced student learning while supporting an important community service. We look forward to continuing our support and collaboration next year.
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Managing yourself around at Exam Time
With our current NCEA revision lessons and final examinations starting from Tuesday 4th November, our Head of Guidance Counselling Mr David Williams and his department, offers students some tips on managing stress at exam time. Read more
Year 9–10 Exams (4 -11 November)
Year 9 and 10 junior exams will take place from Tuesday 4 November to Tuesday 11 November. Students will have exams in the following subjects: English, Mathematics & Statistics, Science, Social Science, and Languages. If students are unsure about specific topics or areas to focus their study on, they are encouraged to check in with their subject teachers, who are the best source of information about what to revise and how to prepare.
Please check your exam schedules carefully, arrive on time, and bring the correct materials for each subject.
Note: There will be no study leave for junior exams; these will be completed during the normal periods of the school day.
NCEA/NZQA External Examinations Update
By now, students should have received their Examination Admission Slips and exam information from their form teachers. Students need to check this carefully to ensure that all their examinations appear on this slip. If there are any missing, students will need to see the Principals nominee (Miss Martin - MIL) as soon as possible so that late entries can be made and a new slip printed. Under no circumstances, should this slip be written on.
This slip is needed to enter every examination, so students need to keep this safe and bring it with them for every examination.
In week 4, all students and whanau will be emailed further Cashmere specific information about exams, so please look out for this.
School Uniform Shop Changes
We have made some changes to how our uniform is sold. This is to ensure we can offer the best prices, and stock availability, and store hours.
Our current online store will close on 27th November.
Our current physical onsite store will close on 5th December at 2pm, no more stock from our current uniform shop will be sold after this time.
Our new uniform supplier (Mainland Uniforms) will have our stock onsite and online, ready to sell from 10am on Saturday 13th December.
The new Mainland Uniform Store location is South City Mall, 549 Colombo Street.
The store hours will be Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays (they are closed on Sundays and all Public Holidays).
Key Dates
Also see our full calendar on our website HERE
Monday 27th Oct - Labour Day
Tuesday 28th October - Year 13 Last day
Wednesday 29th October - Year 11 & Year 12 Last day
Tuesday 4th Nov - NCEA Examinations Start
Tuesday 4th Nov - Year 9-10 School Examinations Start
Wednesday 5th Nov - Art Folio Evening
Thursday 13th Nov - Ministry of Education set Staff Only Day
Friday 14th Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day
Thursday 27th Nov - Year 8 Whānau Hui
Friday 28th Nov - Senior Sign Out Day
Wednesday 3rd Dec - Junior Activities Day
Wednesday 3rd Dec - Year 10 Art Folio Night
Friday 5th December - Senior Citizens Christmas Party
Prizegivings:
Wednesday 29th October - Year 11 (9am) & Year 12 (11am) Prizegivings
Friday 31st October - Year 13 Graduation (Town Hall)
Friday 28th November - Pasifika Fiafia Prizegiving
Wednesday 3rd December - Te Pukenga Prizegiving
Tuesday 9th December - Junior Prizegivings (morning)
Alumni News
70's Decade Reunion
With around 100 past pupils and staff in attendance, Friday night’s 70s reunion was a truly special evening. It was awesome to see so many people reconnecting, reminiscing, and celebrating shared memories.
A special thank you to our Head Prefects from 1971 - Heather Bundy (Croy) and 1975 - George Carnoutsos, for sharing some wonderful stories from their time at school.
