Prime Minister's Award Recognition

Cairo Akehurst (Year 13): Innovation and Enterprise

Tēnā koutou,

It was wonderful to see so many parents of our new Year 9 students at the 'Meet-The-Teachers' evening on Thursday. From your feedback, it’s clear that your children have settled in well, are excited, and are enjoying their classes. Please continue to stay in touch, especially with the form teacher and through the front office.

I had the privilege of interviewing Cairo Akehurst (Year 13, 2025) last week as he recently received the prestigious Prime Minister’s Space Prize for Student Endeavour. Cairo, has been recognised for his groundbreaking research and start-up company, Cattle Credit, which uses satellite data to track cow methane emissions. His achievement earned him $25,000, a tour of Rocket Lab facilities in New Zealand and California, and six months of mentoring from Rocket Lab staff. His journey, marked by dedication, resilience, and a genuine passion for learning, epitomises what we strive to cultivate at Cashmere High School. He acknowledges the support of his teachers and the opportunities at Cashmere High School—particularly in science and business competitions—that helped inspire and develop his idea.

Reflecting on his innovation, Cairo said, “The challenge was both a science, technology, and business problem to help humanity.” He faced significant hurdles, particularly in research, noting, “I had to dig deeper from the ground up where research was suggesting this was not possible.” His drive is fueled by his passion for space, saying simply, “I love space!” and sharing his ambition to “own my own space company.” His “obsession with progress” is what keeps him motivated to push boundaries and innovate.

Cairo's journey, our Scholarship winners’ outstanding results, and the overall strength of our academic performance remind us that excellence is not an abstract goal—it is something we build through dedication, hard work, and a commitment to learning, year after year.

Our challenge now is to keep setting our sights high and ensuring that every student at Cashmere High School believes in their potential to achieve greatness.

For more on Cairo’s achievement, read here: Clever 17-year-old measuring cow burps from space recognised.

Have a great weekend.

Ngā mihi nui,
John Stradwick
Principal

Celebrating Academic Excellence

This week, we celebrated our NZQA Scholarship winners with a special afternoon tea, joined by their parents and the teachers who supported them. The event was well attended by many of our high-achieving students as they prepare to begin university.

In assembly, we also recognised students who earned NCEA Certificate endorsements, with Excellence requiring 50 credits at Excellence—a prestigious achievement that reflects the high standards met by our students. This year, 88 Year 11 students achieved Excellence endorsement at Level 1, and 73 Year 12 students achieved Excellence endorsement at Level 2. Those who achieved Merit endorsements also performed well and should be proud of their accomplishments.

Student Leadership - Boyle River Camp

Last weekend, we held our annual Student Council Leadership Camp at Boyle River. Our students enjoyed getting to know each other and working on their plans for the year. They participated in team-building and problem-solving activities, which were both fun and productive. The camp provided a valuable opportunity for students to strengthen their leadership skills and build lasting connections.

Triathlon Returns with Strong Performances

Our Cashmere High School triathlon team has made a strong start to the season, competing in Southbridge with an enthusiastic group of students, including both newcomers and experienced athletes. Eleven students represented the school, with standout performances including 1st place finishes for Zarnia Roberts and Thomas Newsom (U18), 2nd place for Abigail Junge (U14), and 3rd place finishes for Lachlan Stechmann (U14) and Greta Prince (U16). Our mixed relay teams also excelled, with Cashmere placing 1st in both the U14 and U18 categories. We look forward to building on this momentum as we prepare for upcoming competitions in Oamaru and the South Island Nationals in Wanaka next month.

Key School Events

To keep up to date with what is happening in sport, arts and service please refer to the online calendar on the website HERE

CPG : Cashmere Parents' Group Welcome Event

RSVP HERE

Help Needed for Reader/Writers

We urgently need more people to assist being a Reader and Writer or just a Writer for students sitting junior assessments. Can you help? Do you know of a friend or family member who could volunteer? It will involve an hour or two of your time when a student sits an assessment.
Any questions or queries please email Anja Naughton, Acting Head of Faculty - Student Support (naa@cashmere.school.nz).

Safety & Rule Reminders

• Students getting off buses must always cross at the lights or designated crossing areas—this is especially important at the Cashmere Road and Crichton Corner stops.

• When crossing the road, remove earphones to stay aware of your surroundings and traffic.

• Correct uniform must be worn at all times.

• For safety, bikes and scooters must be walked once inside the school gates.

• No cellphone/headphone use during school hours—from the first to the last bell.

• Parents, if you walk your dog on campus, it must be on a leash at all times.