On-going Industrial Action

Firstly, I need to acknowledge that the on-going industrial action between the PPTA and the government has been very disruptive to our school community. I understand that this is frustrating for many in our community and it is not how we would wish to operate as a school. I also need to point out that the decision to undertake industrial action is a decision that sits with the PPTA Union and that individual schools do not manage teacher salaries.

However, my view is that while the industrial action may seem drastic, the current state of teacher retention and recruitment in our country has become drastic. In a sense, we at Cashmere High School, are living in our own little bubble in which we are not seeing the hard realities of what our sector is seeing elsewhere. According to PPTA, 47% of students in secondary schools are not being taught by specialist teachers. This means whole sections of curriculum are being compromised because of a lack of teachers available to schools. In my conversations with colleagues in Auckland, it is evident that attracting and retaining teachers is at crisis point. Secondary schools are also woefully underfunded. For example our maintenance entitlement from the Ministry of Education, that is allocated to us to maintain all of our property at Cashmere, does not even cover our cleaning contract. The Ministry of Education’s expectation that we generate additional income through community support and donations is not a sustainable working model.

While some of these issues may not be affecting Cashmere directly, I appreciate our teachers' determination to stand with their colleagues across the country. If they don’t then we will see our education system erode further. It is my hope that the government comes to the table in good faith and resolves these matters so that our staff and students can return to the classroom.

Celebrating Mr Ron Chapman!

On the 10th May, Mr Ron Chapman, Headmaster of Cashmere High School between 1973-1980, celebrated his 100th Birthday!

Born in 1923, Mr Chapman was a foundation teacher in 1956, but then resigned in 1958 to travel overseas where he was appointed Principal at a school in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Mr Chapman returned to Cashmere High in 1961 where he was appointed to a variety of different roles before being appointed Cashmere’s second Headmaster.

Outside of education, Mr Chapman, was a rugby referee, President of the Rotary Club of Christchurch South and the founding President of the Cracroft Probus Club. He also had an extensive interest in local history and the Canterbury History Foundation awarded him the A.C Rhodes History Medal for his contribution to the study of History in Canterbury.

On behalf of the Cashmere community we wish Mr Chapman congratulations on a wonderful 100 years!

Investigating Best Practice

Recently some of our staff have travelled to Auckland and Australia to investigate what other schools are doing that are exciting and innovative. This is part of our aspiration to provide our students with a world class education and to ensure that we are delivering on our strategic priorities. Our focus for these visits has been on innovative curriculum initiatives and character and wellbeing development programmes. While these visits have been very reaffirming of our current state, we have learnt a lot and we will use this knowledge to continually improve Cashmere High School.

Pop Rocks

Last Tuesday we kicked off our 2023 concert programme with our Pop Rocks concert. This saw an amazing lineup of talented students perform to a fantastic crowd. More than 1/3 of all the songs performed were originals written by the students and were of a very high calibre of song writing. We wish all the bands going on to perform these at Rockquest this term, the best of luck. Ka mau te wehi ki ā koutou.

NZSSO

A big congratulation to Nicolae Didenco, Clara Dujakovic, Abi Wheeler, Orla Dunlop, Tristan Dunlop and Emma Scurr for successfully auditioning for this year's NZ Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra.

Adventure Racing

During the holidays 62 Cashmere students entered the South Island Secondary Schools Adventure Racing Championships as part of the Kaikoura Adventure Race.

We were the largest represented school at the event and our students did amazing: navigating their way through a rough and muddy course which involved biking, running and paddling. It was a huge day with some of our year 9 and 10 teams racing for over 9 hours, and one of our senior teams spending 14 hours 48 min on the course!

We had a number of placings including three 1st places! A massive well done to all the students for their perseverance, teamwork and positivity.

Winter Sports Programme

It was great to see our winter sports programme kick off this Term. All the best to the various teams competing.

COVE Awards

Over the last weeks we had the pleasure of awarding 3 COVE Awards to 3 outstanding students. Their commitment to our school values has not gone unnoticed, and I wanted to congratulate them for consistently embodying the qualities of a Cashmere student. They have inspired and positively impacted the people around them with their enthusiastic attitude and their willingness to lend a helping hand. I look forward to watching their continued success. Congratulations to Kahutaiki Calman, Elise Brown and Sid Baichoo!

Anzac Day

This Anzac Day we had the pleasure of attending the local Cashmere ANZAC service. Our Head Students, Matt Winter and Jessica Fastier, as well as Amelie Devos, who sung the national anthem, appreciated the opportunity to pay our respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and served our country. Lest we forget, Kei Wareware Tātou.

Parent Interviews

Thank you to all of our parents who were able to attend our senior parent interviews last week. I appreciate that it would have been difficult for some to attend during the day. We enjoyed the opportunity to connect with you and discuss your child’s progress.

From the Archives

First three Princpals of Cashmere High School 

• Sir Terrance MCombs 1956 - 1972 (centre)

• Ron Champman 1973 - 1980 (right)

• John Murdoch 1980 - 1991 (left)

Who’s who at Cashmere High - Bridget Blair

E mihi ana ki nga mana whenua
Ko tenei taku mihi ki nga tangata whenua o te rohe nei
Nga mihi au ki te maunga o Aoraki
Ko Waitaki te awa e rū nei taku ngākau
Ko Mary Anne tōku waka.
No Timaru ahau.
Ko Bridget Blair tōku ingoa.

Kia ora koutou, my name is Bridget and my role at Cashmere is to lead the Creative and Performing Arts Faculty to facilitate the excellent work being created by staff and students.

I have spent a good deal of my time at Cashmere High School over the years, having attended as a student and then later returning as a kaiako for 20 plus years - typing that makes me feel ancient! My children’s schooling here will mark the third generation of my family to pass through the halls of this kura as my father and extended family are also Cashmere Alumni. Over time the school has grown and evolved hugely and it is now a completely different place from my student days.

Outside of the classroom I am a huge advocate of Arts as a vital part of education. I represent Art teachers in national roles and facilitate an online community of over 1600 Art teachers across the motu. Beyond education I am hoping that as my children get older I can spend much more time in the darkroom and studio creating - that is when I am in my ‘flow state’. I like to make artworks about family interconnectedness, migration and how we record our history and our ‘selves’ in photographs. Cooking, singing, dancing and playing piano with my kids come a close second! I also like to be out in nature, especially with a camera in my hand.

Writing this has made me mark the passing of time and consider - why have I stayed at Cashmere so long? Because of the values that are intrinsic to this place: the sense of community, relationships and valuing people but more importantly working in a kura that truly values the Arts (in time and resources) alongside other important learning areas.

The Fortnight Ahead