Kia ora koutou and welcome to Term 2.

The Year 11 cohort have had a very busy start to the year transitioning from the junior to the senior school and the extra responsibilities and expectations that come with this change. Overall it has been great to see how they have risen to the challenge and quickly got their head around NCEA and the structure of the year, with some help from their teachers. By now they would have all completed assessments in a range of subjects and hopefully are starting to build up their bank of level 1 credits. Although there is a big step up and academic focus to this year, we are still actively working on our COVE values, with a particular emphasis on Citizenship. While students are busy working hard towards personal Excellence in NCEA, they are still reminded to look out for each other and show kindness, compassion and empathy. There has also been a consistent message to the year group to look after themselves, as well as others. Many students can start to feel the pressures and stress of assessments, deadlines and exams so it is important they are able to balance their workload with other activities and make sure they have some down time to rest, relax and recharge.

The first term has been a busy one outside the classroom, with some outstanding results and achievements. Early in the term we held our annual athletics day, with Matthew Winter and Esther Pratten winning the overall Intermediate Boys and Girls sections. Two of our Y11 students, Adi Vola and Annloyta Talosaga Tariu, were part of the amazing CHS Pasifika Group that performed at Polyfest. Sophie Wells and Ruruhira Tukaiora were part of the kapa haka group that had the privilege of performing on an international stage for the March 15 National Remembrance Service. Matthew Winter and Georgina Cockfield represented our school at the Anzac Day Memorial Service at Victoria Park. Students who have been achieving amazing results at a national level are: Ben Ornsby, who came 1st in the 2021 Noelex 22 National Sailing Championships; Leah Smith, who came 2nd overall in the U17 Girls category of the National Downhill Bike Series; Kwahli Beauchamp, who was the winner of the under 50kg division at the 2020 NZ Boxing Championships (postponed due to Covid); Esther Pratten, who came 3rd in the Junior Girls Long Jump and 3rd in the Junior Girls Triple Jump at the NZ Athletics Championships. There were also many students who have achieved well at a regional level, too numerous to mention here. Congratulations to all members of the cohort who have achieved success over the first part of the year. As special mention also of Flynn Cranston, who joined our school during Term 1 of this year. Flynn is passionate about music and has been working hard creating tracks and beats at home. This recently brought him international attention when he became the youngest Kiwi to enter the Billboard music charts, after co-writing and co-producing the hit single Richer with US rappers Rod Wave and Polo G, an amazing feat for a 15 year old.

I am looking forward to Term 2 and continuing to watch this amazing group of rangatahi grow and evolve.

Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai - Nurture the seed and it will blossom.

Noho ora mai,

Brett Cox

Year 11 Head of School