This term we have had the wonderful opportunity to host three groups of international students at our school as they take part in language exchange programs. In Week 2 we welcomed a group from our sister city, Kurashiki, in Japan and in Week 5 a group from Chita City in Japan.  Many of these students were hosted by our students, having the chance to experience home life here in New Zealand for the first time. These students had a great time joining their host students in regular classes, attending Japanese classes to support the learning of our students and also spending time sightseeing around Christchurch.  The Chita City students performed a Japanese fishing dance in our Year 10 assembly while they were here, sharing some of their culture with us.

Last week we welcomed a group of 20 students from St Mary Joseph School, our sister school in Santiago, Chile who will be with us for three weeks. 

Each group of visitors from overseas is welcomed to Cashmere with a pōwhiri, led by staff and students from our Te Reo Māori classes.  Each group has expressed their tremendous gratitude for the welcome into our school community and their introduction to Māori tikanga.  

It is so exciting that Cashmere High School students have the chance to reciprocate in exchanges such as these, through their involvement as students in our language classes.  Experiencing life in another country with a host family opens our eyes to the wider world around us, enabling us to see how cultures can differ.  These experiences enrich our students in a myriad of ways, as they participate in life and see customs and cultures extremely different to ours. These opportunities change our students, increasing their tolerance and understanding of being part of global communities, and often helping them to feel a sense of gratitude for their own life and family.

Four of our Year 10 students will be heading off to Kurashiki in the upcoming holidays to experience life in Japan and we have a group of 15 Year 11 and 13 students who are off to France for three weeks later this term with our French trip.  We wish all of these students the best with their exciting adventures!

Poetry Slam Results

Congratulations to the new Ōtautahi Youth Poetry Slam Champions!

Our team; Aleyna Binte Huseini, Nerhys Gordon, Bugs Sullivan and Abby Laird, competed against Papanui, Girls' High, Te Whānau Tahi and Villa Maria in the Grand Slam Final on Tuesday night, opening the Christchurch Word Festival with an absolute triumph of hope, mana, aroha and the power of words.

The Cashmere team will represent Christchurch next month at Word The Frontline in Tamaki Makaurau.

Huge mihi to Sara Qasem, their poetry coach and mentor.

Boys Hockey Finals

Congratulations to the Boys 1st XI Hockey team - winners of Boys Division One Secondary Schools League!

An awesome game that saw Cashmere scoring first and leading 1-0 at halftime. They followed this with another goal in the second and then Burnside quickly retaliated to make it 2-1. Burnside got a last-minute penalty corner goal to even the match on the final whistle and take it to a penalty shoot-out.

A nail-biting end with Cashmere coming out on top 2-1!

Winter Sports Tournament

We want to wish all of our winter tournament teams the very best as they travel far and wide  to participate in regional or national tournaments or competitions.

All of the talented students involved have put in a great deal of effort and time into their training this year to improve their skills and knowledge in order to perform at their highest level.

We have students participating in the following areas: cycling, golf, equestrian, basketball, netball, football, hockey, rugby, rock climbing, weightlifting and fencing.

We wish them every success! 

Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini

My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective.

Assemblies & Cove Winners

I am consistently impressed with the calibre of the students receiving COVE awards at all levels. These young people are amazing examples of students fully engaged in a range of activities, which showcase their citizenship, achievement of excellence, and involvement in the life of the school through service and/or extra-curricular activities.   Our recipients over the last couple of weeks are; Ziva Bull (Y9), Quinn Clarke (Y10), Cairo Akehurst and Vasilisa Matviets (Y12)

From the Archives

1979 - Boys 1st XI Hockey

Winners C.H.A U17 Competition

Who’s Who at Cashmere High School - Kahu Service

Tēnā koutou katoa, my name is Kahu Service and I am a Music Teacher here at Cashmere High School. This is my second year here at Te Iringa o Kahukura and I have been fortunate enough to be at an amazing school. The ākonga are great, my colleagues are awesome and the culture of the kura is vibrant.

Ever since I was in high school I always knew I wanted to be a teacher from the rewarding feeling I get when helping others. I went to Jazz school and did a bachelor of Music Arts as a contemporary vocalist. Singing was always a passion of mine as I did well in Music at Lincoln High School as a teenager. From this, I knew I needed to do a Diploma of Teaching and Learning through the University of Canterbury. I was lucky enough to get a placement at Cashmere and the rest is history.

I run a Year 9 Rockschool program afterschool, oversee the Chess Club, and am involved with supporting a Jazz Combo who named their group after me; “The Kahu Collective”. I am grateful to have some awesome junior and senior classes, and it’s pleasing to see them grow their musical development.

In my personal life, I am a member of a band called ‘Mannequin Hand’, we release classic rock and contemporary styled music.

Fortnight Ahead