As I pen down my final words as the Principal of Cashmere High School, my heart is filled with gratitude and fond memories. It has been an incredible privilege to be part of this school community, and I am immensely thankful for the support and kindness I have received over the last few weeks. 

Working alongside the students at Cashmere can only fill you with optimism about the future. Being part of their lives, guiding them through challenges, and celebrating their achievements is profoundly rewarding. It's a chance to inspire and be inspired, to teach and to learn, and to play a significant role in shaping the future.

To the remarkable staff, words cannot express how grateful I am for their hard work, passion, and commitment to educational excellence. The quality of our staff is our point of difference. I remain convinced that the learning experience, shared between the teacher and the student, is the most effective way in which to improve student outcomes. 

I also thank the Board of Trustees for their support and leadership, especially our Board Chairperson, Mr James O’Connnell. Mr O’Connell’s leadership of the school’s governance has been critical to our success, and he has had a significant impact on my tenure, guiding and supporting me through the last few years. 

My biggest hope is that when people leave Cashmere High School the biggest impression made upon them is our wonderful people, our staff and students. Because without our people we are just a collection of buildings, It is our people who make this a school.

I am fortunate that my memories will be of the incredible staff and students of Cashmere High School. Ko Te iringa o Kahukura ko te korowai mātauraka ō tātou tīpuna

Oliver 

Tickets available HERE

Jazzquest 

As our Music department continues to go from strength to strength a real highlight has been the development of our Jazz programmes. Jazzquest 2024 was another evening in which our students were able to showcase their incredible talents. Fifty students were involved this year making this Gala one to remember. I congratulate Mr Grant Bartley and his music staff who are, in my opinion, now leading one of the strongest all-round music programmes in the country. 

Jazzquest 2024 Winners

• Best Composition -Tristan Dunlop

• Best Bass Player - Emma Scurr

• Gold award - Cannonball Collective

Waimea Exchange 

Last week our students travelled up to Nelson to compete in the annual Waimea/Cashmere  sports exchange. While we didn’t bring home the shield this year, the value this exchange brings in creating friendships, connections and friendly rivalry makes the whirlwind journey a great experience. Thanks to Waimea College Sport for hosting us and thanks to our wonderful staff and coaches who travelled with the teams. 

• Netball 36-39 Loss

• Girls Basketball 53-69 Win

• Boys Basketball 131-90 Loss

• Boys Football 7-1 Win

• Boys Hockey 4-3 Loss

Spelling Bee 

Last week we held our annual Spelling Bee.
Congratulations to Britten House who took out the honours this year. 

Year 9 Readers’ Cup 

Earlier this week our students won the Year 9 Readers’ Cup for the fifth time in seven years. The competition was again very close, with our students edging out St Margaret’s and Christ's College in the final rounds. Congratulations to all the students involved. 

NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships 

Cashmere had a team of 8 students compete in the NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country Champs at Ascot Park. The athletes ran in individual events on the Saturday followed by their Canterbury team relays on Sunday.

Congratulations to our athletes: 

• Leo de Monchy - 6th Junior Boys and 2nd Junior Boys relay

• Paris Edlin - 2nd Year 9 mixed relay

• Brynne Gordon - 7th Senior Girls, 3rd Senior Girls team, 2nd Senior Girls relay

• Maclane Gordon - 2nd Year 9 mixed relay

• Elspeth McGuinness - 3rd Senior Girls Team, 2nd Senior Girls relay

• Jacob Ridder - 3rd Senior Boys relay

• Thomas Newsom - 10th Senior Boys relay

• Zania Roberts - 3rd Senior Girls team.

Special mention to Brynne Gordon who was selected in the NZ squad to compete in the Australian all schools cross country champs in Melbourne in August.

COVE Award Winners

A big congratulations to Cameron Mitchell (Year 12), Milly Fear-Ross (Year 11) and Cooper Johnstone (Year 9) who received COVE Awards over the last few weeks. These awards are our most prestigious, recognising students who exemplify our COVE values of Citizenship, Opportunities, Vibrancy and Excellence. 

Space Challenge 

Recently four of our students took part in the Space for Planet Challenge. The Cashmere team consisted of Cairo Akehurst, Joel Sage, Charlie Trumm, and Boyd Goldsbury. The team had been working together for almost 18 months on this project. They have been developing a system to use satellites to monitor methane emissions from cows on farms. It was this system they pitched though the incubator series. This was an International competition and they were finalists against schools from Australia and the Philippines. A lot of work has gone into this and the team has had support from a number of academics and special mention needs to be given to Graham Christie who has supported the team through the whole process from the beginning. 

Diversity Week 

Many thanks to our Diversity Council who led a number of events and initiatives for Diversity Week. They reinforced the importance of inclusivity at our school, ensuring that Cashmere is a place in which all students feel connected and safe. 

Humanities Quiz

Last week our Humanities Council raised $1600 for the 40 Hour Challenge from their quiz night. Our students did an incredible job organising the night hosting around 90 people.

Can Drive Collection 

Thank you to all the Year 13 students who were involved in our Can Drive last week in support of the Hoon Hay Food Bank. This was a fantastic initiative that supported our local community. 

Acting Principal Term 3 - Carla Smith 

Our long serving Associate Principal, Carla Smith, will step into the role as Acting Principal for Term 3. Carla has worked at Cashmere High School for over 30 years and brings a wealth of experience in leadership and management roles. She is a committed educator with a rigorous educational approach and a focus on delivering strong academic and co-curricular results backed by astute management and planning.  She is ideally placed to lead the school during this term while the Board recruits and appoints the next principal.  

From the Archives

CHS Production of Oliver 2003

Who's Who at Cashmere High School - Nans Drivière

Kia ora! I’m Nans Drivière, and I've had the pleasure of teaching French and Tourism for five years. After three years in Timaru, I was thrilled to join the team at Cashmere High School. Here, I'm surrounded by terrific colleagues, motivated students, and a stimulating environment offering countless opportunities for our rangatahi.

I was born and educated in Paris, France, where I enjoyed the vibrant lifestyle and diverse range of activities, attractions, and events. My journey didn't stop there; I also lived in England and Brazil before settling in Ōtautahi (Christchurch). Living overseas has been incredibly enriching, not only because of the challenge of learning new languages but also because of the cultural and life experiences. I've met fascinating people from various backgrounds and countries, and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to experience different ways of life.

I love sharing my stories and the benefits of living abroad with my students, encouraging them to broaden their horizons. Nowadays, Aotearoa is not as isolated as it once was, and embracing cultural diversity is vital in today's world.

On a personal note, I enjoy playing and watching sports, spending time with friends, and travelling.

The Fortnight Ahead

Week 9 (June)

Week 10 (July)

END OF TERM 2 (10 WEEKS)