It’s a Wrap for Term 3! 

As we close the chapter on Term 3, it’s a great time to reflect on a few busy and eventful months at our school. This term has been particularly noteworthy for several reasons:

Welcoming New International Students

One of the highlights of Term 3 was the arrival of 35 new international students. It has been a joy to welcome these new faces to our school community. Our staff and homestay families have put in tremendous effort to ensure they feel at home and integrate smoothly into school life. The exchange of cultures and ideas has enriched our classrooms and extracurricular activities, creating a vibrant learning environment for everyone.

Weather Woes: A Lackluster Snow Season

This term’s weather didn’t quite live up to our expectations. While we had hoped for a thriving snow season, the snowfall was less than stellar, affecting our international students’ experience of skiing in beautiful New Zealand. Despite this setback, we’ve focused on making the most of other opportunities and keeping the spirit of winter alive in different ways.

Food Festival Fun

Our annual Food Festival, a cherished tradition, faced a slight hiccup this year. Traditionally held in September, the event was initially postponed due to weather. However, when we finally caught a break, the festival turned into a bustling and exciting day. Our international students showcased their culinary skills by preparing traditional dishes from their home countries, and it was a delightful treat for both staff and students.

Term Three Holiday Tours

For many of our European students, Term 3 is a chance to explore New Zealand’s rich cultural landscape. Thanks to our long-standing partnerships with tour companies, we were able to offer two fantastic tours. The Northern Discovery Tour included stops in Taupo, Rotorua, Tauranga, and more, featuring experiences such as visiting a Māori Village, enjoying a traditional hangi meal, exploring Hobbiton, and relaxing in hot pools. Meanwhile, the Southern Explorer took students to Mt. Cook, Milford, Queenstown, Wanaka, and Dunedin, offering a range of activities and stunning landscapes.

Looking Ahead

Despite the weather challenges, Term 3 was productive, and we’re eagerly anticipating a quieter and more focused Term 4. This period will allow us to reflect on our experiences, streamline our processes, and prepare for the exciting new intake in 2025. We’re committed to continuing our support for all our students, both new and returning, and are excited about implementing new initiatives and activities for the rest of this school year and beyond.

Thank you to everyone in our school community for your unwavering dedication and support. Here’s to a successful and enjoyable Term 4!

Warm regards from the International Team

Student Story

Hi! My name is Leyre, and I'm from Madrid, Spain.

I'm staying with a lovely host family with two small children, a 3 and 5 year old. They also have a beautiful golden retriever. I am absolutely loving my time here in New Zealand. I have done many activities with the school, internationals, and host family, which has made my time here go so fast.

I can't believe that I have already been here for 2 months. It's nearly time to go back home but I wish that I could stay longer.
I went skiing with some other internationals students to Mt Hutt and although there were a few hiccups, a student without gloves, the other one with no goggles or jacket, at the end of it all we had so much fun, singing songs in English, talking and laughing so much that our faces hurt.
Kiwi people are so lovely, open, and thoughtful, you will have no problems in making friends, you just need to be open too. I have made lots of nice friends and enjoyed doing many activities such as: going to the beach, made a bonfire, going shopping and hiking, to name a few.

All these experiences have made me realise that all the people in New Zealand who I've met have helped me, have taken care of me and they will always be in my heart and mind.

I’ve had the best time of my life, this experience and those people have helped me to mature and grow as a person more than I would on my own.
I hope that anyone that has the chance to come here to this beautiful country, that they take it and enjoy it as much as I have.