Meri Kirihimete!

Kia ora ki te whanau o te Cathedral Grammar School

The last Grammar Notes for the year!

End of Year

While this is a busy time of year, I must say, I do love it. Lots of fun activities, celebrating and reminiscing, Nativity plays, the Carol Service, the Leavers’ Dinner and Service and our Prize Giving. Thank you for your attendance at these events.  It is wonderful to be able to gather together as a whole school and celebrate another fantastic year.

It was lovely to fill the Cathedral on Monday night with such positive energy, wonderful singing and music playing from and by your children. I know the Carol Service is a favourite for many, and it was great to see the 2020 version maintained the ongoing high standard set by those who have gone before. Congratulations Albie for the spine tingling start to the service - truly beautiful.

Student Leadership Roles

Today I announced to the Year 7 students the student leadership roles for 2021. We will make these public in due course. As is always the case with announcements such as these, there will be jubilation and disappointment. We are blessed to have many students at Grammar who display wonderful leadership skills, qualities and dispositions, but the reality of these situations is that some of them are going to miss out. This never feels nice; however, in my opinion it is a part of life and something to always be working towards handling in the very best possible way that displays character and maturity. I believe that we are defined as a person by how we deal and handle disappointment, more so than by what we have or are awarded. There are a group of people charged with making the decisions with the information at hand, and I have witnessed a thorough and robust process among the staff, which included gathering student voice. As parents, we all have our views on who should and should not get these roles and, of course, want the best for our children. I thank you in anticipation for your positive support of the school and the decisions it has made.

Congratulations to:

Millie Vink - Head Girl

Albertine Neate - Deputy Head Girl

Mun Chi Jager - Head Boy

Marco Howe - Deputy Head Boy

Reports

We are putting together a document that we will email you all during the next week which will provide you with 'need to know' information about accessing your child's report online and other key aspects to transition into 2021 well informed and ready to go. The reports will be available for access by Friday 11 December. So, please keep your eyes open for this information, otherwise you will not be able to access your child's report.

As you have experienced since the end of last year, staff will not be providing any hardcopy reports. If you wish to have a hardcopy, you will be able to print it.

Staffing Booklet

Details of the staffing allocation for 2021 will be issued to you by Friday 11 December.

Scholarships

Congratulations to the following students who received secondary school scholarships for 2021. We are proud of you and your achievements. It is once again very good to have our school so well represented.

Zara Clark - Academic Scholarship, St Margaret's College

Madeleine Glossop - Performing Arts Scholarship, St Margarets' College; General Excellence Scholarship, Rangi Ruru

Lucy Botherway - Sports Scholarship, St Margaret's College

Edward Elworthy - Somes Academic Scholarship, Christ's College

Albert Anderson - Performing Arts Scholarship, Christ's College

Jonty Gray - General Excellence, Christ's College

Richard Brown - Music Scholarship, Christ's College

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded The Cathedral Grammar School Internal Scholarships.

Deamer Academic Scholarship:

Albertine Neate

Sophie Dark

Serena Min

Lucas Zhang

Allpress Music Scholarship:

Sophie Dark

Jessica Erasmus

Georgie Burrows

I look forward to celebrating and reflecting upon what has been, despite the COVID challenges, a fantastic 2020, as a school community at the Prize Giving next week. Thank you so very much for your ongoing support and passion for our school. There is much to be grateful for.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a restful summer break.

Scott Thelning
Principal