It is lovely to welcome all our young people back to school and hear their voices around the place. We are very fortunate with the warm midday temperatures which means they are enjoying lunch outside in our beautiful grounds.

Term 1 was very hectic so let’s hope we have a calm settled Term 2! I want to congratulate our rowers for achievement over the holidays. Katie Gardner had a South Island U18 trial as an U16 rower, Orla Fitzgerald has been named as a reserve for the NZ Junior Double and Emily Bowden has been named in the NZ Junior Coxless Four. These are exciting achievements and congratulations to the students, parents and coaches.

I often receive letters from outside agencies with praise for our students. This week I received a letter from the Cancer Society regarding our 19 students who took part in the Relay for Life late last term complimenting our students on being a credit to the school with energy, enthusiasm and respectful behaviour. Our girls generally are fantastic when engaged with the community and we are proud of the fine young people they are.

Next week, on Tuesday evening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, we are holding our Careers Expo with a huge range of tertiary providers attending. This is a fantastic opportunity for you and your daughters to attend and explore career opportunities. We have also invited Christchurch Boys’ High School this year, and the Minister for Women, Jan Tinetti, will be attending due to her interest in careers for women, both as Minister for Women and Associate Minister of Education. We look forward to hosting our CBHS brothers and parents and the Minister.

A reminder that next Thursday is a government mandated teacher only day around the changes to NCEA so school will not be open for students. We are combining with Christchurch Boys’ High School staff in the morning to hear an address by Dr Hana O’Regan who has worked in the area of language revitalisation, identity and cultural development, Te Reo Māori and education for over 25 years. I have heard Hana speak and she is powerful, challenging and thought provoking.

A reminder as well about Open Day on Tuesday 25 May. Some of our Year 9 parents may have missed out on school tours last year with COVID and would like to attend and you may have family and friends who are prospective parents. All are welcome and school will be operating as normal during the day.

As you can see there is never a dull moment here with a busy schedule ahead and the students widely involved in many activities. That’s what gives schools their life and vitality and makes them exciting places to be!

Ngā mihi nui

Christine O’Neill