Kia ora parents, caregivers and whānau

Here we are, on the last day of school. It has been a strange and challenging year in our lives. We can only look with hope to 2021 and a vaccine to end this global pandemic which has impacted on all of us. I am sure there will be many tired mothers and fathers, colleagues and friends just waiting for Christmas and the associated holidays. We look to the start of a New Year as a time of new beginnings, fresh starts and regeneration of energy. Joy and hope, are two key words always associated with Christmas stories and traditions, and the changeover of the calendar year. The lead up to Christmas for children and adults young at heart, is a time of waiting and anticipation – young children waiting for Santa Claus and adults waiting for family time and extended rest and rejuvenation.

The Roman god Janus, after whom the month January is named, is always depicted with two heads, one looking back and one looking forward, reflecting endings and beginnings which are so inevitably interconnected. In the same way, we reflect backwards on our year, and look forwards in hope to the next year, which makes December and January pivotal months in how we experience the passing of life. For our young people, the end of a school year is important, as they look ahead to the next year of school life and new challenges; moving on from being a new Year 9, moving from Year 10 into the senior school, moving from Year 11 into Year 12 and a significant jump in NCEA difficulty, moving from Year 12 to the last year of their school life and in Year 13 leaving school and moving into the adult world. We all try to make New Year resolutions and just as quickly break them!!

Next year is exciting for the school – new initiatives around curriculum change and a rebuild to start planning. Parents and students have given us very good feedback around what they enjoy about the school and changes they would like to see for our students’ futures. We will begin delivering on those new directions next year.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas, a joyful New Year and a restful holiday break. Safe travels to all those families travelling away and let us all appreciate our families and friends as we join them over dinners and barbeques.

Kia hora te marino
Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana
Hei huarahi mā tātou i te rangi nei
Aroha atu, aroha mai
Tātou I a tātou katoa

May peace be widespread
May the sea be like greenstone
A pathway for us all this day
Give love, receive love
Let us show respect for each other

Ngā mihi

Christine O’Neill