As Term 3 draws to a close we all realise that we are almost through the school year, particularly for those students who will finish late October for NZQA exams.

Term 3 this year is probably the first term for a number of years during which we have had no out of the ordinary disruptions, no mask wearing, no mandatory Covid isolation periods, no online learning sessions and no industrial action. It is great to finally get back to what we call normal and we can do all things our kura does.

We are looking forward to a busy and what is traditionally very quick Term 4 with its schedule of special assemblies and end of year events. We have the  Acland House Leavers’ dinner, the school Year 13 Leavers’ dinner, Senior Prizegiving, Year 10 Camps, a Teacher Only Day and finish with Junior Prizegiving on 8th December. More detailed information on these will be sent out in the new term.

Our Basketball and Netball teams are heading off to the National Championships over the break, I would like to wish them safe travels and all the best in what are high level competitions.

At this time of the year we always think about our Year 13 students, and some Year 12 students, as they begin one of those significant transition times in their lives, the one moving from school to tertiary study or work. It can be a time of mixed emotions, excitement and anxiety and perhaps some sadness that their high school time is coming to an end.

As we head into the break we can look forward to the lighter evenings that Daylight Savings brings, hopefully enjoy spring weather and for all of our students to spend some time resting and getting ready for the last term of the year. The seniors have had an intensive period of school exams preparing for NZQA exams in November. It is important that they take an opportunity to rest and refresh over the holidays.

Ngā mihi nui

Peter Sawyer, Acting Principal / Tumuaki Tuapua