Senior students and staff are very focused on preparation for the upcoming examinations as a chance for our students to test themselves in advance of the NZQA examinations in November.

You can support them during this time by ensuring they have good routines, plan revision time, get a good amount of sleep, eat healthily, have reasonable exercise and also enjoy some relaxation time. Perhaps most important of all is to encourage them to keep examinations in perspective as an important stage of their life right now but not the single determinant of how their life unfolds, as there will be plenty of water (and opportunities) to go under the bridge yet.

Of even more importance is the shadow curriculum they have learned in their time at school, all the skills and dispositions which they have acquired through their learning habits, sports teams, cultural activities, service hours, friendships, ups and downs – persistence, generosity, curiosity, diligence, responsibility, courage, optimism, resilience, confidence, compassion, problem solving. Often we assume those things which are measurable are the most important. In reality the most important things in our lives are the most difficult to measure in any quantifiable way.

It is a challenging world for our young people, particularly the last decade. They have been exposed to big events and trends – the Christchurch earthquakes, the Mosque tragedies, global political movements like terrorism, climate change, Black Lives Matter, #MeToo and Time’s Up and now the pandemic with its accompanying lockdowns. It must feel to them that they have a turbulent uncertain future with less guarantee around sustainability of the planet, travel, financial security, home ownership, retirement security (granted they are probably not thinking about that one!). Parents and educators have the responsibility of being people of hope and schools places of hope for our young generation.

We can reassure them that humanity faces overwhelming challenge at times but we also have the resources and ingenuity to make change if we have the will. This generation in particular can contribute to significant global change and already are. They are less willing to wait, less afraid to raise their voices, and less daunted by authority. At times that is challenging for adults and there are times where young people need to strategise and moderate themselves. When that passion is tempered by maturity, life experience and knowledge this generation will be a powerful force for the future.