We are now over halfway through Term 4, NZQA exams are well underway and our Year 9 & 10 students are enjoying a bit more space.

We are already organising our Junior Prizegiving (Friday morning, 8 December) and of course 2024 planning and organisation is well underway - the 2024 Year 9 Welcome Pack went out yesterday.

You will be aware that we introduced our new cell phone policy at the start of this month. Our Year 9 & 10 students have been awesome in the way they have not only accepted the changes but also embraced the new opportunities and activities that having phone free time has brought. At break times we are experiencing increased noise levels as groups of students interact with each other and it has been very inspiring to watch students play games like four square, table tennis, skipping and other outdoor games. What has also impressed us has been the huge number of students who are volunteering to organise and run lunch time activities. The number of phones that have had to be placed in the office has been significantly lower than expected and the race for the Ako class lunch, for the lowest number of phones handed in, is being hotly contested. We are also trying to acknowledge all those students who keep their phones away in the bag or pocket with weekly draws for canteen vouchers.

It is still very early days in this change but it does appear as though it is having a positive impact on our school.

As you read this we are having our annual Whānau & Pasifika awards evening. This event is for me a highlight of the school calendar. It really does encapsulate our school values, recognising individual success and achievement and celebrating those Year 13 students leaving us, celebrating their time at our Kura and wishing them all the best as they move forward.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the predicted sunshine and warm temperatures.

Ngā mihi nui

Peter Sawyer, Acting Principal / Tumuaki Tuapua