A message from the Principal

The Solidarity Day Prayer Service, held last week, was a time to reflect on people around the world who experience extreme hardships such as hunger, oppression and war as part of their daily lives. The children’s Prayer Service was very poignant, with the children showing understanding and empathy for those less fortunate than themselves. This week the children in Years 5 - 8 received the sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for Easter, and the Middle School will attend Mass this Sunday.

Over the next couple of weeks, schools in our local area are intending to make a mail drop to householders making them aware of a number of accidents involving our students and motorists that have occurred over the past 2 terms. A good number of schools in our Burnside Cluster have reported accidents, some of a serious nature requiring hospitalization. Traffic congestion seems to be at an all time high in our area and we ask for your continued care and consideration in dropping off and picking up your child(ren) from school.

Our students once again excelled at the Northwest Zone Swimming Sports,  with a team of 15 progressing onto the Canterbury Central finals. Of the four relay finals, our swimmers won two and narrowly finished second in the other two events, a real indication of the talent these young athletes possess. Thanks to Miss Gill, Jill and Bailey Perriam for their extra lunch time trainings and preparation of this team, it certainly showed on the day.

On a personal note, I have been accepted along with 11 other South Island Principals and Deputy Principals on the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury Principals’ Delegation to China.

This 11-day visit will see us visit schools, universities, cultural and historical sites to gain a better understanding of China’s education system and cultural diversity. I will be joined on this tour by other local principals from Merrin, Fendalton and Westburn schools who are part of our Asian Language Learning in Schools Cluster here in the Northwest of Christchurch.

Our delegation is due to depart on Sunday 2nd April and return on Friday 14th of April so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and holy Easter.