Even though the event had to be modified to ensure compliance with Level 2 Covid restrictions, the Prize-giving was a wonderful celebration of our senior school students.

Mrs Piebenga and Mrs Sinclair did a superb job organising a safe opportunity for our Year 11-13s to gather, acknowledge the year's achievements and support each other. Senior prize-giving is always a highlight as it reminds us all of the focus of school life - for the staff to support our ākonga in striving for personal excellence. Celebrating our students' successes is a fitting way to close a year of teaching and learning as our students leave for a week of study leave before NCEA examinations start.

As we are unable to sing as a group, we were treated to a beautiful rendition of the Columba school song by six of our Year 13s (Caitlin O'Brien, Rita Close, Charlotte Werner, Rosie Auchinvole and Penelope Hare, accompanied by Angela Fu on piano). Angela Fu then  fulfilled a long-held dream of hers to play the rousing 'Pirates of the Caribbean' theme to a captive audience of students and staff. Head Prefect for 2021, Rosie Auchinvole, sang 'You've Got a Friend' (Carol King), provoking a teary response from her peers and then delivered the traditional Head Prefect speech with aplomb.

Mrs Duthie's speech acknowledged the disappointments of 2021 (numerous cancellations!) but spent time reminding us of all we have to be thankful for such as: the turf opening, the development of the new boarding village, the tremendous success of the Gala Dinner, the introduction of more inclusive uniform options, the publication of 'Song of Wings' and, of course, the third-time-lucky High School Musical stage production!

Please see the attached PDF for a full list of our prize-winners for 2021. Highlights include:

• Over $420,000 in scholarships have been awarded across our cohort of 67 Year 13 students.
• Year 11 - 90+ students awarded 'Excellence in Subject'
• Year 12 - The Clarice Ashworth Scholarship for the top Y12 academic achiever: Lily Ferro
• Year 13 - the Spirit of Columba award: Caitlin O'Brien; the Fergus Ring: Olivia Charles; Proxime Accessit: Olivia Charles; Dux: Angela Fu

If you missed the event, you can watch it by clicking on the video link below.