Kia ora koutou!

This has been a very special week for Columba, with the celebration of International Week interspersed with many other highlights. 

On Monday our international students entertained us with an amazing array of talent for such a small department, beautifully introduced by our Kapa Haka group. The planned Amazing Race was postponed until next week because of the extra special assembly for the eagerly awaited announcement of our new Principal, Mrs Charissa Nicol, which was met with both surprise and enthusiastic approval from our staff, students and the approximately one thousand viewers who watched by live stream. We all look forward to welcoming her in Term 4, when she takes over the role, although she is already a familiar figure around the school, both as our Acting Chaplain until the end of this term, and as a parent. 

International activities carried on through the week with quizzes in the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools and the very popular international food stall. 

Another highlight of Thursday was our efforts for Octacan, with the 2,705 cans brought into school forming a beautiful outline of our school crest, before being taken down to the Octagon, where Presbyterian Support told us this was the biggest number ever donated by a school. A big thank-you to all students for their generosity. Clearly the power of the badge works wonders, as so many responded to the 20-can challenge issued by Presbyterian Support. 

Friday’s Cultural Dress-up Day and Chapel Service rounded off the International Week, and was followed by another special assembly to farewell our current Principal, Mrs Pauline Duthie, before she returns to Christchurch. She has served as Principal in three schools so well deserved the Sabbatical Leave she was awarded for this term, followed by the retirement that awaits her. She will be remembered at Columba for the many improvements she has led during her five years here, despite the disruptions of Covid, including the Junior School classroom revamp, slides and turf, the building of the first phase of the new Boarding Village, additions to the uniform, updated branding and marketing material. We wish her all the best for a long and happy well-deserved retirement. Our Head Prefect, Hannah’s tribute to Mrs Duthie is attached below, along with the Junior School poem to Mrs Duthie. The Columba whānau all join in wishing Mrs Duthie all the best for a long and happy well-deserved retirement and thank her for all she did for Columba.