Hero photograph
Lydia Joseph, Head Prefect and Mrs Hayes, Principal
 
Photo by Kelk Photography

Message from the Principal

Mrs Hayes —

Tena koutou katoa.  Welcome to Columba College 2018. A very special welcome to all new families who are joining our school this year. We wish you every success and happiness in your association with Columba.

For many students school doesn’t stop between December and February and we have many successes to share from over the holidays. Our exchanges in France and Germany and the trip to Vietnam have been life changing experiences for those who embraced the opportunity. Others attended summer camps at the university here at Otago and elsewhere. Our touch and athletics teams and regional cricketers competed at nationals and our rowers have been at training and regattas throughout January. I would like to make special mention of the achievements of Year 13 McKayler Moore and our Director of Sport Miss Turnbull, who have both made the New Zealand Women’s touch team.

Our 2017 NCEA students gained some outstanding results, with pass rates of 98 - 100% in Levels 1, 2 and 3, and with over 80 students qualifying for our Academic Blues award for gaining Excellence endorsement. This year we have made a significant investment in resourcing wellbeing initiatives to support all students in reaching their full potential in all fields, especially academically, and we will be encouraging students and whanau to reach out for the help we have available. We aim for our outstanding academic, sporting and cultural results to be achieved by happy, healthy, well-rounded young people.

The Year 13 cohort met for a leadership camp at the beautiful Knox College at the end of the holidays, and they are already setting the tone for their year. This outstanding group of College leaders is committed to making 2018 a year of connectedness, success and fun for the student body, and they are already demonstrating their enthusiasm for the year ahead by making all of the new students feel welcome. Our senior boarders are also setting the tone for a happy and settled start to the year through the extra service they are giving to staff and younger girls.

Each year I like to have a theme or a focus for us all to work towards. We explore our College values of grace – good discipline, respect, aroha, citizenship and excellence – values that are very important in our day to day lives at school and in the boarding house. In 2018 we show GRACE when we nourish the flame of our gifts, passions, goals, relationships, creativity, opportunities. Our theme for the year is Alere Flammam – a Latin motto meaning ‘nourish the flame’. Through our school wide focus on wellbeing we will remember to nourish our personal wellbeing, and that of our classes, sports teams and clubs. We will nourish others through what we give and how we serve, and through the daily kindnesses we show. As a community we nourish Columba College by respecting our heritage and special character, and showing pride in our school though our words and actions.

The start of the year has wrapped up with the historically significant installation of our College Chaplain: the first female chaplain of the College, and the first College-appointed chaplain to be in the role for a long time. Dr Macleod is a key member of our wellbeing team, and will be taking a lead in nourishing the flame of the College’s special character.

Ngā mihi,

Juliette Hayes