Kia ora koutou, here are some highlights from the latter part of Term 3

The ODT Class Act Awards celebrate excellence and are awarded to two students from each secondary school across Otago each year. They are coveted awards. Ka nui te mihi and congratulations to Eve Drinnan and Lachlann MacTaggart on receiving their awards in front of proud whānau from the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Dunedin recently. Eve and Lachlann are both special all-rounders - diligent and high achieving academically, talented in their chosen sports, holders of Duke of Edinburgh Awards, respected student prefect leaders and wonderful role models for our kura.

Our student council did a wonderful job organising a lunch time Arts week programme in Week 9. On Monday our Auditorium was full for the Talent Quest. Congratulations to Gemma Jowett who won the senior section for her original song and Leya Susan Vilson, the junior winner for her traditional Indian Dance. On Wednesday there was a house portrait paint competition with the senior leadership team posing as models. There was definitely some artist license involved. The Papauni/Nevis Principal Portrait took out top honours. The final event on the Friday was our very own WOW with students modeling their impressive fashion creations.

Our kapa haka group have enjoyed another wānanga (learning time) with students from Dunstan High School. The event was hosted in our Auditorium and the Sports Centre. Again it was an opportunity to experience the tikanga around welcoming and showing care for visitors. The focus was on the skills of performing waiata and learning together ‘Kaiamio’ written by Jeromy van Riel, a story that connects Alexandra and Cromwell.

We have been fortunate to have a number of presentations focusing on student wellbeing. The ‘Loves Me Not’ programme is run by local Police each year in secondary schools across Central Otago. Our Year 12 students were engaged in powerful kōrero around respectful relationships, countering media stereotyping and looking out for your friends. Our Year 7, 8, and 10 students heard from speakers from the Revolution Tour. Their message through waiata and stories was a clear and simple one, encouraging students to reach out for help from those around them, from those they trust such as friends, family, teachers or coaches.

It was an honour to attend the March Out Parade for this year’s Blast team with our Mayor, regional police leaders and proud parents. Over the past 8 weeks the students have shown huge courage and commitment with 6 am starts for three mornings a week completing drill, physical training and team based activity. They had their The Longest Day last Thursday working together in teams from 6.00am through to 5.00pm on numerous activities and challenges concluded by pushing a Fire Truck 800m back to school. Ngā mihi and thank you to Police Youth Aide Officer Ange Graham, Sergeant Ben Anderson and mentors Nathan and Leah for providing this life changing opportunity for our students.

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori was embraced in our kura through daily whakataukī or proverbs, the regular use of kupu (words) and a full school assembly. A significant highlight was our inter-house kapa haka competition. For the first time we sang our school waiata Whāia te taumata, with sign language actions, along with performing our haka ‘Kōpūwai’. The mana and passion of these performances lifts each year through the leadership of our tuakana (senior students) and staff and through the respect our students have for these treasures.

Getting into the hills with our Duke of Edinburgh Award students is always an enjoyable and memorable experience. A small enthusiastic group have practiced their skills tramping into Routeburn Falls and will head into the Greenstone and Caples Tracks later this week for their Silver and Gold qualifying expedition. We have over 70 students involved in the three levels of the Award this year.

All the best to our seniors as they prepare for the final external NCEA exams in November. Staff are providing tutorials and there is some extra mentoring support in place for some students to help organise and focus their NCEA mahi. We look forward to celebrating with our community the many and varied successes of our seniors at the Senior Prize Giving on Thursday 3 November.

Mason Stretch

Tumuaki - Principal