Tēnā koutou katoa e te whānau

It is so fitting, as this term comes to an end, to begin by offering the very real thanks of the school to you all, for your contribution to the past ten weeks we have shared.

The time has not been as we expected, or hoped for, when we welcomed our young men back to school on the 27th of July. Sadly, we did not have the opportunities to show our talents and strengths, in a national setting, in sport, music and cultural events. And this has been hugely disappointing for so many.

However, we can now look back with a great sense of pride, in our students, our staff and our families, as, for a second year, we have faced significant challenges together, as the whānau of the school.

The move to Lockdown at Alert Level 4 was disappointing, and, for many, the end of long held dreams and aspirations. But it enabled us to demonstrate strength of character, resilience, courage, and love for each other. Those qualities which make Hamilton Boys’ High School very special as a community, and as a world.

I am very proud of our school, always. But at times when we have to overcome adversity, and think of others before ourselves, the true strength of our family makes me feel not only real pride, but a genuine sense of humility.

I am humbled by the many, many ways in which our staff worked tirelessly to support students through Lockdown. I am humbled by the positivity and enthusiasm of the boys as they returned to school when we moved to Alert Level 2. And I feel grateful for your care and your support, through all of these challenging times.

Over the past two weeks, we have held Assemblies through Zoom, as I sit in my office, and the students listen in their classes. My message in these assemblies has been linked to the quote in our school diary this week,

“It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters.”

As we continue to deal with a reality dominated by COVID and lockdowns, this truth is so important. Because adversity reminds us that it is the people with whom we share our day, our week, and our life that make all the difference. We face challenges together, we support each other through the reality we face, and we recognise the significance of family. Because nothing is so important as those we love, those with whom we share our life.

I wish you a wonderful holiday break in the next two weeks, with your sons. I thank you for the term we have shared, and for your support through the time we have shared. And I look forward very much to Term 4, as we do celebrate so many of the reasons why Hamilton Boys’ High School is a family of which we must be grateful to be a part. It is a special world, thanks to the contribution of each and every person in our whānau.

E mihi ana ki a koutou katoa.

Susan Hassall