Talofa everyone. Here is an update on what has been happening and things to come for our Year 13's.

Academic Interviews

As I said in my email last week to you all, Academic Interviews were to start on Thursday 30th May. Unfortunately I was away on sick leave. These will resume next week, a new timetable will be sent out at the end of the week. Our main focus is credits, assessments, and plans for 2020.

Plans for 2020

For many of our Year 13 students, they have an idea of what they want to do. For some this is study. For those who want to study, now is the time to start looking at applying for your courses. All applications will ask about NCEA results, this is fine as the application will be "pending results". Our students this week have had help with scholarship applications and this term have had staff from Otago and Canterbury Universities visit.

Formal 2019

We have registered 119 students for this years formal. It is a great turn out and will be an amazing event. Just a reminder that the final payments are due 21st of June. If the full amount is not paid by that date, then the student can not attend.

Year 10 Camp

The time of year has arrived where our Year 10 students head out to Boyle River Lodge. Some of our Year 13 students will be on camp as either a camp leader or a camp cook. A reminder that all Year 13 students who go are expected to catch up on all the work they have missed the week they are away.

Pasifika Speech Competition 

This year our kura hosted the annual Pasifika Speech Competition organised by SPACPAC. It was a wonderful event, it had students from Christchurch Secondary Schools compete in categories such as Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Cook Island, English and Niuean, a great celebration of culture and identity. Thank you to all the Year 13 and Year 12 students who volunteered to help and also to the staff who helped on the night. Next year we hope to have a few of our own students competing. 

Ramadan

Finally, I just want to say happy Ramadan to all our Muslim students and families. One of our Prefects, Rania Kaskar has written a few words about what Ramadan means to her. 

Eid Mubarak!

"To me and my family, Ramadan is intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting, and nightly feasts. A month of gratification, pure bliss and joy. Ramadan is intended to bring faithful Muslims closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. Muslims often donate to charities during the month and feed the hungry. Fasting is seen as a way to physically and spiritually detoxify the body. It is also seen as an exercise in self-restraint. Typically, the start of the month is welcomed with greetings such as "Ramadan Mubarak!" The end of Ramadan is marked by intense worship as Muslims seek to have their prayers answered during "Laylat al-Qadr" or "the Night of Destiny." Muslims attend early morning Eid prayers the day after Ramadan. Families usually spend the day with friends and family, eating — now during the day!"