Kia ora koutou katoa

As term two ends, I wish to thank our students for their patience, effort, and grit in enduring the level of disruption they have this term. We know that the assessment load is weighing heavy on many of our senior students, and they will be using the break to get on top of things. In her famous Ted Talk, educator Angela Duckworth says that as much as talent counts, effort counts twice. As quickly as term two has gone, term three will go faster, and the importance of maintaining their efforts will make all the difference.

Today you will have received by email your child’s mid-year school report. These focus on learning, progress, and achievement, and sit along side the attitude and effort (traffic light) reports you have been receiving. You will all have the opportunity to meet with teachers on Thursday 20th July between 3:40-7pm for parent/teacher/student interviews. You will find a link for bookings in this newsletter. All students are encouraged to attend these interviews with their parents so there can be full discussions about their successes and next steps for achievement and improvement.

This week we farewelled the police who have supported our weekly Bluelight Bootcamp. Their support and drive helped get this over the line for us, and we have been privileged to have so many officers come to work out alongside our students these past two terms. We will have a formal presentation for them at assembly next term. We have gathered student voice, and the vast majority enjoy bootcamp and have felt the benefits. We will continue with our Wednesday morning bootcamp with personal trainers running the programme from week two next term. Further details about Wellbeing Wednesday can be found in this newsletter.

Today, we had 10 students put themselves through their paces completing the Police Physical Competency Test. Toby Sharp was the fastest through in under two minutes (1:53), with most others coming in under the cut off time. We have several students looking at a career in the police, and we thank Detective Constable Matthew Wood and Senior Constable Terri Middleton for allowing our students this amazing opportunity! They came back buzzing!

Term three sees some key events in the school calendar: tournament week, derived grade exams, the school ball, junior formal, Year 10 camp, and the annual Town vs Country game. There is much to look forward to. Senior students are reminded about attendance requirements to attend the ball and tournament week (90% or less than 10% unexplained absences). Year 10 camp is during week 9 of the term, and information will be sent out in week one of term 3.

We have a planned staff only day on Monday 17 July, and look forward to seeing all students back on Tuesday 18th July.

May God bless you and keep you safe this holiday break.

Yours in Christ
Renée Hutchinson
Principal