Firstly, I would like to congratulate to our Head Students for 2018, Destiny Robson and Karl Meyers, and Deputy Head Students, Olivia Silby, Maddison Bell, Jamie Neeson-Pene, Ben Jarrett, Jacob Harford and Ajay Tongia. I look forward to working with you all next year.

I believe that 2017 will be a year that is remembered for the regeneration of our fabulous school. It began with the opening of our Cultural Learning Centre, Te Kohiko, after Pete Graham and his building classes spent two years constructing one of the most outstanding whares you will see in a school.

After three years of planning and negotiating, the Ministry of Education began constructing our new teaching blocks. These two buildings are our own special take on what a modern learning environment looks like, and are more about flexibility of teaching and social spaces than combining classrooms together in a ‘barn like’ environment. Each building caters for 450 students, which allows space for our school to reach a roll of 1100.

During the year we also received the exciting news that the School will have a new gymnasium. This gymnasium will have a full sized netball court and basketball court, with run-off space along the side, and room for 200 people to view games. The Ministry funded a standard gymnasium and the Waimakariri District Council provided a $1 million grant to improve the facility, so that our community could make full use of it.

Our Young Parents’ Centre, Karanga Mai, will have a refurbishment of its facilities next year, creating more space and a much better connection between it and the early learning centre.

And finally, the School worked in conjunction with the North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust to lay an astro turf onsite, which takes some of the pressure off the area around the demand for hockey turfs. This half-sized turf will be used for juniors to play hockey on Saturdays, but can also be used for football and netball.

Whilst it was the earthquakes that began the process of reconstruction at Kaiapoi High School, what is really pleasing is how our community has come in behind the School to make sure that the assets are not only fully funded, but also used by our wider community.

We had the pleasure of an Education Review Office (ERO) visit during Term Three. Five staff from ERO came to school and spent three days reviewing the School, achievement, and our systems and processes that ensure students are given the best possible opportunities to succeed at Kaiapoi High School. ERO were very complimentary of our school, staff, students and culture.

Some key statements included:

“Leaders and teachers provide a varied curriculum that has multiple, flexible and authentic pathways for students, including those moving on to further education, work and industry. “

“The School also responds increasingly well to other students whose learning and achievement need acceleration. Systems for identifying and tracking the progress and achievement of senior students is excellent. This is enabling the School to consistently intervene earlier, and to more effectively support students whose learning needs acceleration.”

“The Board has collaboratively developed a clear vision with strong strategic direction that guides school processes, practices and operations. These plans are regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure appropriate progress occurs. Trustees understand and respond effectively to the needs of the local community. School leaders are highly committed to pursuing and achieving the School’s vision, goals and targets. They have high expectations for students’ learning and wellbeing. Positive relationships are a valued outcome for the School. Student surveys, and conversations with ERO, show that students feel that teachers care about them and their learning.”

Our community should feel very proud of the hard work that the School’s Board of Trustees, teaching staff and support staff do to ensure that our students are given the best possible chance to succeed whilst at school, and to be prepared for leaving school to either enter the workforce or continue with their education.

For a year that has already so much going on, it was fantastic to see that our students continue to perform well not only inside the classroom, but also in sporting and cultural events outside the classroom. These are just a few of the highlights of 2017:

· The School production of Oliver! was a fantastic success and a sellout.

· Stage Challenge was once again student-created and involved students from Year 9 right through to Year 13.

· Waiora Brooks represented Canterbury in New Plymouth at the Manu Korero speech competition after coming first in Junior Te Reo. Mana Joyce-Grace was placed 3rd in Junior English.

· Our Kapahaka won the best costume and best female lead (Destiny Robson) in the Regional Kapahaka competition. The team placed fourth overall.

· We added six new sporting Hall of Fame students:

^ Luke Hopkinson – 1st NZ Junior Wrestling

^ Alyssa Harris – 1st NZ Trampolining Championships

^ Jorja Jarrett – 1st NZ Karate Championships

^ Helen Matthews – NZ U17 Basketball Team

^ Brianna Stalker – 3rd Dressage NZ Harness Championships

^ Alex Exton – 3rd place NZ Pool

· Our Senior Girls’ Netball moved into A-Grade for the South Island Tournament and placed in the top 25 schools.

· Cultural winners included:

^ Mitch O’Hara – 1st NZ Irish Dancing, 9th World Irish Dancing

^ Rhearn Le Huray – 1st Teen NZ Top Dancer

There are a number of key groups and people that I would like to publicly thank and acknowledge:

I would like to thank our Board of Trustees for being so supportive of our school and community. It has been a hard year having to focus on a rebuild on top of the usual expectations. Thanks also to my amazing head students: Kris, Sam, Jamie, Alex, Anders, Ashleigh, Cam and Finn. It has been a productive and humorous year working with you all.

A huge thanks to our staff for working under pressure in tight conditions, but still having the energy and commitment to go beyond expectations in providing for our students.

Thank you also to my senior leadership. We are a great team who question but also support one another on a daily basis. It has been a great year.

A special thank you to our Year 13 students. You had to give up your common room and carpark so that we had room to manage our rebuild. You have had to give, and sadly you will not be able to enjoy the new buildings. It may make you feel a little better knowing that the Year 13s next year also will miss out on a carpark as the building continues.

I would like to farewell all our senior students who are leaving and going on to further study or employment.  We wish you well and hope you look back on your years at Kaiapoi High School fondly.

I am sad to be farewelling some of our staff.  Carole Lake, who has taught at Kaiapoi High School for over 30 years, is leaving us to take up an Assistant Principal position at Riccarton High School, and Caroline Blackie is retiring, after over 30 years of relief teaching.  They have both made an huge contribution to the School over a very long period. We are also sad to be saying goodbye to Trish Purcell, Kaye Mawhinney, Abi Keene and Seb Curry, and we wish them well.

Finally, after 11 years of service to our school, we farewell Russell Keetley from our Board of Trustees. Russell, alongside his good friend Martin Pinkham, gave many hours to not only be on the Board, but also to Chair the Board. The expectations on a Board Chair are wide and long. Speeches, prizegivings, parent meetings, discipline meetings and functions were all attended by Russell in his own time and often during working hours. I would often come to school on a Sunday to find Russell working in the school grounds, planting trees or landscaping, and this was long after his sons had left the school. Russell, you will be sorely missed by our school and we wish you all the best for the future.

Best wishes to you all for a happy Christmas and a restful holiday break.  We look forward to welcoming our new Year 9 students next year and to a very exciting and positive 2018 for Kaiapoi High School.

Mā te huruhuru te mana ka rere - You give the bird wings and it will fly.

Bruce Kearney, Principal