Tēnā koutou katoa

My first two weeks as Katikati College Principal have gone by very quickly and as I write my first Principal’s comment for the newsletter I reflect on the many ‘firsts’ I have experienced over the last fortnight. My first day, meeting the staff and discussing what leadership and teaching and learning at Katikati College looks like. It was a wonderful day where I had the opportunity to get to know the staff better and learn more about Katikati College.

My first Katikati College Powhiri where my family and I felt embraced by the Katikati Community and overwhelmed by the support and generosity demonstrated. I would like to thank the Katikati College community and all those people who made the day such a wonderful, inclusive experience for all involved.

My first assembly where I finally got to address the students and encouraged them to ‘not judge a book by its cover’, because they might miss out on an amazing story, not to let people put them in a box or label them but to embrace their uniqueness and take pride in who they are. Demonstrate this through their actions, their appearance and the respect they have for themselves and those around them. I explained that I believed my job as the Principal, along with the staff, is to teach students how to be good citizens, to prepare them for their future and to get students ready for the real world which sometimes is a tough place to be. I explained the importance of having courage, being brave, showing resilience and doing the right thing and how these characteristics will be important to ensure their future success. So, as our new chapter together begins, we will learn that success is not easy, it is not instant, it takes time and energy, but it is worth striving for and we will strive for it together.

On Thursday 27 July I had the opportunity to meet some of you at my first Year 7 and 8 Parent Interview evening and then on Saturday I attended my first Katikati College Ball, which was an absolute treat. It was wonderful to see so many parents involved in the evening and I would like to acknowledge the students and staff who worked tirelessly to put together such a wonderful evening. I would also like to thank Tracey Crapp and her PTA Committee for providing a wonderful supper, Steve Gilroy and our property team for all their work and to the Maori Wardens for the security they helped provide.

Lastly, my first visit to all of our contributing schools this week was an opportunity to meet with prospective parents and students and learn more about what the community want from the College.

Finally, as I said to the students in my first address, do not fear the change a new Principal brings - get involved, share your ideas, ask questions and become a positive character in this chapter. Do not judge a book by its cover or the Kumara’s taste by the way it appears. Know that by taking action together we can all hope to achieve our goals, realise our dreams and smash the box open, so we all become the best versions of ourselves.

Ngā mihi nui

Carolyn Pentecost | Principal