Hero photograph
Tracy O'Brien
 
Photo by Chris Sullivan

Principal's Message

Tracy O'Brien —

Kia ora Koutou. Greetings

Well done to the 1st XV rugby team who had a very good win over Kings High School 2nd XV last Saturday in the season opener. It somewhat exonerates our contention that yes, whilst we are fighting hard to maintain a strong rugby presence at Kavanagh, our rugby program is also meeting with success. 

Our Senior A netball is also looking promising with some really good initiatives in place and a hard-working netball team led by our netball guru Anita Van den Beld. We look forward to seeing how it all unfolds with netball and indeed across all of our winter sporting codes. Let's get out and support our teams.

The journey to excellence in any field is often a long one which is met by many challenges throughout the year. Sustaining high performance is even tougher. You can see our learning targets or achievement challenges for 2018, which range from Year 7 and 8 through to NCEA, in the attachment below. Whilst the current government has abandoned National Standards at Years 7 and 8 we will continue to report to parents twice a year on how students are doing in reading, writing and maths.

Staff are working hard in their professional development areas and looking at a range of techniques to support students in their learning. Keeping it all coherent, relevant and meaningful for young people is the challenge of our time. The other overriding issue is student and staff wellbeing. 

Currently, the government has set up a number of working parties that will tackle these sorts of issues as part of the review of education in NZ. Are we over-assessing students? How is the system creating undue pressure and what can be done to alleviate this? Is NCEA sustainable over 3-year levels? Big questions but my gut feeling is we need a major shake-up if we are to create a system that is equitable and leads to a well educated and healthy (mind, body, soul) population.

As a community let us pray for those in need and as the miracle of Pentecost nears this Eastertide may we be spurred to action to give of ourselves to others. Lord Hear us!