Greetings

Our year 7-10 students are making the most of the variety of activities available to them during the last weeks of the year. After a week of year 9 and 10 exams, many have taken the opportunity to be involved in the Otago Secondary Sports Association’s Junior Sports Week. It was good to see our handball teams in action on Monday and our boys’ and girls’ teams both came 2nd in this. Tuesday saw our Kavanagh Blue team win the 3x3 basketball tournament – well done girls; and our boys volleyball team won their tournament yesterday. There were also some committed athletes attending the Otago Primary School Athletics Champs while their peers were enjoying a day at home. Well done to the ten students who qualified for this event and made the most of a chance to challenge themselves, and congratulations to Suliana Samita who gained 2nd place in shotput.

It was wonderful to see so many families attend 8HEN’s Design for Change presentations last night. I was impressed with the confidence and competence of the students presenting, along with the depth of subject and research that had occurred – I am sure that the ongoing debate regarding whether uranium or thorium based nuclear reactors would create a better clean energy source will go on for many days yet! Design for Change asks students to research, discover, apply knowledge, and reflect on their learning, while discovering that during the design process things don’t always work and failure can be common. It certainly appeared that these students had learned a lot about themselves and their adaptability and resilience throughout this process. Thank you to Sarah Henderson for taking her class through this important learning.

We will farewell the Year 8s on Tuesday as they head away to camp at Pukerau. Many year groups will still fondly remember their time at this camp in the past and I know this group will be no different. We wish them safe travels and encourage them to enjoy the friendships and camaraderie they have. Thank you to the parents who give up their time to attend this camp.

The 21st November is the Feast day of the Presentation Sisters who came to teach in New Zealand in 1950 from Ireland and a small group arrived in Green Island Dunedin in 1954. Their Foundress was Nano Nagle and St Peter Chanel School in Green Island was started by the Presentation Sisters. The Nano Nagle Trust supports many families and children throughout New Zealand in Catholic Schools, and we are very fortunate to have their continued support with the financial needs of some in our school community. If you get the chance to support this very worthy Trust, I encourage you to do so.

To our years 11-13 students – keep working hard. The first week of NCEA and Scholarship exams has gone well – just a couple more to go. Keep up the perseverance.

Ngā manaakitanga

Theme for 2020: ‘Ahakoa he iti he pounamu’

(Do the little things well)