Talofa lava

At the midway point of our term, I wanted to take the opportunity to share my thoughts and reflections.

Our young men have continued to excel in all domains, Academics, Arts, Culture, Music and Sport, aspiring for their own personal excellence on this journey we share with them.

The rigour, of teaching and learning along with assessment, has, and will continue to be at the forefront of what we as a school, work towards alongside our young men. We are all invested in this space.

This term we have presented Compassion as a focus, one of our key seven cornerstone values in our school.

Currently our House Groups are exploring:

• What is the meaning of Compassion
• What should Compassion look like in our school
• What should Compassion look like outside of our school.

I am looking forward to working through the findings of our young men, with the purpose of presenting and highlighting these with them in the concluding weeks of Term 2.

Compassion right now is relevant, and it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the sad passing of Enere McLaren-Taana. Our thoughts and our aroha go out to Enere’s family and those close to him. If at any stage, you, or anyone around you is impacted by these tragic events, please reach out to our Guidance Team – they are here to support you and your young man.

This week we have celebrated Samoan Language Week. I would like to thank our students, staff and wider community for their engagement and support, led by Mr Tudreu (Pasifika Dean) and Mr Tupa’i.

Over the second-half of this term we as a school are to engage in two very important fundraising ventures, both allow us to support our young men and our community.

Over the next three weeks we will be in the process of collecting cans for the annual, Octacan Can Collection. We have set a school goal of collecting over 2,000 cans. We have also provided the opportunity for this important event to be added within our Interhouse Competition, by incentivising our four Houses with house points.

If a house is able to bring in:

• 200+ Cans – three points will be added
• 350+ Cans – five points will be added
• 500+ Cans – ten points will be added.

We look forward to our young men supporting an incredibly important cause, for our community.

I would also like to convey that we are launching into our school raffle for 2024. Our desire is to ensure that we can raise funds to support the endeavours of our young men in their interests of Arts, Culture, Music and Sport.

I am acutely aware that some of our young men are unable to engage in pursuing some of their gifts and interests, due to financial reasons – that for me is not ok. I want to have our young men involved and enjoying their gifts and interests – as these are an important vehicle in so many ways, starting with being happy in class, and by having the opportunity to engage and build meaningful relationships with their peers and our staff.

To date, I have 265 of our young men who have signed up to sell four booklets of five tickets at $5 each ($100). These young men will receive leadership points (ten points each) which will go towards their Oestricher Leadership Award in 2024.

“Life is about giving – it costs you nothing but makes a significant difference in the lives of others”.

Prizes will be in the form of a number of $50, $100, $200 and potentially, even a much higher value supermarket vouchers. More information will be forthcoming, including details around our day out in the community where selected students will be selling raffles at key locations.

I thank you in advance for your support of these two up and coming events.

Tautua I le alofa mo se lumana’I manuia

“Serve in aroha for a thriving future”

Darin Smith
Acting Rector