Sometimes I wish I had been born 40 years later and lived in Dunedin. I think I would have come to Logan Park. 

If I had I believe I would have left high school with a stronger sense of myself. I believe I would have felt more comfortable in my own skin, with less need to wear the right jeans and say the right things. It would have been OK to be short and wear glasses. And I don’t think I would have had to take care when voicing opinions about injustice. It would also have been OK to talk about the importance and relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi in our society, and there would have been no questions asked if people the same gender wanted to go out together.

It seems to me that at this school we value diversity and foster skills in many areas. We care for each other. Our Board is part of this. We work together with senior management at the school so that you students can achieve. This work requires wisdom, courage, knowledge and care. We bring our individual strengths and use these to do our best as a team. We try to get it right and I think we are able to acknowledge when we haven’t done that. That is how we learn and do it better the next time. Thank you to Caroline Rickerby, Andrew Lonie, Rachel Spronken-Smith, Kerri Cleaver, Kate Atchison, Ronda Tokona, Paul Fielding, Han Verberne, Grant McNaughton, and Ariyan Zarei our Board members this year who have helped us to do it better.

The school has several projects on the go at the moment. We are turning the Learning Centre back into a new modern library and turning the library in to a Creative Suite for music and more. We are working with sporting organisations in Dunedin to build a new gymnasium and Astroturf on our boggy top field. Exciting times.

Teachers – please have a great holiday. You have done so much for all of us. Next year will be another year of caring for students and sharing what you know. Find joy in your work and learn lots.

Students – I wish you well for 2016 and beyond. Find joy in your work and learn lots.

Kua mutu kua timata. As one thing ends another begins. Our school motto is the best way to finish.

Happy summer everyone.