Principal's Message

March has come and gone but much has been achieved by students and staff with the support of whanau and the wider community. Accolades have been won by our students in regional Debating, public speaking, the United Nations forum, the hosting of our Shanghai sister school students, Music Camp, and “Wolfestock” concerts, the orchestra’s performance at assembly and at our Scholarships, NCEA and Junior Diploma Excellence Morning tea for students. Senior students have enjoyed the Biology field trips to Portobello, the Enviro-Studies trip to Mount Cook/Aoraki and the International student trip to Stewart/Rakiura Island. 10G, 10J and 10R are currently taking part in their Outdoor Education programme at Tautuku Camp.

Thanks to parents and whanau who supported the Parent/Teacher interviews. Teachers are working hard to track achievement at all levels of the school to ensure students keep motivated and on top of their learning and achievement. Weekly feedback reports for junior students across all classes have given parents and caregivers useful updates on their sons’ and daughters’ academic progress. Senior “Causing Concern” reports have been followed up by student interviews by Group Teachers, House Deans and the Academic Dean.

The analysis of our NCEA results from 2013 has been completed and will go to the Board of Trustees this week. Our results, particularly at level 1 and 3 are on an improving trend above national means and the level 2 results are not far behind, with 19 students out of 25 on our special support programme gaining their qualification. 16 national Scholarships were gained, putting us second on the Dunedin-wide tally over the last five years.

I appreciated all the messages and tributes that came in from ex-students, whanau, current students and friends of the school for Denise Walsh, our outstanding, recently retired HOD Drama. We will be initiating a memorial garden for Denise and also preparing for the naming of the school auditorium after her. These events will be advertised on the school website and calendar.

Don’t forget to calendar next week’s Dunedin-wide PPTA Teacher meeting on April 8th in the afternoon. This event means that our school will finish at 12:30 next Tuesday, with most buses, except for the Waitati/Seacliff buses, arriving at 12:30 pm. Students who need to stay at school in the afternoon will be supervised by non-PPTA staff in the library. The school canteen will be open at interval only.

While I am visiting China until April 14th as part of a NZ Principals’ delegation hosted by the NZ Confucius Institute, Peter Hills will be Acting Principal, ably supported by Acting Assistant Principal Kristan Mouat and House Deans.

Arohanui