To say there is pressure on the Boys in Black this weekend is most definitely an understatement - what a game it will be! It has been great getting into the spirit of support today and wearing  black.  Go the All Blacks!

Congratulations to all the Year 4 - 6 children who competed in our school Athletics Day on Tuesday. While watching the children I was impressed by the way that the children encouraged each other to take part. Congratulations to those who have qualified for the West Zones Athletics on the 5 November. Thank you to Rozz Guillemot and Lesley Black for organising a successful day. 

Congratulations also go to the children in the Senior (Year 4, 5 & 6) Choir who, last night sang at the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival held at Horncastle Arena. The choir has been practising for this event since the middle of the year.  Angelique Van der Velden  has spent many hours teaching the choir the required songs and preparing them for this event. Thank you to the parents of the children involved who have encouraged and supported their children in preparation for the performance.

Special mention goes to Suzi Crawford, Annelise Tan and Bethany Mitchell who auditioned and were selected for the Special Choirs that will perform at each of the three nights that the festival is on. To be selected for this group is an outstanding achievement. Many children from throughout Canterbury audition for the special choir with only a minority being selected.

Last Friday I had the opportunity to interview potential UC 2016 teacher trainees.  One of the questions put to the candidates was to reflect upon a teacher that made a difference in their life as a student, what they learnt from them and what they would take into your own teaching as a result.  The answers were all very similar.  The stories were of teachers who 'got them', who cared for them, who believed in them and who went the extra mile.  It reminded me yet again what a special job teaching is.

Kind regards

Lisa