PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Kia Ora and welcome to the start of the school year,

I can say that it has been an excellent start to the year. The Pōwhiri to welcome our new students, families and staff to the College was excellent, and a huge thanks to Kapa Haka and our senior students for leading this. I am grateful to the Years 12 and 13 students who came into school, before the year had started, to complete their Peer Support Training. This leadership and support programme is really special in terms of the junior students having a senior student to connect with and to ask for help.

At the start of the year, it is all about getting into the routine of school, and doing what I call ‘getting the small things right’. It’s important to me that students:

• Come to school prepared for learning and ready to learn
• Be on time
• Wear the school uniform well
• Be polite and using manners
• Keep cell phones switched off and in bags, or do not bring them to school
• Get involved in different activities - arts, cultural, sports, leadership - is a great way to meet new people and develop new skills
• Try their best with their learning, and set goals for themselves.

Students have been managing the disruption caused by the construction on Plantation Road and the demolition work really well. Many thanks for your support in this. The College does not make the decision on when these works will happen, and I know that the outcome of both the Schools to Pool route and the new space created by the demolition of the old Administration building will be excellent changes for us.

The year has started with many things to celebrate. It has been important to acknowledge how well the senior students achieved with NCEA, and to acknowledge our student leaders. This week I have had the opportunity to walk through the Years 7, 8 and 9 classes, and I can see that learning has started in earnest.

Toitū te whenua, toitū te tangata.

The land is strong, the people are fulfilled.

Ngā mihi,

Nicola Jacobsen