What makes Nayland College special? It is the people!

He mihi mahana ki a koutou! Warm acknowledgements to you all and welcome to another newsletter with lots of updates on the activities of our students and staff. 

Reflecting on the last couple of weeks of school life I have been struck once again by the incredible students and staff who make up the Nayland College community. We value each person as an individual. Of course we work hard to support students in developing their academic potential but we also want to support our young people's development as happy, thriving individuals. We aim to provide a range of opportunities for them to experience a rich and fulfilling life during their time at school. 

I was blown away by the quality of the school production of 'Carousel' last week. As well as the stunning solo performances, the polished orchestra and the well rehearsed stage action, I was especially impressed by the teamwork involved. Staff, students, parents and community members pulled together to produce a professional and slick production which was a credit to them all. Thank you to everyone who dedicated their time and energy to this project and to all of you who came out to support the performances. 

This week saw the second round of our achievement conferences. Tutor teachers and students had done work to prepare for these conferences to set aspirational goals and share ways we can all support the achievement of our rangatahi. I hope you found these a valuable way to connect with your child's learning. Please take the time to complete the feedback form which has been emailed to you so we can fine tune this process for next year. Look out for information coming soon on ways we plan to keep you informed of your child's progress. 

Many of our former refugee students visited the capital this week and had a wonderful three days exploring. As well as visiting the zoo and Te Papa they went to the Beehive and held an emotional meeting with Ibrahim Omer where they shared stories and were inspired by his experiences. 

This week it was a delight for us to announce an incredible travel opportunity to our year 12 students. The Celestielle Travel Scholarship is an incredibly generous high-end, overseas travel package which will provide the experience of a lifetime to three very lucky students.  See the article in this newsletter for details of how to apply. 

Also in this newsletter you will find stories of students and staff who are taking opportunities to enrich themselves and others. I encourage you all to grab life with both hands, push yourself outside your comfort zone, reach out with kindness to others, seek inspiration from those you admire and challenge yourselves both inside the classroom and out.