This week all of our Year 10 students have been privileged to spend two days and one night in the beautiful setting of the Puketeraki Marae at Karitane.

This trip fits in with the Social Studies First Peoples unit studied by our Year 10 students and is a fantastic experience for our students and a great journey of discovery about people and places in a local environment. Enroute to Karitane the classes connected with nature when they visit the Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Here the emphasis was on the concept of kaitiakitaka - looking after our environment and its treasures for future generations.

Each group of girls was formally welcomed on to the Puketeraki Marae by the local runaka whose manaakitanga is highly valued and contributes to making these visits so memorable. While on the Marae students shared their mihi mihi, listened to stories about the area and took part in a number of workshops relating to the local Maori culture. The girls also walked along to the historic Huriawa Peninsula/headland where they learnt about the local history.

I was fortunate to spend a day at the marae and enjoyed hearing such positive feedback about this experience, not only from our Year 10 students but also from some of our international students and our staff. The experience is a wonderful opportunity for our girls to connect with another culture and to connect with each other. It was also heartening to see the way the girls worked so efficiently and collaboratively as they carry out their assigned domestic duties. The staff were also assisted by a number of senior students who worked hard in the kitchen on the food preparation. This practical work was an opportunity for these girls to gain credits as part of their NCEA Hospitality course.

Another highlight this week was the success of our students in the Regional Community Trust Chamber Music competition. "Wrong of Autumn", comprising of Rose McAuley Stevenson (violin), Sarah de Vries (clarinet) and Cameron Monteath of Logan Park High School (piano), was selected for the district finals of the NZ Community Trust Chamber Music. This is an outstanding achievement and we wish the group the very best as they compete in Christchurch this weekend.

Yesterday our Student Council organised a collection of cans as part of the city wide Octacan appeal. Community involvement and contribution is a strong part of our school culture and I congratulate the girls on their initiative and also thank those that contributed cans to this cause.

Finally many of you will have seen our rugby girls on the front page of yesterday’s ODT. Chris Huynh, one of our Vietnamese international students has become an avid rugby player since her arrival and the way she has immersed herself in our culture is a real credit to her and our International Department. Chris will have an exciting weekend on the field, holding an official flag at the All Black’s test match.