Kia ora koutou

Today we farewell our Year 12 and 13 students as they go on their NCEA study leave. Year 11 exams begin later and our Year 11 students will finish school next Thursday 6th November for their study leave. We wish them well and encourage them to be confident and well-prepared going into each examination. Support at home is essential here in ensuring planning sustainably for the whole exam period, promoting good routines including sleep and nutrition, talking with your child around how to approach exams calmly, clearing suitable study spaces and providing quiet, productive study environments. At senior level, students are expected to be able to regulate their use of phones and social media to minimise distraction. Screen-time monitoring is to be encouraged at this time. 

Support continues to be offered at school and your child’s individual subject teacher is the best first point of contact. The Careers Study website page is full of helpful sites and information. You can find this here. Please contact the school office in the first instance if there are any emergencies or illness during the exam period. They will be able to direct you to the person you need. 

Last night we farewelled our leaving international students. Our Global and Ako Prefect, Allison Han, gave a heartfelt speech about the richness of her time here at Otago Girls’ High School over the last five years. It highlighted the special journey that international students have here and the special friendships they make along the way. In turn, our own lives are enriched by the international students who come to our school, bringing with them their culture, their friendship and their life experiences. 

With Allison’s permission, I share a Chinese Proverb that her grandmother shared with her as a child:

学无止境 (xué wú zhǐ jìng)

Learning is endless, no matter the stage you are at in your life.

Ngā mihi nui