Kia ora koutou

This week was te wiki o te reo Maori - Maori language week, and what better week to have Polyfest on in the city. While events have been ongoing throughout the week, our kapa haka and Pasifika groups both performed last night at the Lion Arena at the Edgar Centre. Polyfest is a wonderful celebration of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s, Pacific roots with children and young people from early childhood centres, primary and secondary schools performing in front of their whanau and school communities. The pride, commitment and enjoyment of all involved is clear to see when watching these students and I would like to acknowledge the effort and commitment of our girls and their tutors. Knowing who you are and where you are from is an important element in being happy and successful in life and involvement in these opportunities supports our students in learning this about themselves.

Senior students are currently sitting examinations. These are an important marker for them as they prepare for the NCEA examinations at the end of the year. It is important that they attempt every standard so that teachers are able to provide them with feedback and they are able to identify what they need to focus on to be successful in these external examinations. These examinations are also important should your daughter be unable to attend the NCEA exams for any reason as they can be used for derived grades so it is essential that the girls do their very best in each and every one of them.

Last week I attended the opening of the Toitu exhibition commemorating 125 years of women’s suffrage. I thoroughly recommend a visit to this exhibition. Not only does it highlight the contribution of Otago women to this cause, it also shows the input Otago Girls’ and the women associated with our school had. Becoming the first country in the world to allow women the right to vote is one of the many historical events of which we can be immensely proud and knowing that this school was instrumental in that is particularly satisfying.

On Monday night we had a very successful parent evening with Yvonne Godfrey. This informative and entertaining talk left the parents who attended both reassured and more confident in their parenting. Yvonne presented the school with copies of her books which you are welcome to borrow. We definitely intend to get her back in the future and would like her to work with our girls as well next time.

A number of our music students participated in the Otago Secondary Schools’ Music Festival on Tuesday night. Again, this was a great celebration of music in the province and I congratulate all involved.