Despite the myriad of events not being able to go ahead this year, we found a way to have our annual Cultural Blues ceremony, an important celebration of students’ cultural pursuits and outstanding successes. Junior Cultural awards were held on Friday, while Senior Cultural awards were held on Tuesday. As usual, the awards were broken up by various musical performances by school groups and students, including Wairua Pūhou opening and closing the event. Gabi Summerfield sang her original song (which she performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra only a few months ago), Dominique McShain sang one of her compositions, Year 12 musicians ‘New Stepparents’. The school Jazz Band was a crowd favourite with their performance of Bruno Mars’ ‘Treasure’, and myself, singing ‘Sway’ by Bic Runga. 

While this event could not go ahead as usual, it was amazing to be able to have had it in some form and to be able to see all that our talented students have achieved in a year that has seen so many opportunities diminished.