This week our senior students began their parallel examinations. These exams are designed to give our senior students an understanding of the conditions to expect in their final NCEA examinations in November.

They are a useful way for students and teachers to see where strengths and weaknesses are ahead of those exams and to be able to prioritise teaching and revision programmes before that time. In the event of a sudden severe illness or serious accident, these parallel grades might also be used as a guide to award a derived grade to a student who was, in a rare situation, unable to sit their NCEA exam. For this reason, I know the girls are studying hard and taking the opportunity of these parallel exams seriously.

Wairua Pūhou (OGHS & OBHS) and Teine O le Afi, our Maori and Pasifika performance groups, performed at the Otago Polyfest on Thursday evening. A huge number of hours have gone into practice and preparation for this event, along with a great many people who have supported both groups behind the scenes. Both groups absolutely shone on stage, and we are incredibly proud of their amazing performances.

In sports achievements, a huge congratulations must go to our Senior A Basketball team who came Second at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Championships where they qualified for Nationals. The Senior A Netball team must also be congratulated for placing 13th at the South Island Secondary Schools’ competition. The Netball team also won the Smart Team Award for having the best netball smart warm up and cool down.

Congratulations to the football First XI who earlier won the local Dunedin competition and then last week placed 23rd in the New Zealand Premier Tournament in Christchurch. Well done also to Juliette Lucas and Tahlia Roome who have just been named in the Southern United national women's league squad.

It is almost impossible to keep up with all the wonderful achievements of our students each week, but special mention must also be made for Alyssa Shelton in Year 13 who has been picked for the Step 10 New Zealand team competing against Australia in the Trans-Tasman Challenge (Women's Artistic Gymnastics) being held in October.

Congratulations should also go out to the 10Ch team of Chloe Alexander, Emily Gray and Bella Bates who won the Year 9 and 10 ODT Extra Current Events Quiz on Tuesday evening.

Finally, Lindsay Hu has won fourth prize in the Chinese Gardens Essay Competition. Her prize will be presented to her at the Moon Festival at Lan Yuan, the Dunedin Chinese Garden on Sunday. What an impressive achievement!

Good luck to all our senior students who will still be sitting examinations on Monday and Tuesday next week. And “les deseo un buen viaje” (I wish you a safe trip) to the students and teachers who are off on their Spanish trip to South America next Thursday, I know you will have the experience of a lifetime!