Kia ora koutou

I hope you all stayed safe and warm on the Snow Day. If you did not receive a text message on the day, or wish to have an additional person notified, please contact the school office to update your details. Winter reminds us to slow down, get plenty of sleep and spend time with friends and family. It is a time to appreciate good books, a roaring fire or cosy bed, and sunshine when it appears. Vitamin D is essential for teenagers as during the teenage years as skeletal mass doubles, building strong peak bone mass, supporting immune health, and aiding muscle function. Getting sunshine outside during the Winter months is good for both physical and mental health.

This week we celebrated Cultural Day with a special assembly and lunchtime International Food Festival with cultural performances. It was special to spend this day with our visitors from Yasuda High School. They gave a presentation on Hiroshima Peace Day, commemorating the atomic bomb victims and praying for world peace. The official Peace Day in Japan is 6th August.

We have a rich tapestry of nationalities and cultures that make up our vibrant school community. Now more than ever we recognise the need to understand each other, to really know each other and to share our stories. In learning about others we know more about ourselves. We all have a story.

Have a great weekend with warmer temperatures of 12 and 10 degrees forecasted for Dunedin.

“What unites us is greater than what divides us”

- John F Kennedy

Ngā mihi nui