A warm welcome to everyone as we begin the 2020 academic year and especially to new students and families.

I am delighted and humbled to be the new principal of Palmerston North Girls' High school - a school with a great tradition of teaching and learning excellence.

I have been involved in education for over 30 years and have taught in a range of NZ secondary schools and for the past 7 years I have been principal of Waitaki Girls’ High School in Oamaru.

I’ve become passionate about girls’ schools and the power of girls learning together. I have seen the benefits of it, not least of all here at Palmerston North Girls’ High School, where I have seen senior girls leading junior girls - tuakana teina - and I’ve seen girls doing and excelling in a wide variety of activities from academic to sporting to arts and culture and finding space to be themselves. I hope you enjoy reading our first newsletter where you will see the myriad of areas where our students are excelling. I encourage new students and in particular our Year 9s to get involved. There truly is something for everyone.

As a lifelong learner myself, I can relate to our school motto, Semper Sursum - Ever Upwards. We are always learning something new, me most of all as I learn about the special and unique characteristics of our school - Palmerston North Girls’ High School - Te Kura Kōhine o Papaioea. So for now, Tikarohia ngā whetu.

Tracy Walker

Principal