Kia ora koutou katoa

Covid-19 is the biggest conversation piece right at this moment and since our first reporting of cases within our community we have averaged just under 80% attendance at school each day. To date, 40% of students and 10% of staff have tested positive for Covid-19. I am hopeful that for the beginning of Term 2, we will all be back in school, ready and well for what is always a busy term.

All reporting is accessed through the Parent Portal. This is our primary means of reporting on student progress. Comments will be brief and provide specific feedback linked to either Achievement Standards (in the senior school), curriculum objectives and/or learning for the term (in the junior school). The comments might be more informal than traditional reports. Reminder information on how to access the Parent Portal will be emailed out next week. All students can see the same information via the Student Portal and we will be reminding them next week also on how to view their comments and results.

Prefects have been running school assemblies this term, as they have done in previous years. To date we have had three prefects give their speech to the school. These speeches are published in the Queen’s News and I suggest you take the time to read their words.

Since our last Queen's News: The Water Polo Team won their final, the rowing crew of Ella Edwards and Ella Nesbit won their B Final at Maadi Cup, Jorja Gibbons was named in the NZ Athletics Team, Sam Montgomerie was presented with a National Writing Award, Interact raised money for young people in Haiti, Rewa Morison won the U18 South Island Grom Series, Elise Carline named bowler of the tournament at the South Island Cricket competition and four Year 10 students (see photo above) placed second in a national songwriting competition.  These students and staff deserve recognition for their efforts and achievements as these results take commitment and hard work.  Equally, students have been successful in their classes over the term, again due to their efforts and hard work. It does not just happen.  Congratulations to you all.

We wish our Senior Volleyball Team, who are competing in the Otago Secondary Schools' Tournament this weekend, good luck from afar as no spectators are allowed.

As this is the last Queen's News for the term, I wish you all a safe and happy holidays.

Barbara Agnew