Kia ora koutou

This time of year is one of the most enjoyable, as we celebrate the wonderful achievements of Queen’s students. Last week was our Sports and Cultural Awards evening and every year I continue to be impressed by the range of activities students are involved in and of their level of success. Congratulations to Nicole Pendreigh and Katie Child, as best all-round Senior and Junior sportswomen, to Chloe Robertson and who was awarded the cup for most outstanding individual cultural achiever and to Aliyah Christos who was the winner of the Cameron Cup for the most outstanding sporting achievement.

Mana Pounamu Awards for young Māori achievers will be presented tonight to Jordyn Martin and Ella MacDonald at a ceremony at the University Of Otago and Pacific Island students Leah Faitonu and Serena Evile were recognised at the Otago Polytechnic Pacific Island Achievement Awards earlier this week. I would also like to congratulate Year 13 student, Jessica Gill, for her outstanding achievement in being awarded the Volunteer Youth of the Year at the Netball New Zealand Awards held in Auckland on Wednesday evening.

There are many events and activities happening before the end of the year and I ask you to read carefully the upcoming events section. On Monday evening is our Senior Academic Prizegiving. Senior classes end on Monday at lunchtime, though all senior subject teachers will be available for the remainder of the week, during their usual class time, for any student who would like to come in to school to study. All Year 9 and 10 students have their end of year exams next week.

To the leavers of 2019, thank you for your input, enthusiasm, academic endeavours, leadership, service to the community, cultural activities and the mana that you have given to Queen’s. I wish you the very best of what life has to offer and I leave you with the quote by Ralph Waldo Emmerson.

‘What lies behind you and what lies before you are small matters

compared to what lies within you’

Barbara Agnew

Principal