Kia ora koutou

Today, in our full school assembly, we celebrated outstanding achievement with the awarding of Academic Blues to the students who achieved NCEA endorsed with excellence in 2023.    We have also celebrated the students who gained a merit endorsement in a year level assembly. To achieve these results it takes hard work, commitment, determination and perseverance, my congratulations to you all.  

Our Athletics and House Day was the usual mix of fun activities, great teamwork and colourful outfits, which sat alongside outstanding athletic performances. The relay events were the most closely contested races that we have had for some time and I wish to congratulate Dawson’s junior team, Ballard’s senior team and the prefects who just pipped the staff team on the line. Congratulations to Rae House for being the champion house and to Dawson House who won the house chant competition.  All the best to the competitors representing Queen’s at the Otago Secondary School Championships being held early in March. 

We hosted the Year 9 Whānau Evening on Wednesday night and I would like to thank all the parents and caregivers who attended. It was great to meet so many of our new parents again and share information about both their daughter’s classes and their learning as well as the variety of opportunities for learning outside the classroom. I spoke at this meeting about how delighted we have been with the start that the Year 9 students have made as Queen’s girls. In their classes, and in the activities that I have watched them in, they are engaged, respectful and enjoying themselves. It was also a great opportunity for parents to meet their daughter’s teachers and parents of other students in their daughter’s class.

To support our focus on achievement, we will send progress reports fortnightly with the first report for the year being emailed out to whānau next Friday 1 March. If you have changed your email address or do not receive a report, please check your details on the Parent Portal and send us a correction if necessary.

This term we have many events and activities happening and I want to remind the students that being in a team or group comes with responsibilities. That you show respect for your team mates, for your coach, for your manager, for our school by; being on time, always give your best, play fair, be gracious winners and equally gracious in defeat and you support your team members to do the same.

I look forward to seeing as many of our girls as possible in their chosen activities over the term.

Barbara Agnew

Tumuaki | Principal