Sports, Cultural and Service Awards

Kia ora koutou 

This time of year is one of the most enjoyable, as we celebrate the wonderful achievements of our Queen’s students. This week was our Sport and Cultural Awards celebration and I continue to be impressed by the range of activities students are involved in and of their level of success. Congratulations to Tiara Nafatali and who was awarded the cup for most outstanding individual cultural achiever and to Anika Ayson who was the winner of the Cameron Cup for the most outstanding sporting achievement.  Congratulations also to Zara Ward and Jorja Gibbons, as best all-round senior and junior sportswomen.  

While the constant cancellations and changes are difficult and disappointing, we need to reflect on how fortunate we are with the position we are in right now. For example, an expected positive outcome from the live streaming of our Sport and Cultural awards was that viewers from around the world joined us to celebrate as members of their whānau received awards. Alongside this was that all students in the school joined in for this celebration. 

There are many events and activities happening before the end of the year and I ask you to carefully read the upcoming events section. On Thursday 11 November is our Senior Academic Prizegiving, with a link being sent to the whānau of all Year 13 students and all Year 11 and 12 award recipients on Wednesday of next week. Senior classes end on Tuesday 16 November at lunchtime with all senior subject teachers being available for the remainder of the week, during their usual class time, for tutorials. All Year 9 and 10 students have their end of year exams starting next Friday, 12 November. 

As this is the last newsletter before our seniors students finish school for the year I say to the leavers of 2021: 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