Kia ora,

2024. Wow! What a year. It’s hard to put a finger on what has been the biggest highlight[s] this year as there is always so many.

We started the year in the oddest of ways with another COVID wave, giving us flashbacks to times past. Once that had passed, we soon found ourselves in the thick of Term 1.

This year has been an amazing one for our students and such a “bucket filler”. Our House motto “The Measure of Success” provides the perfect lens with which to look back on the year and see our students succeeding.

Year 9 camps are always a wonderful way to introduce the students to life at Rangiora High School. Our Year 9 camp took place in February and it was brilliant to have three days of dry weather in the outdoors. This year's Year 9 group have been an awesome bunch and they really got stuck in to the camp activities. They were supported superbly by Kah’nal Ngawati, Suliasi Uhatafe, Taylah Doornenbal, Reeni Dolan, Alex Ellerm and  Simonē Bischoff. I’d like to pass on my thanks to them for giving up their time to support our young people. Similarly I’d like to extend my thanks to Mr Fahey, Mrs Henderson, Mrs Verde, Ms Taylor and Matua Remi for giving up their time to attend camp.

The House Competition has taken a slightly different format this year. The goal has been to increase the participation of a wider number of students across Sporting, Cultural and Academic pursuits on the day.  Sports' Day this year had a slight change of focus, being a House Activity Day. A highlight for me was seeing the whole House participating in the “Jump Jam” and doing moves such as the bicycle, en masse. It was great to also provide opportunities for students outside of the traditional “sporting sphere” with academic and cultural activities also being offered.  During Term 2 I was amazed at the buzz and the energy that the students brought to the day. Rutherford’s successes on the day definitely came from a positive attitude and teamwork. I was lucky enough to work with a superb group of students in the cultural activity. They had the day to learn and perform a waiata and the school haka. I was very grateful that Rowan Close, with an hour’s notice, stepped up to perform on the guitar, with a song that she only learnt on that day. We were placed first out of the Houses with a lovely waiata, complete with harmonies and then a rousing haka. My bucket was full even further when I returned to my office to see the amazing Rutherford banner that the Art students had produced on that day and to also learn that we had placed third overall as a result of the students' efforts.

It was equally pleasing to see so many Rutherford students involved in this year’s school production - "We Will Rock You!" I went on the Friday night and was bursting with pride to see so many Rutherford students involved in lead roles, the ensemble, dancers and also in the many support roles that a show like that has. It was a wonderful reminder of the talent that exists out there at Rangiora High School, but also how important it is to see the students “outside of the classroom” in roles like this. I’ve also come across many of our students on the sporting field this year and it’s great to see them enjoying success there too.

I’d like to thank the entire Student Executive team for their hard work in leading the House this year and also to the wānanga teachers for their support of our students as well.

Jonny Sim

Head of House