April 2019 Newsletter

Kia ora Koutou.

Welcome to our final newsletter for term 1 as we still come to grips with the horrific events of March 15. While we as a school community mourn the loss of three of our parents in the tragedy, I am also filled with immense pride after witnessing some wonderful examples of solidarity and compassion among our students and staff over recent weeks. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our parent community for their messages of support and appreciation particularly after the lockdown. Friday 15 March changed our lives. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment to celebrating cultural diversity and embracing diverse ethnic communities as a key part of the Riccarton Way.

An 11-week term makes for a very long term, and yesterday in assembly I congratulated our students for the high levels of commitment and positive attitude that most have continued to display towards their studies, despite the many distractions and interruptions that have become a normal part of a school’s calendar. The results from our Fortnightly Reports reflect the fact that most of our students embrace the value of learning and are progressing well. Early next term parents will be given the opportunity to discuss this progress during our first Student Achievement Interview Day for 2019.

There is much to celebrate from the term and I continue to be amazed by the number of opportunities on offer for our students. A special mention must be made of the large group involved in recent tournaments either provincial, South Island or National including our volleyballers, softball players, ultimate frisbee players, mountain bikers and touch players - all who represented their school admirably.

Next Monday a group Social Scientists consisting of 21 students and two staff depart for a three-week tour of Vietnam. We look forward to hearing the stories upon their return. These are just two examples of the diverse range of opportunities on offer.

Finally, I wish you all a restful Easter/Holiday break with family and friends - an opportunity to ‘recharge’ before we head into those colder months!

Neil Haywood
Principal