September 2020 Newsletter

Kia ora koutou.

What an unusual year it has been, affecting our students, staff and wider school community in a variety of ways. 

As we get closer to the end of term 3, I acknowledge that a number of our senior students are still concerned over meeting the requirements for NCEA in 2020. My advice is that they work with their teachers who will know the best approach to take. The addition of Recognition Credits this year, which I have mentioned in previous newsletters, will be of significant assistance in getting students ‘across the line’. Wider supports are also available for those who maybe struggling with friendships, academic workload and/or other stresses. We strongly encourage our students to seek help early if they are experiencing any of these issues. 

Likewise, our Pastoral Team will continue to act firmly and quickly if students overstep our behavioural expectations. It has been pleasing to observe that for a majority of our students, they remain focused and committed to what needs to be achieved in the remainder of 2020.

Despite the limitations brought about by Covid Level 2, it was great that some of our sports teams could experience the annual Winter Tournament Week last week in various parts of the South Island. 

My sincere thanks to our staff and parent supporters who accompanied our boys’ and girls’ hockey teams to Dunedin, our senior girls’ netball team to Timaru and junior girls’ netball, badminton and rock climbing teams to different venues in Christchurch. Our students would not be able to have these sorts of experiences without the huge amount of commitment that you give! You will find the results from these tournaments in the Winter Tournament Wrap-Up, in this newsletter.

Can I take this opportunity to wish you all a restful break over the school holidays before we embark on the final few school weeks for senior students with external exams commencing on November 16.

Noho ora mai

Neil Haywood
Principal