Kia ora tātou

Term 3 has been going really well. We have had a Staff Only Day, where staff did some work developing strategies around managing the negative attitudes, language and behaviour that were identified in the sexual harassment survey that we undertook in 2022, and the remainder of the day was for curriculum areas to continue working on the NCEA changes that will be implemented from 2024. We have also had our Course Selection Day for families and whānau to come in and discuss subject choices for 2024. Thank you to all of those families who came in to support their sons with that process.

We have had great success recently with our Jazz Band in Blenheim for the Southern Jam where we came away with a number of awards and gold medals, including the Big Band Award. Congratulations also to Aka and Tane Pakeha-Heke, who are in Year 13. Aka and Tane perform as Twin Harmony and are heading to the national finals of Smokefree Tangata Beats. We wish them all the best. All of these musicians put in a huge amount of work and are well supported by the music staff, and I thank them for all of their mahi.

The winter sports season is coming to an end and we have had a number of teams performing well through the play-offs at the end of the season. Winter Tournament is taking place this week (Monday 28th August - Friday 1st September). This is a great opportunity for boys to travel around the country representing Shirley Boys’ High School. We have First XI Football in Christchurch; Basketball has Juniors and Seniors in Dunedin, intermediate in Palmerston North; Under 15 Rugby is in Blenheim; Hockey in Timaru; and Cycling in Blenheim. I wish all the teams success and an enjoyable time. A big thank you to all of the staff who are involved and whānau who have supported their sons to get to these events.

Lastly, you will have seen that the Government has announced the removal of the mandatory Covid isolation rule. If students test positive for Covid, they are no longer required to isolate at home for seven days. The advice is that students stay at home if they are feeling unwell, as with any other illness to keep themselves and others safe.

Ngā mihi

Tim Grocott