Kia ora tatou, and a very warm welcome to our 2021 school year. To our 150 new families, haere mai ki te whānau o Hato Makere - we are sure that you will feel part of the SMC family in no time.

While the summer weather has been a mixed affair, I trust you have enjoyed time together in our beautiful country. Mike and I enjoyed a classic Tiki Tour that took us tramping up Taranaki and Ruapehu, and paddling down the Whanganui and Rangitīkei. How fortunate we are here in New Zealand to have the freedom to adventure in our glorious natural backyard.

I know many of our boarding families will have been busy on the farm, and some families were separated from loved ones, but I hope our girls have enjoyed their break from school life and are now looking forward enthusiastically to the year ahead. As always, the year gets into full swing from the first day, so we have collated valuable tips and reminders in this newsletter to set everyone up for a successful start.

2020 placed a number of significant challenges in front of us all, especially our girls and our staff. Yet, the extraordinary strength of our teaching and learning shone through, producing another year of exceptional academic results.

Overall University Entrance achieved by 98% of our graduates

NCEA pass rates - Level 1 98%, Level 2 99% and Level 3 99%

IB Diploma - 100% pass rate, with 27% recognised as New Zealand scholars (scores over 40)

St Margaret’s College continues to be one of New Zealand’s top schools, combining academic excellence with a breadth of opportunities to develop fine young women. I am incredibly proud of our girls and commend the efforts of our teachers in realising these achievements together.

Next Friday 29 January we are hosting our annual House Warming Family Picnic. Beginning at 5.00pm, there will be barbecues and refreshments provided for each year group. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends and meet those new to the school. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Until then, kia pai tō tau, here’s to another great year.