When all about us appears uncertain our attention turns to our girls, with purposeful intent to ensure their wellbeing.

Questions are being asked around the College daily at present, ‘Will the Divas Cabaret go ahead?’, ‘Can we have spectators at the hockey?’, ‘If not now, when?’. While we make these operational decisions based on the health and safety of our community and the information we have at hand, we are ever mindful of protecting our girls by turning our collective focus onto the aspects of school life that we can control, and those we know play a positive role in their wellbeing.

Attention to learning has been amplified this week as the senior girls undertook their IB and NCEA preliminary exams and academic workshops. The feedback I’ve had from the girls and parents affirms the benefit of these, offering timely reassurance to the girls that they are well-prepared for their formal assessments at the end of the year and valuable feedforward to ensure continued success.

To balance those academic pursuits, the girls are staying active. 45 dancers took to the ‘Rebound’ stage last Saturday, with another 160 involved currently in our co-curricular dance programme across the school. At the same time, we boast a 91% participation in sport at SMC, with 670 athletes competing across the winter codes at present. Healthy bodies, healthy minds.

The activity of our girls extended into the community as well this week, with the Year 8s undertaking a Forest Legacy project and another 2,000 trees planted by our Eco-Action Warriors in the Red Zone land near Travis Wetland. The feeling of contentment realised through giving back was apparent as the Year 8 girls sent a rousing SMC chant echoing through the beech forest at Kakariki Camp!

We maintained a strong connection with our oldest Old Girls, live streaming our annual Cranmer Assembly and receiving instant emails and messages of gratitude from these special alumni. One remarked, ‘It is such a joy to catch a glimpse of school life. I am so proud of St Margaret’s. Thank you for including us, it has made my day.’

Learning, Being Active, Giving Back, Staying Connected and Taking Notice - the wellbeing of our girls continues to be at the heart of our endeavours; of that, you can be certain.