He waka eke noa - We’re all in this together, remains at the forefront of our focus for Term 2 as we embark on the start of the winter term. We look forward to ongoing communication and support with our parent and the wider community.

In the last newsletter, I referenced our work with the Student Council and Prefects, considering some of our uniform guidelines. This will be an ongoing process but we have made an important change to be more accommodating for our Year 12 and 13 students going to the SMC Ball this weekend. The girls have a week to have nail polish and eyelash extensions removed if they have them. We feel strongly about upholding our guidelines and we want clear expectations upholding our philosophy around the importance of having a uniform. With this in mind, we also want them to be relevant for the current day. Parents will be notified of future changes through this newsletter.

Parents of girls who are involved in competitions outside of SMC and not representing the school are encouraged to keep us up to date with their daughter's achievements; this can be done through the Heads of Sport or Performing Arts, or the Head of Schools. We have an interest in our girls’ involvement in significant events and some may be eligible for a Red Rose, a special SMC award for the highest achievement in a competition or event. We have recently updated our criteria to provide clarity and consistency across all areas, and this is available for members of the community on Insite - Students - Award Criteria.

Thank you to parents who have used the correct channel of communication if requesting leave for one day or more for their daughter i.e. through their Head of School. Parental support for the School Cross-Country last week was also appreciated - the girls had a fantastic time experiencing peer support for both competitive and non-competitive participants. The help from those unable to run supported the Sports Department and staff with the effective management of the event. This is exactly why we value events such as these to build leadership, relationships and the supportive culture of SMC.

We look forward to events in the near future and anticipate parents ongoing support.