As the leader of a girls’ school, Valentine’s Day presents a challenge. I am committed to empowering girls and freeing them from unhelpful gender stereotypes so that they can step into the world with the confidence to follow their passion and play to their strengths. So, you can imagine the difficulty I have in navigating the traditional ‘boy woos girl with flowers’ behaviour and expectations of Valentine’s Day.

Available now at Maggie's a selection of environmentally friendly, SMC branded KeepCups.

Did you know our website has a Parenting Resources page. It's where we post articles, strategies and insights that we think may be of use to you as you navigate the ups and downs of parenting.

SMC Highland Dancers win a national Innovation Award and our Chamber Choir sing for the ordination of the new bishop as our co-curricular arts groups get under way for the year.

SMC Swimming Sports was a riot of colour, noise and house pride, as well as some serious swimming! Hats and sunscreen were essentials as we sizzled on a thirty degree day.

This week's businesses are Frobisher Interiors, Christchurch Orthodontics, Craigs Investment Partners, Eastmure and Associates, Cequent Project Management Christchurch and Caxton Press Ltd - full details on the offers they have available to the SMC community are here...

We are excited to welcome students back to school! It is a very quiet place without the bright smiles of the girls. Seeing the girls at school interacting with their friends, peers and teachers reinforces that there is no other place we would rather be.

All SMC Old Girls and friends are warmly invited to these upcoming events.

Congratulations to our IB class of 2018. We welcomed back those who could make it for a special school ceremony, last week, from a graduating class of 19.

As ever we start back to school at full speed. We started Tuesday morning with an action packed Swimming Sports which had a great attendance by parents to cheer on the girls involved. It was great to see so much house support - it was such a colourful and joyful event. The same evening we had our first PFA meeting of the year and I was thrilled to welcome new parents at our meeting.

Please be aware that the Cafe will be closed on Thursday 7 March for school athletics. On this day there will be no Junior School lunches - thank you for your understanding. Here's what's on next week's menu....

Did you know our Centre for Innovation runs a course to help adults use their device more effectively?