Kia ora everyone. Welcome back to Term 4. We cannot believe how quickly this year has gone. The Tolcarne team hope that everyone had a fabulous break and found the time to reconnect, recharge the batteries and take a well-needed break. As the evenings are becoming lighter for longer, students are allowed a quick 30-minute walk to the diary after prep 🥳

Last week started off by welcoming whānau and the students back into the hostel on Sunday afternoon, followed by our senior students having a shared dinner with their parents. Ross and his team cooked a delicious meal of Moroccan lamb with couscous. Thank you 😍

On Tuesday, after school the junior activity was baking and decorating cupcakes with Karoline. They looked so delicious! 🤩 During prep, Robyn took the Year 9 Koru. This term, Koru is based on looking at assertiveness and how we can courageously communicate honestly in the boarding house and in our own lives.

The Year 9 weekend activity was a walk up the Pineapple Track. Beth, Karoline and 14 keen students braved the wind and cold. It was really nice to get out and about with these students and to hear about their holiday and just have a general catch-up. At the top of the Pineapple Track, we ate some yummy snacks and took a photo of the view - always an amazing panorama of Otepoti.

Robyn and Ange have begun the ‘getting to know you’ chats with the new Year 9 students and their parents for 2024. It is always such a lovely way to begin our connection with our new Tolcarne boarders. We find out more about who they are, what they enjoy, what they are excited about and what they might be feeling anxious about. These interviews continue for the next three weeks.

Ma tē wā 💕

Beth Anderson
Communication Co-ordinator