Success is one of our four school values. It often comes as the result of showing the other three values of RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY and CREATIVITY. Success comes in many different forms, and today, it is about acknowledging individual success where people will be recognised publically. The students who come up today should be very proud of their efforts, as no doubt your parents will be proud of you.

But in events like this, not everyone’s successes can be celebrated publically. I want you to think about your success while at Tahuna and be really proud of that…….

I have been thinking a lot about the concept of success as I prepared to write this speech. What qualities and attributes does a successful person have? What are the outcomes for successful people?

One person kept coming up over and over.

A billionaire, a person who has the ability to change the wealth of a city and even a country every time they visit. Forbes listed this person as the fifth most important woman in the world and she is incredibly politically influential. The prestigious University of Stanford provides a course to study this person. They have even been known to create earthquakes wherever they go. Do you know who I am thinking of yet?

The most streamed artist in 2023, the highest-grossing worldwide tour, a record-setting movie and last week was announced as the Time Person of the Year over Putin, The King and the President of China.

As we gather here today for our 2023 Prizegiving Ceremony, I present you a Taylor Swift-themed speech.

As we celebrate all of our success, I am reminded of the beautiful melodies that weave through our experiences—the harmonies of success, the crescendos of challenges, and the sweet refrains of growth. Today, let us celebrate not only the achievements of our students but also the rhythmic journey that has brought us to this moment.

Just like Taylor Swift's music, our students' stories are unique, and their melodies are shaped by the highs and lows of their educational journey. We've had our "Love Story" moments, filled with joy and triumph,

I know you all have had a joy and triumph moment, as one of my highlights for the year was reading the students' comments and how everyone could think of something that they have been especially proud of.

If your name is not called today, do not let that define who you are. I have attended a few prize-giving at high schools over the last ten years. One of the things that I enjoy the most is seeing students whom I have taught at previous schools find success and be acknowledged as they cross the stage. I have been proven to be wrong more times than I can remember on students who hadn’t found success at primary or intermediate and five years later, end up with amazing achievements and rewards. What you have done up to now doesn’t define you, if you don’t get called up for a prize today it doesn’t take away what you have achieved this year It is what you do next is the thing that will define you. So whatever happens today, I encourage you all to set yourself some new goals, work hard and keep putting your best foot forward so that one day you may be recognised in an event like this.

When Taylor Swift was your age, she was treated as an outcast at her school as she liked country music, and her first demo tapes were rejected.

So if your name is not called today you need to have a "Shake It Off" moment, where resilience and a positive attitude can be your guiding lights.

To our incredible teachers and learning assistants, you've been the composers of this symphony, crafting educational experiences that resonate with each student's individual tune. Much like Taylor's "Long Live," your dedication echoes in the memories and knowledge you've imparted, shaping the futures of these young minds.

One of the lines in the song is, "It was the end of a decade, but the start of an age..." These children come to us after their first decade of life and enter one of the most influential periods in their lives as pre-adolescent teenagers. You are helping set the all-important foundation stones for the start of their journey into the next stage of their life.

Many of our students see their teacher as if they are “holding your head like a hero…. on a history book page..." You impart your knowledge, shared experiences and guide students in their personal and academic development, leaving a lasting impression much like a historical figure.

Parents and guardians, you are the unsung but all-important heroes in this lyrical journey. Your support and encouragement have been the steady beat, the foundation upon which these melodies are built. Although not a Taylor Swift song, You've Been the Wind Beneath Their Wings, and Your Love, like a timeless Swifty ballad, is a melody that will linger in their hearts forever.

And now, to our students, you are the stars of this musical narrative. In the lyrics of your academic journey, you've faced challenges with resilience, danced through successes with exuberance, and harmonised with your peers in the beautiful chorus of friendship. As you stand on this stage today, remember that this is your "Wildest Dreams" moment, a testament to your hard work, dedication, and the many notes you've played along the way.

As you move forward into new chapters, embrace Taylor's wisdom in "Begin Again."

Every ending is a new beginning, and every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow. The road ahead might be filled with "Enchanted" moments and perhaps a few "Blank Spaces" to fill with your dreams and aspirations.

In the spirit of Taylor Swift's "Fearless," be bold in your pursuits, resilient in the face of challenges, and unapologetically you in your journey. Just like the lyrics of her songs, your stories are meant to be sung, shared, and celebrated.

Congratulations to our students, our staff, and our supportive parents. May your melodies continue to echo through our school, creating a symphony of success, growth, and everlasting memories.

End-of-year celebrations are always tinged with sadness as we lose half our school. Teachers and support staff move on to better things. Eve O’Connor, who has been teaching in Room 16 for three terms while Kelsey Brockbank has been on maternity leave, is moving to Christchurch next year to take up a position at a primary school, and we wish her all the very best for that.

Andrew Tait has taken up an exciting opportunity at Trinity College next year, and likewise, we wish him well. Andrew is a well-respected teacher who has fulfilled several roles within the school, most notably in the Specialist Department in either the Design Tech or Hard Tech room. Andrew will also be remembered as a teacher who selflessly gave up his own time to work with students in a range of settings. Whether helping students with their projects during his lunch break, coaching in basketball, netball, hockey and volleyball or being an influential leader in the Pacific Pride Club, we will miss his many talents.

To the year 8’s ….

I love Intermediates for the fact that they provide so many opportunities for students to try new things, but more importantly, these opportunities allow them to grow as a person. They find out what they like and, perhaps more importantly, what they don’t like and start to develop a wide range of social and academic skills. As Dr Seuss says… You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go

The vast majority of you have enjoyed your time at Intermediate. If you take that same positive attitude to high school, you will grow even more. If you keep our school values as your North Star or guiding light, you will do extremely well.

I would like to quote another great lyricist like Swift and Seuss. Bronte Becker from Room 14 is her name, and I thought she summed up the student comments in the reports the best when she said ….

I am excited and nervous to leave Tahuna, but also I know that Tahuna has lifted me up to the standard I need to be at. I feel I have accomplished much more in reading, writing and math, then I could've at any other school. It has fun learning opportunities, trips that put me out of my comfort zone and, especially, the people. I loved the fact that I was a school leader and that the performing arts section was huge. My time at Tahuna was the most opportunity-filled time in my life.

It is that feeling of pride, excitement and positivity that you should all take as you head off to high school next year.

Bronte talked about the opportunities that she has taken while at Tahuna. Another theme that came out of the student comments in the report was our student's regrets about not trying new things. This is the challenge that I would like to extend to the Year 7 students next year. What did you see this year that you would like to try next year… I want you to think about that.

I also want you to think about what our school will be like next year. Intermediates are the only schools that lose half of their students every year, and therefore, we lose half of our culture yearly. It will be you who sets the tone next year. How we look after each other, how we talk to each other, how we look after the school and its resources will be set by the 270 students that we have in Year 7 sitting here today. If things weren’t great for you this year, here is our chance to fix it. If you have a great year, let’s build on it and make it even better. Because if you make it better for yourself, you will make it even better for the 270 Year 7s joining next year.

I would like to acknowledge those families who have their last child in Year 8. For some, it has been a ten-year association with the school, and we wish you all the very best. Thank you for allowing us to educate all of your children. For those parents who this is your first child going to high school. Good luck!

Finally, I would like to finish by saying that on behalf of all of the Tahuna Normal Intermediate School staff, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe and enjoyable holiday break.

Nga mihi nui

Simon Clarke

Principal

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