From the tumuaki | principal 2024 Term 1 Week 8

Kia ora koutou

We have a new school band training up for Rockquest. They’re under wraps while they build their team and repertoire but I could feel their excitement as we talked this week. I’m looking forward to them unleashing their talent!

A group of female student leaders attended the Changemaker Leadership day hosted by Avonside Girls and it will be interesting to see them applying their learning within our team. My thanks to parent Rachel Scott for volunteering to take them.

All of year 10 did an overnight field trip to learn more about the history around Horomaka / Banks Peninsula including an overnight stay at Ōnuku Marae with learning about te ao Māori / Māori culture. Mrs Anna Lee, our head of Social Sciences, has learnt a lot about this area and students learn so much more when they can see it for real. The mixture of Māori and European history here is incredible, with the origins of Te Tiriti / The Treaty of Waitangi right there by Akaroa and a beautiful monument in recognition of an awful massacre. Every single student conducted themselves with respect and the gains made from learning together, especially overnight, can’t be underestimated. Thanks to the team who organised this (and Mandy the bus driver whose arms would have been hurting from steering around all those corners!)

Our International Department is working really well thanks to the leadership of Amanda Wright, the skill and commitment of Sumi Hayakawa-Buist and Paula McLeod, plus all of our wonderful homestay families and the teachers and students who welcome our guests. I talked with delightful Thai students this week who were shivering in our chilly autumn weather. Last year’s surplus is being invested in new AV gear - lighting and sound - for our Hall so that everyone can benefit.

Noho ora mai,

Andy England

Tumuaki | Principal