Farewell to the class of ’23

What an outstanding group of rangatahi we have worked alongside this year!

We have been inspired by the ways so many of you have met the challenges of 2023, and the generosity expressed in so many ways both within and beyond our kura. You have worked hard and shown impressive perseverance and determination, which has led to many successes.

The 2023 cohort has been impacted by the disruptions and disappointments of Covid for almost all of your secondary schooling, as well as the tragedies and challenges that our community has faced over the last few years. Your 13 school years take us back to 2011: if you have lived in Ōtautahi for much of that time, you will also have experienced varying amounts of disruption from earthquakes and aftermath. As we look forward to 2024 and beyond, we acknowledge the extra challenges that these events have presented. These experiences may build resilience for later life. This past year we have seen you commit yourselves to studies, step outside of comfort zones and look out for each other with real bravery and graciousness.

In light of these successes we'd like to invite you to Te Puāwaitanga (The Blossoming), our student-led graduation event. Te Puāwaitanga will be on the evening of Thursday, 30th November, in Gym 2, followed by refreshments in Auripo foyer. Many thanks to Lilly A., Poppy, Ellie, Nova, and Lily T. for organising. See the attached flyer for details, and please contact Emma directly for late registrations (emma.lumb@staff.hagley.school.nz or 021 916 631).

Retrospect, the fantastic 2023 Leavers’ magazine, will also be available for $8 (cash sales only) at Te Puāwaitanga. It is currently available for purchase at the Enrolment Centre. Congratulations to the Year 13 Journalism class and their teacher, Naomi Milner, and all those involved in putting together and publishing an excellent keepsake of the year.

For those students heading on to university study in 2024, we would like to invite you to join us on the morning of Te Puāwaitanga for our Navigation Guide for Starting Uni. We will talk through some university processes, what's different about school and uni (including grading systems), an introduction to the UC Ako / Learn platform, and have a brief look at how to do APA citations and referencing, with time for students to ask questions. Thursday, 30th November at 10am in the Careers Room. Please RSVP to Kim or Emma. Flyer also attached.

Setting sights a little further out beyond these next few weeks, it would be lovely to have you maintain connections with the kura through the Hagley-West Association (formerly Westonians). It is a special tie that the College has with former students, and the current membership would like to warmly invite 2023 leavers to be in touch. Information and membership forms are on the College website.

To all our Year 13 rangatahi, keep up the good work for these last few weeks as you complete externals. If anyone needs help with study tips or organising their exam study, please don’t hesitate to contact Kim or drop into Careers over the next couple of weeks. Don’t forget that Careers and the library are great quiet study spaces!

Thank you for what you have brought to Te Puna Wai o Waipapa, and for the many and varied contributions you have made. It has been our genuine privilege to travel this year with you. We look forward to hearing of your next adventures.

Ngā mihi nui – our very best wishes,

Chris and Emma