Nau mai Hoki Mai - Welcome back to Boarding

Thank you all for your patience as our new boarding team prepares for your daughter’s return to boarding. We are looking forward to greeting them on the evening of Sunday, 8 October, from 5:00 pm. This a reminder that there will be no dinner available as the dining room is closed.

We had a busy and rewarding third term as a boarding community. Our focus and efforts are underpinned by the vision set by our Head of Boarding, Emma Clapcott He Waka Eke Noa, with her Boarding Council. I am grateful for their leadership and support in fostering the spirit of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga within boarding through events such as theme dinners, lipsync competition and boarders leavers service. We also had our two Head students, Jamie Bidois and Petra Pratt-Rink, stay for a boarding experience. Initially only for one week, they loved it so much they stayed for two! Both mentioned how much they enjoyed their time as 'boarders', the spirit, the community, the interactions with all year levels and, in particular, the food. 

Term three encompassed many sporting, cultural, arts and academic events. I wish to acknowledge all our boarders who participated, played hard but fair, shared their talents and skills, and showed their diligence and integrity on the sporting fields, performance stages, in the classroom, boarding houses and exam rooms last term. Other house parents and I were grateful to be able to attend and support netball games, hockey games, dance showcase, arts showcase, whaanau dinner and other events. As usual, we were overwhelmed with our boarding girls' many talents and skills. Of course, these events are the culmination of courage, hard work, resilience, diligence and whaanau support. We know that it takes a village to raise a child. 

In terms of boarding staff last term, we farewelled Hermione Joyce (Gap tutor), Ella Short (Year 10 House Parent) and Ana Kington (Senior Assistant House Parent). Hermione has continued her gap year travelling and working in the South Island. Ella returned to Whangaarei to work and further her studies. Ana will move back to the Coromandel at the end of the year after completing her term at her primary school. In saying that, you might see her in term four as a relief Assistant House Parent if and when needed. Regarding staffing for term four, we welcome Emily Maree (previous Assistant House parent) as our new Year 10 House Parent and Havana Klink and Shaeana Jaunay as Assistant House Parents. 

As a new boarding team, we continue to work hard, forming, storming, norming, and performing to provide the best possible care for our boarding students, and ever present in my mind is the famous whakatauaakii of Princess Te Puea Herangi, Aunty to our beloved Old Girl Piki Mahuta, the Late Maaori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu - "Mahia te mahi hei painga moo te iwi - Do what is necessary for the betterment of the people". It is also a timely reminder that house parents are OFF DUTY and often OFF SITE between 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Duty phones or emails will be answered as soon as possible. Please do not knock on House Parents' private residence doors asking for entry to boarding houses. If access is needed to boarding houses during off-duty times, this must be arranged in advance with the relevant House Parent. Thank you in advance for respecting and supporting the well-being of our boarding staff.

Boarding at Dio encourages students to become independent, open-minded, and principled thinkers. Family values are at our core, and the well-being of our young people is paramount. We encourage all students to find a good study/life balance and be proactive members of our supportive community. There is a varied program to allow time for relaxation, spirituality, study, and the opportunity to try new activities.

Thank you for entrusting us with your precious aakonga. We are very blessed to have this opportunity to partner with you to ensure your daughter thrives in this independent environment where mutual aroha and manaakitanga are front and centre.

Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui - with term four on the horizon, I encourage us all to continue to be strong, brave and steadfast in greeting the opportunities and meeting the challenges in our daily lives. We have loved getting to know our boarding girls and their whaanau. We look forward to continuing to do so in term four.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. Success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many.

Noho ora mai,

Jacqueline Smith | Director of Boarding MEdLeadership (Distinction), BA, Grad DipT, Dip.Soc.Sci, Dip TTP (Te Reo Maaori), CertTEAL