The month of June is a time to celebrate our friends in the LQBTQ+ community, commend them on the struggles they face and overcome every day, and recognise their courage and beauty.

At Dio, we look to embrace and acknowledge all in our student body and its diversity - every student's quirks and characteristics that are individual to them are to be celebrated! We hope this month has enabled our students in the LQBTQ+ community to feel seen and heard and promoted education and awareness surrounding the pride movement while emphasising the importance of uplifting our fellow rangatahi. I hope everyone reading this feels noticed and appreciated within our school - you are beautiful - he tino ataahua koe.

We have almost reached the end of the term - yay! Despite some interruptions, we are so lucky to have had such an amazing past few weeks.

Prefect Netball Game

On 12 May, St Paul's Collegiate joined us on home turf for the annual prefects vs prefects netball game! These events are some of the most eagerly anticipated amongst our student leaders and our wider student body, and it was a blast to play - despite the hard-core competitiveness, both schools brought to the court!

Alex Peoples, Head of Sport, says ...

”St Pauls prefects took on the challenge of versing our prefects in a netball game here at Dio. Our team had a fantastic warm-up and started strong, giving St Paul’s a run for their money. It was a goal for goal, and when the final buzzer went off, it was a tie. Because both teams were very competitive, we decided to make it so that the winner had to get two goals in a row. Unfortunately, this allowed St Paul’s to win. There is talk about a rematch which will probably happen in Term 3, where the better team (Dio) will have the chance to take the win!”

Even though we were unable to walk away with a dub this year - the final score being 17-19 to SPC - it was still a pleasure just to be able to play against them. A big mihi to Alex and the team at SPC for enabling this match to go ahead. It was amazing!

Head Students Breakfast

On 31 May, we are very grateful to say that we were able to host a head students' breakfast for all the head students in the Waikato region that could make it. This breakfast allowed us to continue building a supportive and close network among student leaders. It enabled us to get to know one another further, hoping to connect and work together throughout this year. Parakuihi was catered and held in the Selwyn Dining Hall and was a casual breakfast with other like-minded students looking to develop their leadership skills. Beginning with a kai karanga and karakia, thanks to our beautiful Amokura, Amiria, everyone was able to mingle and ease into some chit-chat over kai, to then participate in a group vs group quiz about each other, and finished with a guided tour of our kura to those who wanted one. It was amazing to connect with other head students and build connections with students and kura around the Waikato. Huge thank you to all the student leaders, the catering team, and the mentor teachers who were able to help us make it happen. We hope this event becomes an annual one and know all the future head students will have a fantastic time if it does!

Climate Strike

On 26 May, Waikato Dio students and Rev Stephen participated in the Kirikiriroa School Strike 4 Climate NZ. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders stood united on Friday for climate justice by coming together in different locations across Aotearoa, to protest climate injustice and campaign for the protection of papatuanuku. Students, parents, and university students rallied together to march the streets of Hamilton in protest. Over 15 events were organised nationwide by School Strike 4 Climate NZ and Fridays for Future groups in not only large cities such as Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch but also in smaller townships such as Featherston, Kātaia, and Wānaka. Led by our head of physical environment, Charlotte DeLatour, a few of our students were able to participate in this empowering event whilst also being provided with the opportunity to listen to activist speakers. Charlotte spoke alongside university students currently studying climate change. It was an insightful day and opened our eyes to how important it is to reduce emissions, transition to regenerative agriculture, and demand Te Tiriti-centred climate justice for the future of our tamariki. Event organisers called - and continue to call - upon those across generations to join the thousands who peacefully stood up for the climate in support of the clear demands of the New Zealand Government.

Environment Week

From 6 - 9 June, Dio hosted our annual Environment Week! After a fantastic climate strike, Environment Week was an excellent opportunity to educate students on environmentally friendly practices and ethical living. Ran by the gorgeous Charlotte DeLautour, and her amazing environment council, this fun week consisted of a clothing drive, newspaper plant pot making, a house waste management relay, an environment Kahoot, and finished with a thrifted non-uniform day! Every activity was brilliant, and we are so grateful to Charlotte and her team for setting up such a wonderful and celebratory week for us to enjoy. Charlotte says ...

“From the excitement of the house competition recycling relay to the calming atmosphere of the plant pot, Environment Week 2023 was a success! Our lunchtime activities organised by the very hard-working environment council brought the focus of our school community back to looking after and appreciating our earth perfectly in time for World Environment Day. A huge thank you to everyone who got involved this past week, in particular, those who donated to our school clothing drive. All clothes have been passed on to various charity stores across Kirikiriroa and were very appreciated! Thank you, everyone xxx."

Hastings Girls Exchange

From Thursday, 8 June, to Sunday, 11 June, the Senior Te Reo Maaori classes of 2023 headed down to Hastings on Exchange #2 with Hastings Girls' High School. Following the previous exchange in 2022, when they came to Waikato Dio over three days, the focus of this exchange was to continue to build upon our relationship with Hastings Girls' High School and their beautiful waahine, whilst learning about the rich histories of Kahungunu iwi whaanui. Beginning with a beautiful poowhiri and building connections with the local kohanga reo and their tamariki, to walking up Te Mata Rongokako and being educated by local experts on iwi tikanga and stories, finishing with a fun day at the national aquarium and ocean spa - as well as all the riff/haka offs skits, and sing-alongs that came in between - we senior te reo Maaori students were so grateful to be able to attend such a fantastic 4-day waananga at their kura. Thank you to Koka and our whaanau at Hasting Girls for their hospitality - for making this possible! You’re organisation and willingness to continue to uplift, promote and share kaupapa Maaori within our community does not go unnoticed, and we are so grateful to be able to work with you. I am sure I am not alone when I say this exchange is one I will be lucky to remember for the rest of my life.

StarJam 2023 Charity

Nine of our students, supported by Mrs Maree, supported the StarJammers performance with Orchestra Central on Saturday, 17 June. Our team of helpers did hair and make-up and helped with vocal warm-ups! Here's what Troy Gaudencio, StarJam Waikato Regional Programmes Coordinator, has to say about our helpers:

"I just wanted to say thank you to the students that helped out on Saturday. Could you please convey my thanks to all of the students that helped out. They were absolutely fantastic! And so kind and patient with all our Jammers – it was an absolute pleasure to have them support us. They all did marvellous work with hair/make-up and assisting our groups. Thank you all so much!"

That's all from us for now! Of course, the anticipated House Singing is coming up this Friday from 6.00 pm, and I look forward to hearing your beautiful voices! As always, feel free to reach out to me or any of the student leaders if there is anything you need help with.

Aroha nui,

Jamie xxx

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