Maanawa maiea te putanga o Matariki, Maanawa maiea te ariki o te rangi, Maanawa maiea te Maatahi o te Tau, Tihei Mauri Ora

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 16 July from 5:00 pm. This a reminder that there will be no dinner available.

We had a busy and rewarding second term as a boarding community. Our focus and efforts of course 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.  

I wish to acknowledge the many sporting and artistic achievements of our boarding girls. We as house parents were privileged to attend and cheer for our boarding girls from the sidelines at the Gallagher Hockey Centre, amazed at their stamina at water polo at Waterworld, overwhelmed by the confidence exhibited while public speaking and astonished by their talent showcased at House Singing. We are so very lucky to have witnessed the leadership, perseverance and creativity from Lani Kete (Head of Blake), Molly Roberts (Head of Shackleton) and Meg Crawford (Head of Scott) right here in Boarding. This was the eighth House Singing I have attended and I can truly say that this year's was one of the very best. Despite the ups and downs of term two, the spirit that was witnessed and felt through the collaboration, co-operation and harmonies of our girls with the support of kaiako and whaanau was magical. Congratulations again to Meg Crawford and her stunning Scott House, winners of House Singing 2023.

With term three on the horizon, academic diligence, preparation and achievement is the focus. Weeks 8 and 9 of this term will be our Senior Derived Practice Examinations for all our Y10 to 13 NCEA students entered into externally based assessments, often referred to 'mock exams'. The examinations are not 'mock' but are very important as grades generated from these practice examinations are also used if students are unable to attend the end of year NCEA examinations for reasons such as sickness or bereavement. Students will receive more information regarding these practice examinations and end of year examinations closer to the time.

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 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday and 8:45 am to 2:15 pm on Wednesday. Duty phones or emails will be answered as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for 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.

We have loved getting to know our boarding girls and their whaanau. We look forward to continuing to do so in term three.

Noho ora mai,

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