Tēnā koutou, Malo e lelei, Tālofa lava, Bula vinaka, Good afternoon.

Welcome to a new school year. In particular, I wish to extend a warm welcome to the many new students and their families who are now a part of our very special school community.

While the to-be-expected interruptions caused by Covid have meant a slightly altered plan to the start of the school year here at Waitaki Girls’, it is so lovely to see our young women back on-site, full of energy and enthusiasm. 2022 will be another year where we continue to work towards the three goals that our Board of Trustees have set in our strategic plan. These goals will once again provide all of us with opportunities for challenge and change, but meeting them will ensure our school provides the optimum environment for our young women, not only to learn in, but to grow and flourish as individuals.

Goal 1 is Excellence in Teaching and Learning. This is about having high expectations and school staff working with our students, and you, their parents and caregivers, to help them achieve their absolute potential. None of us can do it alone; as teachers we must provide engaging and relevant learning opportunities for individuals and students have to rise to meet the expectations and make the most of opportunities that are offered. Our hope and expectation is that, as parents and caregivers, you will also play your part by insisting on regular attendance, completion of homework, supporting us in our expectations, communicating with us if you have questions or concerns and engaging in opportunities to collaborate with school so that your daughter has the best chance to reach her potential. Goal 2 is Nurturing Wellbeing. This is about creating an environment where every student feels valued and accepted. An environment where it is safe to be themselves and where they feel empowered to take risks and step out of their comfort zone. We want Waitaki Girls’ to be a place that encourages positive relationships, engagement and emotions. Where kindness, care and compassion for one another are never underestimated, because with them, we have the potential to change one another's lives for the better. Goal 3 is Positive School Culture. This is about using the Waitaki Way values to guide the way we live and learn. It is about having pride in ourselves and our school, celebrating the effort and successes of one another and cultivating respect, responsibility and resilience in all that we do.

This year we welcome a number of new staff to our team. Mrs Jacqueline Paterson - Director of Boarding at our hostel, Waitaki House, Ms Jolene Herrick - Yr 9 dean and teacher of Economics and Business Studies. Ms Lauren Hueppauff - Physical Education and Science, Miss Amy Hunter - Physics and Science, Ms Jenny McGuire - Geography, Tourism and Social Studies. Miss Sophie Pilbrow - Music and Performing, Ms Chloe Renshaw - Biology and Science. I would also like to welcome back Mrs Hayley Ambler - Science. You will no doubt have the opportunity to meet and get to know these new members of staff and I am sure you will be as pleased as I am to have each of them join our staff, knowing that our young women will benefit greatly from their knowledge, skills and passion.

As we navigate through the ever-changing COVID landscape, apprehension and uncertainty once again sit upon this new year’s horizon. As such, it is more important than ever to hold on to some sense of optimism to help see us through and so I sign off today with a timely reminder from The Huffington Post founder, Adrianna Huffington, who said ‘There is purpose to our life, even if it is sometimes hidden from us, and even if the biggest turning points and heartbreaks only make sense as we look back, rather than as we are experiencing them. So we might as well live our life - as the poet Rumi put it - everything is rigged in our favour”

Elizabeth Koni

Principal