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

As we settle into the last part of Term 1, it is timely to remind our school community of our attendance expectations. Our goal for every young woman at WGHS is 90% attendance. This is founded on the evidence which proves that attendance at school has one of the greatest influences on engagement and achievement. Attending regularly ensures that students keep up to date with school work, maintain their motivation to succeed and keep their connections with their teachers intact. The ability to develop strong positive and supportive friendships with peer groups is also dependent on regular attendance and this is particularly important for young women to feel secure and a sense of belonging at school. It is important to know that if your daughter does not meet the 90% attendance expectation, she may be at risk of losing the privilege of attending or representing WGHS in events or activities that take place outside the classroom.

I would like to extend my thanks to those of you who attended our parent-teacher interviews last night; making the time to come in and meet with your daughter’s teachers role models to our students the importance that you place on their education as well as continuing to build the home-school connections that are so important to ensuring successful educational outcomes. If you could not make the interview last night, please remember that we welcome your contact at any time and you can find all staff details for contact on our website.

The focus over the past few weeks has been on choosing courage over comfort. We all have a comfort zone where we feel safe and warm and dry, but every now and then, we need to step outside and be challenged, be frightened, be stimulated. Prefects Emily and Amy spoke to their peers about this at assembly last week and encouraged all of us to step out of our own comfort zones. The great news is that we are surrounded by opportunities to do this every day. We don't have to go skydiving or fire walking just to test our comfort zones. It could be as simple as volunteering for something that you have never done before, trying a new sport or activity, or speaking up for yourself when you would usually keep quiet.

Expanding your comfort zone is one way to keep learning and growing. It also makes you feel good about yourself and is proven to give you extra confidence and boost your self esteem. Best of all, it can have a ripple effect. Every time we choose courage over comfort, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver. And our world could stand to be a little better and braver. My challenge to our young women is to be prepared to be a little bit brave every day. Step out of your comfort zone and remember that courage is contagious - you have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs! Choose courage over comfort. And remember, there is risk to every life, but those who risk nothing, risk much more.

Elizabeth Koni

Principal