30 August 2024

Kia ora e te whānau,

As we enjoy the many exciting trips and events that have taken place over the past week (the newsletter is full of them!!), I want to acknowledge that this is a challenging time for many of our senior students with school exams beginning in Week 8. I see the hard work that so many of our students are putting in, and I understand that this time of year can feel overwhelming. When things get tough, I often encourage students to take just one step forward. It may seem small, but making a start on revision or tackling an assessment can be the most difficult part, and creating a plan and seeking support can make all the difference.

I am really proud of our U85kg rugby team who go up against Auckland Grammar in the season final tomorrow. The boys have shown such commitment and real courage across the season and certainly deserve their place in the final. The game is at Mt Wellington War Memorial Park at 12pm.

Next week several of our sports teams head off to tournaments as part of the National Schools' Winter Tournament Week. We wish all of our teams well and look forward to hearing about results across the week.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu. Our thoughts are with his whānau and all those in our school community and beyond who are close to him.

Ngā mihi nui, Fiona Barker PRINCIPAL