Kia ora e te whānau;

As we wrap up another busy week at GBHS, I want to share a story that reminded me of what truly matters in our kura. A teacher recently bumped into an ex-student he had taught and coached more than 20 years ago at GBHS. Later, she sent him a photo of herself and nine of her former classmates standing on Aoraki Mt Cook: they had come together every year for more than two decades. When the teacher shared it with me, he said, “There are times when our job is more precious than words.” It was a great reminder that the friendships, relationships, and sense of belonging built at school can last a lifetime. This is the essence of our school vision, Te Angitu Ngātahi, succeeding together.

That sense of connection has been clear across the school this week. On Monday evening, we held our Year 13 Graduation, a truly special celebration of our graduating students. I loved seeing the moments of connection between students and their form teachers as they walked across the stage. We were also proud to award more than $260,000 in scholarships from tertiary institutions across the country, an achievement that reflects not only the hard work of our students, but also the support of their whānau and teachers.

Our Year 13 leaders for 2026 spent two days at their leadership camp in Muriwai this week, creating their vision and building their connection with each other and preparing for the responsibilities they will take on next year. They are a fantastic group of young people, and I am really excited to see their leadership in action next year. Huge thanks to Deputy Principal Elaine Webb and Deans Matt Ollerenshaw and Jo Nolan for all the organisation that went into the camp.

For the first time, GBHS welcomed students from the NZ Refugee Centre School on Wednesday, providing a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet new people, share experiences, and learn from one another. It was a day enjoyed by everyone, and we look forward to building on the connections made this year.

It has also been fantastic to watch our Year 10 students take part in their softball tournament today. I really enjoyed seeing them demonstrate their house spirit by playing hard, supporting one another, and having a whole lot of fun. There were even some competitive staff out on the field, adding to the excitement!

Have a great weekend.

Ngā mihi nui, Fiona Barker
PRINCIPAL