Principal's Message

It is wonderful to be back with our young people after the recent holiday break. There is a real sense of purpose as seniors tidy up loose ends and prepare for end of year events. With only two weeks left with our year 11-13s, teachers and students are working hard to ensure they are well prepared for external exams. Meanwhile our year 7&8 students are enjoying the swimming component of their PE course, and year 10s are looking forward to camp in a few weeks after the year 9 and 10 exams. This term is going to move through quickly.

Yesterday at our assembly, it was a privilege to acknowledge our latest national representatives. Our girls curling team are now the South Island and National Secondary School Champions after winning the national competition during the holidays. Sarah and Olivia Oram, Ellie McKenzie and Bella Stewart have worked hard over the last few years to get to this point and they should be proud of their commitment and persistence. We wish them well as they attend trials for the Youth Olympics. Aria Bannister, year 10, won the Under 15 Squash National Championship during the holidays and has been selected to take part in a NZ squad to tour Canada and the USA later this year. We were also happy to acknowledge Kyran Edmonds who has been named in the NZ U18 Handball Team to compete in Rarotonga in the next holidays. It is wonderful to see these students using their God-given gifts to the full and putting in the time and commitment to gain these successes – congratulations!

Thank you to those families who attended our whānau hui on Tuesday evening. I think all present would agree that it was an evening full of meaningful and purposeful discussion and I felt a real sense of whanaungatanga (relationship and connection). I look forward to this group building on our partnership to make our college a special place for all learners.

At the end of last term, I attended part of the year 12 overnight retreat. Thank you to those staff who spent time away from their own families to make this retreat such a success. Our year 12s are a great group and I know that they are going to have a successful year in 2023. As the first cohort of student leaders for Trinity Catholic College, I am confident that they are going to enact this responsibility with dignity and integrity. It is both humbling and exciting for me, that 50% of our year 12s have applied for a leadership role for next year. This demonstrates a real desire to serve and give back to the community that has been home to them for the last six years. I look forward to what they will bring to Trinity Catholic College.

Ngā mihi nui.