Principal's Message

We are moving quickly towards the end of Term One and, after today, we only have another twelve more school days until the holiday break. It has felt like a very settled term with learning getting underway quickly and the general behaviour and attitude of our students being positive and aligned to our college values. We are grateful to you at home for ensuring students are on time to start their first class, ready to learn with the right equipment, uniforms sorted and correct, and that our shared expectations and values are talked about at home as well as at school. I also need to credit our year 13 students for their positive role modelling around the college this term so far, and their proactive work in student led initiatives to create an environment that truly reflects who we are as a college living out respect, service, justice and truth. I am greatly looking forward to seeing what more the year will bring through their leadership.

Staff farewelled Mrs Maria Menzies last Friday after 29 years of service to our college. Maria has been the epitome of discretion, professionalism and organisation and she will be missed, not only for the great colleague she has been, but also for the knowledge of our college and its people, that she takes with her. I know many of our ex-students have enjoyed seeing Maria’s familiar face in the office when returning here to enrol their own young people. Enjoy your retirement, Maria, it is well-earned and we know you will continue to keep busy, with your family being able to claim back more time with their mum and grandmother! If you haven’t already seen it, check out one of the farewell celebration videos for Maria on our website news centre.

At the start of Term Two, we will welcome Mrs Gretchen Beardmore into our office team. Gretchen is currently the sports administrator at Columba College, and we are looking forward to having Gretchen join our staff.

It was good to see so many of our year 7-9 whānau attending the learning interviews last week. As I often say, please keep up the communication and raise questions or concerns early so we can work together to resolve these. Being present to have conversations with your child’s teachers is the perfect place for these conversations to happen. The year 10-13 learning interviews are open for bookings now. There are two options – face to face, or online – over two different weeks. I would say that giving this much choice about when and how, should mean we have a 100% of parents booking interview times! We look forward to talking with you about your child’s progress.

At this point in the term with the cross-over in sports seasons, where summer competition and preparation for winter sports starts to collide, along with Skakespeare practices, musical practices and a myriad of other happenings alongside end of term and NCEA assessments, the upcoming long weekend should be a welcome break from routine and a chance for our young people to catch their breath as they prepare for the final three weeks of the term.

Next week is Holy Week in the Church’s liturgical calendar beginning with Palm Sunday this weekend, and then Holy Thursday and Good Friday marking the beginning of the Easter triduum. We will have a whole school Holy Week Liturgy towards the end of next week and we will be encouraging students to reflect on this very important time in the Church.

Enjoy anniversary weekend and, hopefully, the chance to spend some special time together as a family.

Warm regards, Kate Nicholson