Comments from the Acting Principal

Tena koutou whanau

Well dare I say it but spring is certainly here and it really is such a blessing to see the lambs, blossoms and lightening of the mornings and evenings that herald this hope filled time of year. As students turn their attention to a busy end of the term, the pressure can come on to have assessments in on time or catch up on missed work if they have been away for any reason. With that in mind, its a good idea to remember to encourage your young people to eat and sleep right and if they are feeling stressed, to talk to you or a staff member here at school to plan out a way to manage these 'pinch points'. Student well-being is an important focus for us here at St Peter's, and in line with that, this week we have begun our first 'Assessing Well-Being at School' or AWE survey for staff and students to complete. This survey can be rolled out at various times in the year and it looks at such things as mood, resilience and general happiness of the student. Once completed, it sends a report back to the individual concerned as to where they sit in terms of personal well being, but it also provides the school with data we can use to know where the gaps in well-being exist across age groups and what we need to put in place to meet that need. If your student has not yet completed the AWE survey, please encourage them to do so as information like this is just so vital in providing the wrap around care that we know is so important with our youth. 
Fantastic feedback from last weeks Year 10 'Real Game' programme run by Anne Perniskie and assisted by Joy Delahunt. Students reported that they really enjoyed the speakers organised to represent different fields of endeavour, and came away inspired and excited about the future. Well done to Anne and her team for all the work that went in here.
Great stories continue to be fed back also around our Project Based Learning with parents reporting excited and motivated young people industriously talking about their learning and their projects over the dinner table  - well done to Bridget Ryan and her team for their continued drive with this exciting direction in education.
Outside of these, it has also been a  busy week with the Year 12 Geographers off to Mt Cook, the MCAT Maths exam for the Year 11's on Tuesday and on Friday at lunch time, the much anticipated 'Year 10 Market Day' in the hall. Something yummy for everyone and lots of fun.
Gracious God, in the busy-ness of my day, I sometimes forget to stop to thank you for all that is good in my life. In the silence of my soul, I thank you most of all for your unconditional and eternal love.
Amen 
Nga mihi nui and God Bless

Darren Jack

---

Pictured above : The Year 12's Geography Classroom this week.