Comments from the Principal

​Kia ora tatou
I was fortunate to accompany the Kapahaka students to the Eastern Southland Cultural Festival on Thursday at Mataura Primary School. Once again the students showed their commitment and talent during a number of items performing haka and waiata. They even taught the large crowd present a waiata with actions.  Well done to all of you - it was a pleasure to watch you perform.
On Monday, we will celebrate academic excellence during our Academic Blues ceremony at noon. Our NCEA Excellence endorsements were particularly pleasing last year and there will be a large number of students crossing the stage on Monday to receive their ‘Blue’. Having such a big number of excellence endorsements shows real quality and depth of teaching and learning that is happening in the senior school, and of course this follows on from the foundations that are built in the junior school. Thank you to the students, staff and parents who have contributed to these outstanding results. Again this year our Level 1 and 2 results were higher than both national results and also higher than comparable schools throughout New Zealand (decile 8-10 schools). Our boys’ results continue to stand out, being significantly higher than the decile 8-10 schools nationally. A summary of our results are shown here:

The Year 13 Special Character Leaders coordinated our liturgy for Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, at assembly on Wednesday. Students were reminded of the meaning of Lent and the 40 days of reflection, repentance, fasting and almsgiving that are all a priority for Christians during this time leading to the Resurrection at Easter. Therefore it is appropriate that we have our annual Work Day during Lent. Please remember that this is happening this coming Wednesday, 13th March, and all students are asked to find work for the day. A significant proportion of the money raised is then given to agencies and charities to help those who need our assistance. We have been talking at school about love in action being the real meaning of our motto ‘Charity Fulfils the Law’. Committing to help our local and global community is one way we can ‘do’ love in action. Please encourage and support your child to be part of this mission on Wednesday.

---