Welcome back to school for Term 4.
Term 4 is always one of contrasts – for our junior students, a full Term of classwork still lays ahead, the opportunity to continue to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success next year and beyond and still the many opportunities to involve themselves in a wide variety of activities. For our senior students, only a few weeks remain in class before they undertake their relevant NCEA qualification. For our Year 13 students, only a few weeks of class time remain for them before their 13-year journey through schooling comes to an end.
For all of our seniors, we will be pushing them to ensure they have submitted all of their internally assessed work – it is vital that they get as close to the line as possible before sitting their exams – much better to have their exams being the difference between Excellence or Merit subject endorsements than being the difference between passing (or not passing) their qualification level.
Being here every day may well prove to be that difference, being here every day to take full advantage of the support offered by their teachers.
For this reason, some of our senior students will be expected to stay at school longer than others so as to best support them in getting all of their internal assessments submitted.
Whilst the end may be in sight, they are not there yet, so they can’t take the foot off the gas until their final destination of the year has been reached. That destination being the exit from their last scheduled exam, an exit they should make confident that they have given their best. For parents and caregivers, please do as much as you can to support them in their last few weeks, ensure they have time at home to study, support them in getting to school every day, and remind them to talk to their teachers if things are getting on top of them.
As well as the exams, this term is also a busy one for celebrating success – please keep an eye out for published dates for our prizegivings (the first of which is Wednesday 21st October, our Academies evening). For families with Year 13 students, you will note that we are holding our graduation off-site for the first time. Given the size of our Year 13 cohort, we have made this decision so that we do not have to split the cohort in two, which allows the cohort to remain together for the entire ceremony – it also means that more family can attend as well to celebrate the end of the school journey that they have supported.
We are also well into the selection process for our student leaders for 2027, with our first cut of Head Prefect hopefuls making their speeches to Year 12 later this week. We wish all candidates well. This year we have received the largest number of applicants for Head Prefect ever.
During the holidays I had the privilege of wishing our Netball girls bon voyage at Auckland Airport – amongst the touring party was only one student who has previously travelled to the United Kingdom – so the excitement levels were understandably high. Reports back from staff on the tour say that the girls are exemplary ambassadors for the school and for their families. It is great to see the hard work they put in fundraising and planning for so long come to fruition.
