Principal's Welcome 

13th May 2022 (Friday)

Kia Ora Tātou

Welcome back to term 2. The priority for the next two terms, particularly for senior students, is working consistently towards their academic goals. Students will have started to receive assessment results and will be able to determine whether they are on track to meet success.

Complicating the picture will be the ongoing presence of Covid and the potential to disrupt learning. Already in term one there has had to be flexibility with assessment due dates and extensions. If students have Covid they have a medical excuse, however, if students are isolating as a close contact, they are still expected to attempt all work and meet assessment deadlines. If in doubt students should consult with their teachers. Deans are also available if there is the need to manage and prioritise workload requirements.

Winter sport has started. Thank you to the many volunteers who support our students by coaching and managing teams. Your contribution makes a big difference to our school and students. I am also impressed by the number of former students willing to give back by coaching school teams. Both the Girls and Boys Football first XIs are coached by former students, Beth Rattray and Sam Veal. Watching the two teams play last week, I was impressed by the quality of play and the positive manner in which the students were coached. The girls have been promoted to the premier grade and started the season with a 5-1 victory over Takapuna, followed by a 6-2 victory over Rangitoto College.

Over the holidays, students were involved in both the St Heliers and St Andrews Retirement Village Anzac services. Thanks to Samara Bayliss at St Heliers and Sophie Campbell-Patston (Deputy Head Girl) and Otis McKenzie (Head Boy) at St Andrews. There was positive feedback on the quality of their presentations and how well they represented the college.

Two 2021 Year 13 students, Joshua Lay and Damon Herlihy-O’Brien, attended the ‘New Zealand Scholarship Top Scholars Award’ ceremony in Wellington on Wednesday 11 May. Joshua received a ‘Premier Award’ (Top 12 in New Zealand) while Damon was ‘Top Music Scholar’ in New Zealand. The college was represented by Mr Andrew Lile who taught both students Music. The college is very proud of these two fine young men.

I participated in a Zoom meeting for Auckland Principals run by the Ministry of Education earlier this week. One presenter was a doctor from the Auckland District Health Board. She advised us on the need to keep vigilant. There has been a 30% rise in cases in Auckland over the past week. She commented that people need to be aware that even if they have had Covid there is the chance for re-infection, particularly with new strains in the community. If someone is unwell, they need to take all usual precautions, stay home, and get tested even if they have already been infected.

Although we are endeavouring to have all year levels at school, staff illness may require the college to roster students home again, as has happened with Year 10 today. We will give parents/caregivers and students as much notice as possible if this is the case.

Ngā mihi nui

Gordon Robertson

Principal

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