A message from the Rector

By Richard Hall | Posted: Thursday June 29, 2023

Another term has drawn to a close and we are looking forward to a two week break.

I always hope that our students take the opportunity to do stuff during their holidays. It is not always possible for parents to do stuff with them but that should not stop them from doing stuff.

Tinkering, playing, or learning, whatever it is, are things that could be tried during the break. Challenging yourself to read a book, learn a new trick, or being outside more are all possibilities. Stuff does not need to be expensive either, and even better if some stuff can involve other people.

Time to do stuff is always a challenge. Remember how we all mostly enjoyed the time we got back in our lives in 2020 with the first Covid-lockdown? It is unlikely that will happen again, but some of the stuff that your whanau may have done, such as dressing for dinner (or even eating together), playing board games, are all stuff that could happen again.

Stuff done with caregivers is very important, but it may be that you are lucky enough to have a wider family close by. Time with the 'grandies' can also be a good time. I know you, like I, will be mindful of the speed at which these years are racing by, and spending time with your kids is the best thing you can spend on them. So if you can, get into stuff this break. Why not break stuff, then fix stuff, play with stuff, learn stuff, throw out useless stuff, maybe not stuff yourself, (a healthy balance and all that), and generally enjoy stuff.

Lastly, thanks to our community for your support this term. There were challenges, as there always are, but there was progress too. Flying the pride flag, a clear signal that this school aligns with the idea of support for all is a good step. I know not everyone agrees with it, but I think it is important for our community to understand that the majority here do, including the students who are generally not phased. And that has to mean we are a positive environment.

Our boys have still got to be some of the best and luckiest in the world, I know they feel it.