Kia ora e te whānau,
Nau mai ki te pānui whakamutunga mō te wāhanga tuarua! Welcome to the final newsletter of Term 2!
Thank you for the ongoing support of our kura – it’s been a packed and productive month. Below is a round-up of key updates and a few celebrations of our fantastic ākonga/students. I’ve grouped the information under clear headings so you can easily find what’s most relevant to you (and skip any you find less relevant).
Community Consultation
A huge thank you to the 283 people who have already taken the time to contribute to our Strategic Plan consultation. Your input is highly valued as it helps guide how we prioritise funding and resources to best support our ākonga/students across 2026–2028.
If you haven’t yet had the chance, it’s not too late – the survey closes Sunday night (29 June) so that we can analyse the information on Monday. You can complete it here: bit.ly/KHS-26 (or type that address into your browser).
One particular question in the survey has sparked considerable discussion, both among students and in the broader community. We won’t comment on it yet to avoid influencing the outcome, but it’s heartening to see such engagement.
Waimakariri District Council – Youth Action Plan
To avoid any confusion, our students have also been invited to take part in a second survey – the Waimakariri District Council’s Youth Action Plan. This is another valuable opportunity for their voices to help shape local decisions. The survey closes on Sunday, 13 July. Further details can be found on the Youth Action Plan website and in an email sent to each student’s school account.
Uniform
We’re really proud of how smart our students are looking – thank you to whānau for your ongoing support.
Here are a few ways parents can help minimise uniform-related disruptions – so teachers can focus on teaching, and students can make the most of their time in class:
- All students are expected to be in full, correct uniform. If not, they will be issued with a loan item, where possible. Alternatively, they may be asked to arrange the collection of the correct item from home.
- Non-uniform items, including hoodies, must be removed before entering the school grounds.
Our uniform supplier, Uniform Group, has introduced several new warm options following our recent uniform review (see our previous articles). The eagerly awaited kilt – delayed due to a fire at the port – is now on its way. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s in store.
Manu Kōrero
Congratulations to our incredible orators who took part in Manu Kōrero last week, hosted by our good friends at Rangiora High School. The students’ courage, determination, and eloquence – especially when stepping outside their comfort zones – were inspiring. We’re proud of each and every one of them for representing our kura/school with mana in both English and te reo Māori.
Course Selection for 2025
Course selection for 2025 opens early in Term 3, with important dates and information to follow shortly. We encourage parents and caregivers to take an active role in assisting with subject selection. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Students may hesitate to choose new subjects they’re only just starting at the beginning of Term 3. This is perfectly normal, but we don’t want students to limit their options by only picking subjects they are familiar with. Please reassure them that it’s okay to take a risk and explore new interests!
- Year 11 courses don’t require prior experience. For example, students can choose a course like ‘Dance’ even if they’ve never taken it before. Once again, students may be hesitant to select subjects that they are unfamiliar with.
Most important when it comes to course selection is to save the date: Thursday, 17 July, 4:00–6:00 pm for our Course Selection Evening. This opportunity gives you the chance to meet with teachers to discuss the options available to each student.
Head Student Applications – 2026
Applications for next year’s head students open in Term 3. If you know a Year 12 student with strong leadership potential, please encourage them to apply. Some students don’t always see in themselves what’s clearly evident to those around them, while others may simply need a bit of external encouragement or a signal that it’s their time to step up. We’ll share more details about the application process early next term.
Junior Rotary (Interact) Club
We’re proud to announce the formation of our very own Interact Club, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Rangiora. This initiative opens up fantastic opportunities for our student leaders to develop and deliver meaningful community service projects, with the support of an experienced and well-connected organisation.
We already have some exciting projects in the pipeline, but if you have ideas for how our students can contribute locally or globally, please get in touch.
Ngā mihi nunui (well done!) for reading all the way to the end of what has been a full pānui. There’s plenty more we could share, but we’re saving a few special highlights for next time.
Wishing you and your whānau a safe, restful break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another term of growth, connection, and achievement.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Jason Reid
