Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to our March newsletter.
This term has been packed full of exciting activities across our school. A huge congratulations to our Polyfest group, who delivered an outstanding performance at the Canterbury Polyfest, showcasing Fijian, Niuean, and Samoan cultures. We are incredibly proud that this talented team is also representing us as part of the pre-match entertainment at the Moana Pasifika vs Crusaders game!
At the time of writing, we have teams competing across the country at summer sports tournaments. It’s been fantastic to see that already amazing student engagement in sport reached new heights in 2025. With that in mind, we warmly welcome expressions of interest from members of our community who may be willing to support our sports programme – whether through coaching, managing, or assisting with transport. If this sounds like you, or you have questions, please contact the school office for more information.
As the weather cools, now is the time to make sure students have access to the warmer items of our school uniform. Some sizes are already in high demand, and restocking takes time – so plan ahead where you can. Winter uniform options include jackets, vests, jerseys, cardigans, long-sleeved shirts and blouses, beanies, scarves, and long pants. Our staff are committed to maintaining high standards, so students arriving in non-uniform items will be asked to make immediate adjustments. As was the case last year, all hoodies seen on school grounds will be handed into the office and can be collected at the end of the day by students or whānau.
We were thrilled to welcome back a former Kaiapoi High School student last week – Devin Davies – who spoke to a group of our students about his incredible journey since graduating. Devin was the recipient of the 2024 Apple Design Awards in the Interaction category – the first and only New Zealander to receive this honour. He shared a wide range of insights with our ākonga, covering everything from creativity and innovation to the practical steps that led him to international success. We’ll be publishing a more detailed article soon, as his visit was packed with inspiring and practical advice that we believe everyone should hear. For now, we simply want to acknowledge his outstanding achievement and thank him for so generously giving his time and expertise to support our students.
A sincere thank you to Mr Henson, Mrs Laas, and the 97 Years 12 and 13 students involved in Peer Support. Their care, training, and commitment have played a vital role in helping our newest students settle in. It was wonderful to hear such positive feedback from our Year 9 whānau – especially from those who were feeling anxious about the transition to secondary school.
Finally, a reminder about how we approach communication as a school community. From time to time, we become aware of unusual information circulating in the community – often via social media. While some may find this content laughable, others can experience real distress. We ask our community to respond respectfully when encountering false or misleading posts online. Please know that our staff will not be responding to social media comments or rumours. If you ever have concerns, we encourage you to bring them directly to school so they can be addressed in a constructive and timely way.
To finish, a heartfelt thank you to all the students, staff, whānau, and wider community who have contributed to making this term the success it has been. Your dedication, support, and pukumahi (hard work) are genuinely appreciated. Let’s keep the momentum going – we’re proud of all that’s been achieved, and excited for what lies ahead.
Hei konā rā, ngā manaakitanga, goodbye for now and best wishes.
Jason Reid
