Kia ora e te whānau,
Nau mai ki tēnei pānui a te tumuaki mō te marama o Haratua.
Welcome to this month’s principal’s message. I hope the year is treating you well – time is flying by and we’re nearly at the halfway point of the term! This update is designed to catch you up on a few key points from around the kura. Enjoy the read!
Enrolments
Our recent Open Evening was a wonderful success, with large numbers of prospective families visiting our kura and seeing first-hand what Kaiapoi High has to offer. We are incredibly proud of our school, our staff, and our students – and evenings like this give us the opportunity to showcase the values and energy that make KHS special.
If you have friends or whānau who missed the event, please encourage them to contact the school – we are more than happy to arrange further opportunities to visit. Transitioning to secondary school can feel daunting, so the more we can remove the unknowns, the smoother the journey will be.
A reminder too – keep a close eye on enrolment deadlines, especially for those who live out of zone. Meeting these dates is important to ensure subject selection and place availability for 2026.
Kāhui Ako Funding Update
It was with great sadness that we received confirmation in the Government’s recent Budget of the defunding of kāhui across Aotearoa at the end of 2025. Kaiapoi High School has been privileged to be part of the highly effective Kātote Kāhui Ako, a collaborative cluster of local schools working together to lift outcomes for all learners.
While formal funding may be ending, the kaupapa will continue. Our kāhui members will meet shortly to explore how we can sustain and adapt this valuable work into 2026 and beyond. Watch this space.
Communication and Appointments
In past newsletters, I’ve highlighted the importance of positive, proactive communication between home and school. One key area where this really matters is when students have appointments during the day.
Please let the school office know in advance if your child needs to leave during class time – it makes the process smooth and avoids interruptions. We also encourage whānau to remind students in the morning about appointments, as we want to build student self-management. For this reason, we’re discouraging requests to call or find students during the day for reminders.
Assembly Themes
As always, here’s a snapshot of recent assembly content, so you can reinforce the same messages at home:
Seniors (Years 11–13):
We’ve been emphasising the importance of strong attendance and perseverance, especially as assessment pressures increase. Our senior students are also being encouraged to continue leading by example – upholding and modelling the positive values that define our kura. Year 13s have been reminded to stay proactive in identifying and applying for the growing number of scholarship opportunities now becoming available.
Juniors (Years 9–10):
Students have been acknowledged for their high uniform standards and increasingly positive relationships. We’ve also discussed their role as kaitiaki (guardians) of the school environment – keeping it tidy and looking after shared spaces. They’ve been encouraged to speak up when they see things that don’t align with our shared expectations.
2026 Head Student Roles
Although it may feel early, we encourage whānau of Year 12 students to start conversations about head student roles for 2026. The application process will begin next term, and now is a great time to reflect on leadership goals and gather advice. Students are welcome to speak with their tutor, dean, or come directly to me for more information.
Looking Ahead – Strategic Planning
In my last pānui, I mentioned the work underway to shape our next three-year Strategic Plan. We’re now preparing to launch the next stage of consultation with whānau, students, and the wider community, and the survey will be published within the next fortnight. Please take the time to contribute – your voice is essential in helping guide the future direction of our kura from 2026 onward.
Ngā mihi nui for taking the time to read this pānui. Wishing you all a safe and restful long weekend with your whānau.
Kia pai tō koutou rā whakatā – have a great break.
Jason Reid
Principal – Kaiapoi High School
