Nau mai ki te karere whakamutunga a te tumuaki mō te wāhanga tuatoru! Welcome to the final principal’s message for Term 3!
As I write this, the sun is shining, the air is warm, and it feels like summer has arrived in full force. Of course, this is September, so it’s just as likely we’ve been tricked and back to winter for a few days before the real summer sets in. For now, though, let’s enjoy the sunshine and hope it lasts into the upcoming term break.
It’s only been a few weeks since my last article, but with so much happening, now is the perfect time for an update.
Board Elections
If you haven’t already seen the announcement, the results of the School’s Board of Trustees elections were released earlier this week. A huge thank you to everyone who put their hand up for the role, and to the hundreds of people who took the time to vote. It’s encouraging to see our community so engaged in shaping the governance of our school.
We now have three new trustees joining the team, and our first meeting together will take place next Wednesday. I look forward to working with them and to the positive contribution they’ll make to the direction of the School.
Strikes
We acknowledge and apologise for the disruption to whānau that the full-day strike and the partial strikes this term have created. While I’m unable to make political statements, I think it’s fair to say that everyone hopes the teachers’ union and the government will swiftly reach a fair agreement.
Looking ahead, I believe that negotiations involving principals and support staff are also proving to be challenging. We’ll continue to keep you updated as these progress, since they, too, have the potential to affect school life.
Head Students 2026
The process to select next year’s Head and Deputy Head Students has now been completed! It was a privilege to witness the whole process unfold — from speeches delivered in front of the staff and the entire school to the individual interviews.
The calibre of applicants this year was outstanding. Narrowing the group down to the final team meant making some very tough decisions — only about half of those who applied could be offered positions. Every single student who applied showed courage, leadership, and a strong commitment to the school.
By the end of the term, candidates will already know whether they were successful or not. However, they’ve all been asked to keep the outcome confidential until the official announcements:
- Head Student Team will be revealed at the Leavers’ Assembly on Friday, 31 October.
- Head and Deputy Head roles will be formally announced at the Senior Prizegiving on Thursday, 4 December.
Taking part in this process is no small task, and I want to acknowledge and celebrate every applicant for the phenomenal effort they put into their campaign.
Policies
This might sound a little on the dull side, but policies are what guide much of our day-to-day operations as a school. If you’re ever curious about how certain matters are managed, you can find our policies here: kaiapoi.schooldocs.co.nz.
A handy tip: you can use the search bar to find specific policies quickly — try typing keywords such as medicine, photos, or uniform. To gain full access, you’ll need the login details, which are freely available by contacting the school office.
2026 Enrolments
At this point in the year, we are making important decisions about class sizes and, in turn, staffing levels for 2026. A big part of this relies on having accurate enrolment numbers for next year’s Year 9 students.
If you know anyone who hasn’t yet enrolled, please encourage them to complete the process as soon as possible, or contact the school office if they are in need of support. Getting accurate numbers now allows us to create manageable class sizes and avoid the situation of late enrolments unexpectedly pushing class sizes up.
Education Review Office (ERO)
Next term, we will be welcoming a team from the Education Review Office (ERO) as they carry out their evaluation of our school.
ERO reviews are a valuable opportunity for us to celebrate the things we’re doing well, while also receiving external advice on where we can improve. The team will review a wide range of information and will likely visit classes to observe teaching and learning in action. Once their report is complete, we’ll make it available to our community so that everyone can see their findings.
As we head into the term break, I hope students enjoy just the right balance of refreshment and productivity, and that whānau benefit from having a few extra jobs ticked off around the house.
There is plenty to look forward to in Term 4 — from our Senior Prizegiving and Leavers’ Assembly, to the many performances and celebrations that showcase the talents of our students. It will undoubtedly be another busy and exciting few months as we head towards the end of the year.
In conclusion, I’m already looking forward to sharing more highlights with you when we return. Until then…
Kia pai tō rā whakatā. Have a great break!
Jason Reid
Principal
