Star Board Term Three Week Six

Principal's Message

Kia Ora Koutou e te whanau

What has stood out this term has been an obvious embracing of responsibility for one’s actions, wonderfully coupled with demonstrable integrity and understanding of consequence.

This is not rocket-science, but having the capacity to take responsibility enhances those values we hold true because it: boosts self-respect, improves mental health, builds a sense of control over one’s life, allows a person to accept their flaws and work upon them, strengthens worthwhile relationships, and helps one set goals and achieve them. But I remind myself that taking responsibility is also about maintaining optimism because you know what? there is always hope. It is also about being flexible by showing a willingness to change your perspective, and it is about doing the right thing even when the right thing is hard or unpopular.

It is a blessing that I have seen all these things being demonstrated by young women who wear grey skirts and tunics with green and gold striped blazers. Your girls are awesome.

Taking Leave at this time of the year

There are three weeks of school after Tournament week before students in the senior school take their DGEs (Derived Grade Exams). These exams are during weeks one and two of term four on both the St Matthew’s and Senior College sites. Following the DGEs the students have a matter of days before the NCEA National exams. Apart from this detail being on the calendar it is also a reminder that the ideal is that seniors are avoiding taking a leave of absence for an overseas trip, or even a holiday at a New Zealand destination.

Sunday House Services- Cooper House Sunday 27 August

As a part of our Special Anglican Character, we celebrate our faith by attending Sunday House Services. It is the turn of Cooper House students, and all Cooper House members are expected to attend their House Service which starts at 6:30pm. Dispensation has been given to those students who are at Tournament week.

Cooper parents, caregivers and whanau are warmly invited to attend as per Pastor Wendy’s invitation. The service is for Cooper whanau and staff, prepared by Cooper leaders- so we look forward to joining our people.

Yellow lines

Our young people have strong sense of justice and I thank goodness that our students keep me informed.

So out of the mouth of one our flock, she wrote that she had “witnessed a parent park smack-bang in the middle of the bus park whilst our bus was trying to pull in. Since this is a blatant disregard of law, I just thought I might let you know.”

I care about doing the right thing and so do our students. We are all teachers at the end of the day. So easy action here- park in the designated carparks and we all stay safe.

All the best to our Tournament crews. Relish the experience and the people you will meet. Play hard and play fair. And remember those words I shared with you the other day that it is your attitude, not your aptitude, that will often determine your altitude.

Have a safe weekend.

Ngā Mihi

Kiri

Around School

Boarding Note

One of the real benefits of being in boarding is the easy access the boarders have to St Matthew’s fantastic facilities whether it is music, sports, cultural or academic areas of school life. Another huge benefit is the opportunity to mix with other year groups. Although many boarders start off shy and reluctant to interact with others, they soon learn who is who and connect with those with similar interests and likes.

This morning I stopped this group of boarders striding out the door on their way to school. From left: Ruby Ferguson (Year 10), Alice Bourke (Year 11), Heidi Didsbury (Year 8), Vienna Weatherstone (Year 7), Lilly Reynolds (Year 11), and Mia Sayers (Year 10).

No sooner have they left in the morning… they are back queuing for morning tea which is available on the steps of Main House. Again, many thanks to Don and his kitchen team for the tray of lovely sandwiches and brownie for our girls.

Congratulations to all Year 7&8 girls involved in Jump Jam last night and best wishes to all boarders and daygirls who are representing St Matthew’s at Tournament Week.

A reminder that next weekend it is our second and final exeat for Term 3 so the boarding houses will be closing at 5pm on Friday 1st and will reopen at 7pm on Sunday 3rd September. Please get in touch if this creates a problem for any boarders in tournament teams.

Have a great weekend.

Jo

Spanish

This week students in Year 10 Spanish are studying La Comida (Food). They had a go at making una tortilla de patatas (Spanish potato omelette). They enjoyed the experience and the omelette, even if several of them ate it with the unconventional choice of sweet chili sauce!