Wednesday 19 August 2026
The past couple of weeks have seen some great successes for students and staff within the Performing Arts. A brilliant performance from the Little Big Band at the KBB Gala Concert was described by judges as a “high level performance getting close to professional standards”. The band achieved the highest gold award it has ever received, scoring an incredible 96/100. Our choirs have competed at the Big Sing Cadenza Nationals in Rotorua, and the programmes on offer in Toi Manawa continue to thrive.
With the end of the winter sports season fast approaching, it is timely to thank all our coaches, managers, sponsors and supporters for their support over the course of the season. While many of the competitions are very familiar to me, I have been able to get a better insight into the demands of some of the Auckland-based competitions, and therefore have a new appreciation of the fiercely competitive nature of the top grades. A number of teams have experienced great success over the season, and we look forward to the results of those teams competing around the country during the upcoming winter tournament week.
On a different note, we have noticed a growing number of Friday afternoon appointments and approved sign-outs being made for Year 13 students. We recognise that many of these appointments are genuinely necessary, and we appreciate families communicating with us about them. At the same time, missing just one period a week adds up to over 30 hours of class time missed across a full academic year, and bell-to-bell learning is something I have asked our staff to focus on. We want to ensure that every opportunity for learning time and examination preparation is used wisely.
Given the rise in Friday appointments, we will be keeping a closer eye on these and may follow up with families from time to time to check in on the details. Thank you in advance for your understanding and for working with us on this.
Patrick Gale - Headmaster