A whole range of activities take place in the last week of College.  Work projects are completed, class picnics, Big Day Out, beach activities and all the while, the NCEA examinations carry on and seniors are working under pressure to get the grades they aspire to.

Subject examinations for the Year 9 and 10 have been marked and reports are being finalised to go out next week.  Senior students have handed in their text books and the Year 13’s Leavers attended a Leavers ceremony on Thursday night.  This is special.  We have watched these young men and women as they have grown and developed from the children who entered our College at Year 7.  When we examine our Mission Statement we can see the confident, connected learner with the personal skills to be able to play a meaningful role in our society.  They fly off to work, university, polytechnic across new Zealand and to foreign parts.  They go with our good will and hopes for an excellent future.

We are saying farewell to a number of staff: Ken Clark has taught all his teaching career at this site and is remembered fondly by a huge number of students and their families.  These people have gained immeasurably from his wisdom and patience; enjoy this next stage in your life, Ken.  Margaret Tudor has resigned as Canteen Manager and Lisa Johnson will take over this role.  We welcome back Robyn Pearce as the canteen assistant.  Kirsty Marshall is moving to St Leonards School and we wish her well.  Nic Shea is taking a year’s leave to further pursue his son’s sporting career in Queenstown. Tim Berends will be pursuing a career in the private sector. Tracy Munro is moving to a Dunedin school.  Johanna Brusse is going on maternity leave for 2012.

To the students returning, we wish you an exciting holiday break.  Warm regards to all our parents and to our wider Taieri Community.