Kia ora koutou katoa

It is my pleasure to welcome the students back to the College for the last term of the year.  There is a real buzz and focus around the College as students prepare for upcoming examinations. We have had a very positive year in terms of the academic achievement of the students of the College and we are expecting to once again exceed the very positive achievement of 2013.  This year in particular we have focused as a community on striving for excellence and would encourage senior students to persist in their efforts to achieve excellence in their studies and in their external examinations.

I would like to thank the PTA for their very generous contribution to the College of $20,000 towards the new deck area outside the College canteen.  This deck is now being completed and will make a wonderful area for the students to enjoy during their lunch and interval breaks.  Thank you again to all of those students and families that contributed to the success of this latest fundraiser through your selling of orders or  the making of the countless dozens of cheese rolls - your work is greatly appreciated.

We have completed our enrolment of students for 2015.  We continue to receive significant interest for non- preference places at the College and unfortunately have had to turn down  a significant number of non- preference applications this year.  Five of our seven year levels at College have reached their current maximum rolls with only limited places available at year 11 and year 13 for 2015.  We expect that the College roll for 2015 will number  675 students, very close to our overall maximum roll of 700 students.

Our upcoming senior prize giving on Wednesday the 5 November is our last chance to gather as a senior school and celebrate our success as a community and to farewell our year 13 students. It is expected that all senior students attend this prize giving as part of our ethos of community and celebrating each others success. I look forward to sharing this special occasion with all senior students as they depart for the year.

Please remember to keep in your prayers all those members of our community that are struggling with serious illness at this time.

God Bless

Jarlath Kelly