10 September 2024

Good is not good enough if it can be better. Our senior exams start this week. These exams will provide the basis for derived grades should they be required by students in the end of year external examinations (although there is very strict criteria to be met for a student to be able to draw on a derived grade). Of equal importance is the value they serve in providing students with a yardstick of their progress to date – confirming what they both know, and what they don’t know (yet). In the run up to this week our senior students were provided with information pertaining to the examinations from both an administrative perspective and from a motivational one. We know that some students enter the exam period with the perception that they will fail, therefore they will not give their best (or in some cases not even attend). In trying to avoid failure instead of trying to apply what they can do they do themselves a disservice. Students should instead be approaching these exams as a learning opportunity, a timely reminder of what they know, and what they need to work on in the coming weeks. 

Whilst it might not always be apparent, our students must remember that they have time, they have support, but they need to go into the exams with the mindset that regardless of how they perform in these examinations, they can always do better. If they experience failure, it is how they respond to that failure that will determine their chances for success in future. An exam which was attempted to the best of their current ability but not passed is of far greater value to them than an exam not attempted at all. Regardless of where they perceive themselves to be in terms of their preparedness, they should be approaching them with the mindset of good is not good enough if I can do better.

Tournament Week

As many would have seen on our social media, over 100 students took part in Tournament Week at venues around the country. I’d like to thank Nikki and Georgie for the monumental effort of coordinating the week, and thank all coaches, managers, and parents who have been involved as well. Whilst I couldn’t make venues out of Auckland it was great to get around Auckland venues to see our Junior Basketball, Senior Basketball, and Netball in action (Nick Hackett, Assistant Principal got along to the Curling) – all represented us with distinction. It was great to see how they carried themselves, both in victory and at times, in defeat. Feedback from all venues was the same – our students demonstrated our school values (and those of their families) and did us proud. Win or lose, Tournament Week is a huge opportunity for our students which creates memories that will stay with them for years to come.

There were some notable successes for our students. In Weightlifting Akira Taingahue won first place in his division, Cooper Meek did the same in his division, and Leonidas Pereira also secured victory in his division. In Equestrian Billie Hughes took out first place in her class. Jack Robinson finished 3rd in the country in Wrestling.

Cultural Night

A huge thanks to all involved in the planning and execution of Cultural Night last week (and a huge thanks to all who attended for their patience in entering the venue). It was wonderful to see the variety of performances from the growing number of groups that represent their culture with pride and passion. Our diversity has always been our strength at Massey, and to see more groups taking the stage is a measure of that. Starting with a superb piece from our Kapa Haka group the night then treated us to performances from Tuvalu, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga amongst others.