28 October 2024

End of year celebrations began in earnest this week, with the first two celebrations of academic success taking place. Tuesday night was Te Angitūtanga o le Moana Pasifika, our combined celebration of Māori and Pasifika academic success. My thanks to Teresa Kanuta and Protestor Faiva (amongst others) for their organisation of the evening which took place in our school hall. Awards were presented in an evening that had performances, inspiring speeches, and a wonderful meal.

Dayna Te’o (Head Girl 2014) was the guest speaker this year, and her journey from school to her current role as a surgeon at Starship Children’s Hospital resonated with all – we are planning to have Dayna return at the beginning of next year to deliver the same message to our Year 12 and 13 students. It was also wonderful to have Whaea Awa Hudson and Rewa Selmeci at the evening – their work having paved the way for where we are today.

Special thanks to our 2024 Cultural Leaders Portia and Jagger as well for their leadership through the year and at the awards, the legacy they have left with the new additions to our uniform will be enjoyed by all students.

Our Academy Showcase followed on Wednesday night. The full house in the BRPAC evidence of the importance of the pathways offered by our Academies. In watching the students receive their awards (whether it be completion of a course, or special awards for outstanding achievement) it was notable to see the wide range of students now involved in the Academies – whether it be full time courses, or part time courses mixed sometimes with University Entrance subjects. Increasingly at our primary school visits we are fielding questions from students in Year 8 about how they can build houses or enter the hospitality academy – testament to the opportunities offered by our school.

Thanks to Nick Hackett for organising the evening, and to our 2024 Academy Prefects Daniel and Kiran for hosting the evening. Both also gave addresses about how their Academy pathway has had an impact on their time at Massey.

Our celebrations continue in week 3 with Year 11 Prizegiving, Senior Prizegiving, Year 13 Graduation, and our annual Year 13 Leavers Lunch.

Year 13 Graduation

For Graduation we are this year splitting the ceremony with an interval in an attempt to allow as many caregivers as possible to be in the BRPAC when their child crosses the stage.

Hiranga and Karearea students will graduate in the first half of the ceremony, and Matauranga and Turama students will cross the stage in the second half after a brief intermission. The entire ceremony will be live streamed in our school hall.

Students will remain in the BRPAC for the whole ceremony. However, we are asking that only caregivers of Hiranga and Karearea students be in the BRPAC for the first half – allowing them to celebrate the graduation of their children. During the interval, these caregivers will leave the BRPAC and the caregivers of Matauranga and Turama students will take their place for the remainder of the ceremony.

Of course, parents of Matauranga and Turama students are encouraged to watch the first part of the ceremony from the hall. Likewise, after the interval Hiranga and Karearea parents can watch the rest of the ceremony from the hall.

At assemblies this week our messaging has again centered on the importance of our senior students completing and submitting work prior to exams. This week though we also included the importance of finishing the last week strong (particularly our Year 13s). Our Year 13 students have traditionally carried themselves well during the last week of school – and all we ask is that this tradition continues. Celebrations are those that are in good spirit, that don’t hurt anyone, and that don’t damage property. We saw evidence of these good spirited celebrations on Friday with many Year 13 students dressing as their favourite teacher for the day.

We of course cap the week of farewells with our Year 13 lunch – with food provided by the community and prepared and served by staff who relish the opportunity to say thank you and farewell to this wonderful cohort.