Nau mai haere mai!
Kia ora koutou,
As we reach the end of what has been a very busy and successful term at Geraldine High School, I want to take a moment to celebrate the many achievements of our students across sport, culture, and academics.
Winter Tournament Week – Sport
Winter Tournament Week once again provided our students with the chance to test themselves against strong competition while building resilience, teamwork, and school spirit. Our Netball, Basketball, Rugby (boys and girls), and Hockey (boys and mixed teams) all represented the school with pride. Beyond the results, it was inspiring to see the determination, camaraderie, and sportsmanship our students displayed on and off the court and field. Special note has to be made for our Senior A Basketball team that qualified for the A1 nationals in Palmerston North during the holidays. Good luck boys!
In a more cebral sports the following students have qualified for the Secondary Schools Chess Nationals on the 25th of October.
Henry Prouting
Riley Craig
William Kaufman
Dylan Boyd
Jackson Pickstone
Good luck to them!
Cultural Highlights – Vibes, Wearable Arts & Kapa Haka
The creative energy within our kura has been outstanding this term. Vibes and the Wearable Arts Show showcased the imagination and talent of our students, with innovative performances and costumes that highlighted both individual creativity and teamwork. Congratulations, Macdonald House, for taking out the house competition.
Our Kapa Haka group continues to go from strength to strength. Their performance at the Flava Festival in Timaru was an absolute highlight, earning praise from judges and audiences alike. Their success has inspired us to enter the competitive grade at next year’s festival, a significant step forward for the group.
During Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), our Kapa Haka group led a moving showcase that involved not only our own students but also the Ka Awa Whiria Kāhui Ako performance group and local kindergarten tamariki, who contributed beautifully to the event. This was a powerful reminder of the strength of whanaungatanga (relationships) across our community.
Academic Focus – Assessments & Achievement
While our students have excelled in co-curricular activities, academic focus has remained strong. Senior students have been working hard on their derived grade assessments, ensuring they are well prepared for the end-of-year NCEA examinations. At the same time, students in Years 9–12 have been undertaking the new literacy and numeracy co-requisite assessments, an important milestone in their academic pathways. We are proud of the resilience and commitment our students have shown in managing these significant assessments alongside their many other commitments.
Looking Ahead
This term has been full of achievements that reflect the values we hold dear at Geraldine High School—respect, responsibility, resilience, relationships, and achievement. I want to thank our staff, parents, whānau, and wider community for the ongoing support that enables our students to thrive.
I would also like to thank, wholeheartedly, the support of our outgoing board members. This group has supported me and the school over the last year and 3 terms (but also for many years previously). We look forward to the contributions the successful applicants for the board will make in the next three years.
As we head into the holiday break, I encourage our students to take time to rest and recharge, ready for another busy and exciting term ahead.
Ngā mihi nui,
Marcus Cooper
Principal
