Principal's Panui - 21 June 2024

Kia ora te whanau ō te Kōtuku 

I was impressed and inspired by the students who performed at LUV Music and the Drama Production over the past two weeks. It was a delight to see how many people turned out to support the performers and witness the energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved. Well done to the performers and their support crew. A lot of work and dedication goes into making these events happen and as staff we love to see how polished and professional the events are. 

The power of why.

The more organisations and people learn to start with WHY, the more people there will be who will wake up feeling fulfilled by the work they do. 

So many organisations function in a world of tangible goals and a hammer to bash them in to place, to achieve them. The ones that achieve more, the ones that get more out of fewer people and fewer resources, the ones with an outsized amount of influence, however, build products and companies and even recruit people that all fit based on the original intention. The Why? Purely NCEA results and not teaching the reality of working, doing your 50%+ , not having the way just paved for you are those building long term habits for success.

So learn to work hard and smart, be kind and surround yourself with positive like-minded people who understand that not everything will be easy but they will be there for you, in the good times and the bad and understand that every day we start from where our feet are now. They are sincere, they have integrity, they say please thank you, excuse me and sorry, they contribute to the wider life of the school and this great community. They start with what can I do to help. Not what can I get out of this for myself. 

Our attitude creates the person.

Na te whakaaro

Ka ora te tangata

As we think so shall we become.

You will understand the value of the triple filter test. Do you know for sure that what you are about to say or pass on is true, or are you just passing on someone else's interpretation or view. Is what you are about to pass on about the person good about them, if not we don’t.  Is what we are about to pass on potentially useful, if not don’t. If it doesn’t pass at least one of these three tests of the filter it is unlikely to fit the criteria for little acts of human kindness or the, if we have nothing truthful, good or useful to say we say nothing mantra.

We need to organise the furniture in our mind so that we don’t feel defeated when all is not perfect. We will have made multiple deposits in the emotional trust accounts and our words deeds and actions will clearly reflect that we will value little acts of human kindness.

Learning to see beneath the surface is one of the most important lessons in life. Sadly, some people are taken in by big talk and media popularity, Instagram looks and expensive possessions. They forget that often the people who try hardest to impress are often the least impressive. We all know what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong. We see it in others and, if we are honest, in ourselves.  

You can’t fake sincerity!

Be authentic, be involved with the good stuff, and set yourself up by overcoming challenges and have developed confidence in your future self, that come what may, you can work your way through it with little steps in the right direction starting from where your feet are now.

Work hard and be kind to be a better person – the goal of being a better person is a powerful why to start with every day. The how is to work hard and be kind and the what well that list is too long for this article but includes a positive attitude, using the triple filter test, accepting triumph and failure as part of the learning and responding with grit. We are honest and respectful and we learn not to be bogged down in other people's highlight reels.

Ritchies Bus Information

Please note that Ritchie Bus Drivers do not carry change on the bus. If you are paying for a concession ticket for 10 rides it is $27.00 and for a single ride it is $3.00. Please bring the correct amount of money for tickets to make this process easier for everyone.

Upcoming Events

27 June - Parent/Student Breakfast 7.30am Information Commons. Book here.
28 June - Matariki Day - School Closed
04 July - School Ball - School closes 1.30pm
05 July - (Friday) School Closed for the holiday break

22 July - Term 3 starts. And just an early reminder that in Term 3 we revert back to a normal day on Wednesdays i.e. 8.50am start and a 3.10pm finish. 

Kia kaha

Gary Moore