Star Board Term Two Week Ten

Principal's Message

Kia Ora Koutou e te Whanau

Thank you for your support as a community over this term. What you are about to read is the lion share of my final assembly address today.

Today’s delivery is brought to you with the theme of Imprinting…

… that mark you leave behind. Now you have either read or seen Twilight and the character Jacob imprints on Bella’s daughter right? Imprinting is to form an early social bond with some person or other animal and recognize them as its parent, or carer.

Imprint is also to leave a very strong or vivid impression in one's mind. This also does mean you can change the imprint.

People make mistakes…

… but these are not life defining. Yes, such occasions can leave an imprint in one’s mind (which are not always positive) but the walls of a school are metaphorically rubber. You can expect consequences for your decisions, but you can bounce back from them and recreate the imprint. The objective is always to learn from the experiences we have.

Digital Footprints

You may recall that I wrote about Digital footprints in a recent newsletter . Not one of us has lived life without mucking up at some time- we will call it an error of judgement. We learn and we move on. Today those silly little moments are being captured on Instagram, Snap chat and other social media platforms and shared so widely and so quickly that before we know it- everyone knows it, and everyone has seen it. The difference between the time I grew up in and now- is that it would be forgotten and erased from our memory banks; but the memory capability of the digital world and the world of social media means that erasing social media posts is not so easy. And how do you control the many devices on which others have saved or shared it?

There is a desire for a number to document every part of their lives. There are lots of positives in social media, but being aware of potential perils is just sensible. The overriding objective is to protect our online reputation because one day it will become a part of our resume.

Universities, tertiary providers, and employers- will potentially read your online profile. It is important to not let your online profile be the difference between gaining acceptance and receiving a rejection letter because of something immature that was posted on social media.

Be mindful when sharing photos or being snapped in photos- once it is taken you have no control of it. Always remember that without your permission and consent anything digitally recorded of you and shared is unlawful.

Social attitude and aptitude are considerations for employment, halls of residence and the like, so any immature posts, cyber bullying, or generally distasteful material found on your profile can and could create a barrier to gaining an opportunity.

I can tell you I google potential staff and so can tell you that employers will Google you. The difference between you and another applicant, could be your digital footprint.

I say this every year in my end of year Prizegiving speech, so please be fascinated when I say it this year- which I will- because sadly it remains relevant.

‘Do not say anything online that you would not want plastered on a billboard with your face on it. Not every part of your private life needs to be public , and social media is not the place to seek affirmation, acceptance, identity , and security.

My hope remains that we remember that social media is our servant and not our master, because we each control our own destiny . The number of likes or opens you get is not your life determiner’.

Yellow lines

… now I am taking licence with the word imprint, and I hate to write this but, we have Yellow lines quite clearly “imprinted” on the street at the front of the school and despite frequent reminders to not park on these our community continue to do so. What to do I thought? Have the driver tests changed I wondered? I know I- will check what the tests ask.

So, the driver’s test question is: A broken yellow line painted close to the edge of the road means you may stop or park your vehicle there at any time.

• A. True
• B. False

I put ‘B’. Blow me down – I got it right. You are not allowed to park on a broken yellow line.

Broken yellow lines are placed in areas where parking would cause an obstruction or danger to other road users, and around bus stops, taxi stands, motorcycle parking and loading zones. The lines are 100mm wide and reflectorised. They have a 1m stripe then a 1m gap between them, but there are situations where the gap can be widened to up to 2m.The lines are sometimes placed around corners on intersections where the public may think that the curve is OK to park on. Yellow lines can often be found near busier intersections preventing people from parking too close.

My hope now is that you will help the school to create a firm imprint – no parking on the broken yellow lines.

This term

… has been dogged with ins and outs and we all have been a little unsettled by that. I thank you all for boxing on and continuing to be the focused and committed. The imprint of our values is firmly implanted in my expectations of us and myself, so I expect nothing less.

To Mrs Schaefer…

…we say farewell today. She has imprinted on a number of souls who have benefitted from her care and instruction. I met Mrs Schaefer when she was Miss Hill, an energetic and excited teacher of PE. The students of the school in which we worked loved her- that affection felt by subsequent students has continued. What has also been a consistent for Abby has been her objective to find solutions, and to help those in her charge to be comfortable in their own skin. Like an albatross, she has sheltered young ones under her wings, a demonstration of incredible empathy but also instinctual. Our girls will find other wings under which they can shelter before they take flight- but we thank you for having provided yours.

The holidays

…are all but upon us, and we have all earned a time to re-group, re-fresh, re-vise, re-print, and re-lax. I wish you a happy and safe holiday.

Kia Ora, Thank you.

Ngā Mihi

Kiri

Around School

Boarding Note

Well the holidays are finally here and the boarding houses are closing for the break. It is always a somewhat frantic end to the term as all girls pack up their rooms in preparation for room inspections… usually after a night of sleepovers and less than normal sleep!

This morning two of our international students (Sabrina Chan and Jasmine Tang) had an early start as they prepare to fly home to Hong Kong. What was lovely for Jasmine is that one of our St Matthew’s families were on the same flight so they headed off to board their flight to Auckland together.

Thank you to all boarders who attended the end of term Boarders Dinner last night, and congratulations to those who were presented with a Boarding Values award for Term 2 -

• Annabel Barnsley: For commitment and enthusiasm to leadership in Main House
• Olivia Manthel-Brown: For friendliness and excellent interpersonal skills on Open Day
• Marci Pillar: Participation in clubs and contribution to Boarders Council
• Ella Brader: For her organisation, and friendliness in boarding

It is important that we create traditions in boarding and two of those are our end of term dinner on the last night of each term, and the start of term dinner on the Sunday prior to school starting. We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday 16th July when all boarders (full and part time) are due back between 3-5pm. There will be an afternoon tea for boarding parents/ families from 4-4.15pm and a Boarders Parents meeting in the Dining Room at 4.15-4.30pm on Sunday 16th July where we will discuss new boarding initiatives. Hope to see you there.

Enjoy the holidays everyone!

Jo

Gratitude

This fantastic Gratitude photo was taken by Y10 photography students Rose O’Neill and Rose Lincoln.

Kotahitanga

Thursday afternoon saw students and staff Rockin & Rollin. Thanks to Mr D who was in true form and supplied plenty of dance instruction and to Mrs Veale for organising the afternoon which included ice creams at the end. Lots of great costumes on show!