Principal's Message

I found it very special to be part of my first senior prize giving at Kavanagh College last Thursday. I know it will have been very special for many of you as parents to watch your children cross the stage – many of them for the last time. A huge congratulations must go to Anjali Raju who was awarded Dux, and Judea Smith who was awarded Proxime Accessit for 2019.

It was also my pleasure to announce our head students for 2020 - Emily Kerr-Bell and Jordan King (Head Students); and Taylor Baughan and Madi Sutherland (Deputy Head Students). I wish these four students congratulations and all the best as they take on the significant responsibility that their positions bring.

During this period of exams, prize givings and awards, it was timely to speak in the year 7-10 assembly yesterday about the importance of being resilient. The example I used was of the recent Rugby World Cup, where resiliency and graciousness - or the lack of it in some cases - was on display for the world to see. It is easy for us to get caught up in our own feelings and the impact on us as individuals when things don’t go our way. However, throughout our faith-based education at Kavanagh, we talk about ensuring that we treat others with compassion and respect. In times of personal success or failure, it is important for our young people to remember that there are usually others in the equation, and it is a time to walk the talk by being gracious in our moment of success or failure, and remembering to show compassion to those who didn’t experience success or, conversely, showing joy when they do.

Another group of students who learn resilience during their time at school are our international students. We have a large number of students who have been brave enough to leave familiarity and family support behind to experience education in New Zealand. Next year, we will have a group of Thai students learning at Kavanagh from the 16th – 31st March. If you would like to host these students in your family for this short time, please contact our homestay coordinator, Ms Lina Lastra (llastra@kavanagh.school.nz) to find out more.

To leave you with some food for thought about how far we have or haven’t progressed as a world in our acceptance and support of others, I came upon this quote from Pope Paul VI from 54 years ago.

“In our time, when day by day humankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions. In her task of promoting unity and love among people, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what people have in common and what draws them to fellowship. One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth."

Warmest regards,

Kate Nicholson