Principal's Message

So many events on the calendar and so much concern about postponement! Returning to Alert Level 2 has brought much uncertainty into people’s lives again during the last few days. We have year 13 retreats, year 7 camp, the year 12 bike camp, and the secondary school athletics all happening next week. Let us hope and pray that NZ quickly returns to Level 1 so these events can continue.

Another event on the calendar next week is our Academic Blues evening at Toitū. As a college community, it is always very affirming to celebrate our NCEA Excellence Endorsed students and our scholarship winners, at this ceremony. One unique award that Kavanagh College has in place, and to be celebrated on Tuesday, is our Centurions Award. This award acknowledges the attainment of 100 Excellence credits during the year. This is an exceptional feat. To receive an excellence endorsement in New Zealand, a student needs to accumulate 50 excellence credits through the year. To earn double this number through hard work, perseverance, and impressive goal setting, is worthy of high praise indeed. Therefore, it is fitting that these students will be acknowledged for their significant efforts and attainment during our Academic Blues evening. We are very pleased to have Amy Marslin (née Crush) as speaker at this event. Amy was Head Girl of Kavanagh College in 1996 and is now a Partner at Solomons Law, and mother of Samuel in year 7.

Yesterday, at our senior assembly, I spoke about our theme for the year “Striving to be the best versions of ourselves” and how often our environment and our peers influence our ability and desire to do this. I then read the reflection below passed on to me from Mr Daniel Kelly and I think it is a good reminder for all of us during Lent as we pause to reflect on the way we live our lives. Doing the right thing is hard when there is pressure and influence from other quarters, but our theme this year encourages us to become strong in our own goals and identity and draw strength from our faith to ‘be excellent’ in our attitude and actions.

People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

Ngā mihi