Kōrero

Topics covered in this communication:

• Final Week Activities & Events

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei.

Seek the treasure you value most dearly. If you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

Final Week Activities and Events

Our final week is both busy and exciting and is a lovely way to finish the school year! This is when we come back together as a whole school community, including our Senior students, to finish the year with a flourish!

Monday 4 December – “Give it a Go” Day – involving students in Years 7-10 who are doing a variety of different activities in their year groups. Students should now know what activities they are involved in, what to wear and what to bring for the day. Boarders will be provided with packed lunches, whereas Day Girls will need to bring their own lunch.

Tuesday 5 December – Year 13 Final Chapel 9.30am and Manaaki (House) Day – Year 13 begin this day with their little sisters, then move to the Chapel or their final service at 9.30am. Year 13 parents and extended family members/Whānau are invited to join us for this special time, with a morning tea to follow in the Auditorium Foyer. All other students will be involved in House activities, including the fiercely contested General Knowledge Manaaki Quiz in the afternoon. These events will determine final places for the House Trophy competition for 2023. School finishes at the usual time of 3.20pm.

On Tuesday evening, students in Year 12 and 13 are invited to attend a formal Christmas Dinner with Staff, held in the dining room at 6pm provided by our amazing kitchen staff. Group and individual photographs will be taken on the dining room lawn prior to dining together. At the conclusion of the dinner, at approximately 7.30pm, Year 13 students will go to the gymnasium to practice their father-daughter dancing and procedures for the Leaver’s Ball.

Wednesday 6 December – Final Assembly in the Auditorium at 10am, and Carol Services 1.30pm and 7pm. Trainee Intern at Timaru Hospital and Craighead Old Girl Ms Zoe Leen will be our guest speaker this year. As this is a regular school assembly, we have limited spaces for any extra guests. We also invite members of our school community to attend either (or both) of the Carol Services held at St Mary’s Church Timaru – at 1.30pm (Junior Service) or 7pm (Senior Service). Seats can be limited at the Senior Carol Service. Junior students may go home with their parents after the junior service in the afternoon.

Thursday 7 December – Annual Prize-giving Craighead Gymnasium – Parents, caregivers and whānau are warmly invited to attend our annual Prize-giving, which will be held in the Craighead Gymnasium beginning at 10.30am. This is a formal full school occasion, with several dignitaries in attendance, including the Bishop of Christchurch and the Mayor of Timaru. Parking will be available on the back field by the Gymnasium, as directed by our grounds staff. This event is likely to finish around 12.45pm when students are then free to travel home for Christmas. Year 13’s will then have a final practice for their Leaver’s Ball, which is being held at the Caroline Bay Hall from 6.30pm.

We look forward to seeing you all at these special events on our school calendar.