by Kaiya Jones, Year 13 Student, Kaipara College
Kia Ora, Reader!
Easter holidays have finally arrived and I could not be more relieved. The last week of term is always a bit of a smoke and mirrors kind of situation. The holidays are so close you can almost clutch them…and yet you are being drowned in assignments which will likely last you right up until the day before school starts up again. Now this, by no means, is because of the sheer amount of work assigned. Oh no, this is because procrastination and students have a tight, and unbreakable bond -a life contract, if you will- which prevents us from ever completing work in a timely manner (or without multiple mental breakdowns).
On another note, Drama and PAT (performing arts technology) students are hard at work on this year’s production, MACBETH…a rather difficult endeavour when you cannot say the main character’s name in the theatre or risk cursing the entire production… Anyways! Cast members have received their lines and are hard at work rehearsing to perform in the second week of term three on July 23rd and 24th, mark your calendars!
Something to get students through these holidays (and distract them from previously mentioned assignments) is sports starting up at the beginning of term. Registrations have been sent out and free time signed away for the year in order to put many hours into training and games. I know I personally am very excited as I have missed being part of a team very much, and of course I miss nearly freezing to death through rain, wind and hail at seven o’clock at night.
The new house system is about to strike again as we have an up and coming Arts Week during lunch times from the 19th-23rd of May in week four of term two. Students have the chance to compete in “The Battle of the Bands, Just Dance, Pictionary, Karaoke Kaipara, and Kaipara’s Got Talent,” all of which take place during a one hour period from Monday to Friday for that week. The winners of these competitions will be awarded points for their house colour and these will be added to the overall tally going towards the big prize at the end of the year!
And finally, Year 9’s have at last been freed from their forced compliance in Peer Support activities on Fridays at Whanau time (for PR purposes, this is a joke) and will now have an extra half an hour a week to catch up on work and bond with their classmates. Even though some may have moaned and groaned about the weekly routine, the Peer Support programme is an excellent way of establishing bonds throughout the year groups and a good way of getting Year 9’s to be comfortable in their new environment. Many Year 9’s will now call out and say Hi to their Peer Support leaders when they see them around the school and have multiple reliable older students to call upon if ever they need help.
I hope you enjoy your Easter break and eat wayyyy too much chocolate because you deserve it hard worker!
Have a great day!
