Principal's Comment 9th April 2025

As we come to the close of what has been a busy, vibrant, and rewarding term, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we’ve achieved together – in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage, and across our wider school community.

This term has been filled with energy, enthusiasm, and a real sense of momentum. It's been heartening to see such strong participation across all areas of school life – and I want to begin by acknowledging just how proud I am of the way our students have stepped up and got involved.

Our Athletics and Swimming Sports days were once again standout events – not just for the competitive performances, but for the spirit, support, and house pride that were on full display. 

Our volleyball teams from Year 7 through to Year 13 have shown impressive commitment this term, with many teams training hard and representing our school with pride. A special mention goes to those who competed in the Summer Sports Tournament, showcasing talent in volleyball, softball, and mountain biking. Your grit and sportsmanship were noticed.

In the junior school, our Year 7 and 8 basketball teams have had a fantastic term of development and competition – it’s been great to see the growth in skills and teamwork already.

We’ve also seen a real step forward in interschool sport, with our First XI Cricket and First XI Soccer teams participating in matches with other local schools for the first time in several years. It’s wonderful to see these opportunities growing again – and I thank both students and staff for making that possible.

Beyond sport, our student executive has been working hard behind the scenes to bring students together. Their leadership of house competitions has created a buzz throughout the school, and I want to especially acknowledge the addition of our new Multicultural Student Leader to the executive team. This role reflects the growing diversity of our school community, and it's an important step toward ensuring every student sees themselves represented in our leadership.

The recent Performing Arts Evening was another powerful reminder of the talent and creativity among our students. In both music and drama – it was a celebration of courage, expression, and identity. Thank you to all those who performed, supported, and helped bring the evening to life.

And of course, at the heart of everything we do is learning. Academic achievement continues to be a core focus at Geraldine. This term, I want to highlight the fantastic initiative led by our Academic Student Leader, who introduced SFS – Students for Success. This peer-led study support programme has been a great addition, complementing the dedication of our staff through tutoring, and the ongoing success of our Homework Club, which continues to run twice a week.

These initiatives show that when we support each other – whether through leadership, mentoring, or collaboration – we all grow. Success at school isn’t just about marks; it’s about setting goals, being consistent, and helping one another along the way.

Looking ahead to next term, our school-wide value focus will be Respect. Respect underpins how we relate to each other, to our environment, to our learning, and to ourselves. It’s more than just a word – it’s a mindset, and it's fundamental to how we operate as a school. I encourage everyone to reflect on what respect means to you and how we can show it in our actions every day.

As we head into the holidays, I want to thank our students, staff, whānau, and community for your continued support and involvement. Take time to rest, recharge, and come back ready for another term of growth, connection, and opportunity.

Ngā mihi nui,

Enjoy your break, and I look forward to seeing you all next term.

Marcus Cooper

Tumuaki/Principal

Geraldine High School