Associate Principal, Operations Report

What a week!

Thank you to all families and individuals who contributed to the success of the Gaoyou delegation’s visit.  The overseas students appeared to thoroughly enjoy their interactions with our students … and, in some cases, with stock on farms!  The visiting staff spoke highly of the hospitality the whole group received and of the warmth of the welcome they received.

Those of us who have been to Gaoyou with the Year 9 China experience know how well we are looked after, what steps are taken to ensure our stay is positive and enjoyable, and how much trouble the teachers and families in Gaoyou go to to embrace our visit.  The success of the whole programme depends on the willingness of our community to return the hospitality … and we did that very well last week.  Thank you again to all who contributed.

It is important, of course, to recognise the contribution Mrs Julia Winter Cooke makes to the whole programme.  She has arranged all but one delegation to visit Gaoyou and overseen arrangements for the return visit to Hamilton each year. She does a superb job and we thank her for her on-going work in this area.

The Information Evening for the Year 9 Experience 2017 is fast approaching (Wednesday 31 August).

Towards the end of the week, we had the fantastic performances of “Seussical,” another brilliant production overseen by Mrs Edwina Moutray.  Assisted by a great team, including Musical Director Mr Ben Hiscock, the orchestra, backstage and front of house crews, and set design and building teams, as well as make-up and costuming specialists, Mrs Moutray created a wonderful world where anything was possible!

With virtually three full houses, our students enjoyed great support and the experience of performing on a big stage to responsive and supportive audiences.  Confidence, poise, enthusiasm – these are the words which spring immediately to mind to describe their approach.  Performing in a production like “Seussical” is a great experience for young people and I know that many of them will be missing that involvement this week.  Hopefully, we will see them on stage again next year,

To all the cast – particularly the leads - and crew, very well done.  I am still humming away to various songs from the production and trying to remember to refer to students by their real name and not their character’s! 

Mr Neil MacLean