Year 8 News

It has been a fantastic, action-packed first half of the term. A huge highlight has been our Year 8 camps. Every single class has now had the opportunity to attend, meaning around 270 students have experienced the great outdoors! They had an amazing time, and it was wonderful to see them step outside their comfort zones. Our core focus for camp this year was about taking calculated risks, building personal resilience, and forging new friendships across the cohort. The students represented our school beautifully, and the growth we've seen in their confidence is immense.

Alongside our outdoor adventures, our classroom focus this term has included our Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) unit. This is an important part of the curriculum, and our students have engaged in mature, thoughtful discussions about the real-world issues they are currently navigating, as well as those they will face in the future. It has been great to see them supporting one another and developing healthy perspectives on peer dynamics and personal growth.

Looking ahead, our focus is shifting toward Matariki and our school-wide celebrations. To spark curiosity and kickstart this unit, all students recently visited the Tūhura Otago Museum to learn more about the night sky and the Matariki constellations. This was a fantastic igniter for our tamariki, who came away inspired and full of questions.

Over the coming weeks, we will dive deeper into the cultural and historical significance that Matariki holds within Aotearoa. This learning will culminate in a special Matariki evening during the last week of term. We would love to see you there, so please keep an eye out for more detailed information and timings, which will be sent home shortly.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our Year 8 programme.

Ngā mihi nui,

Rob Wells

Year 8 Dean