From the Principal’s Desk

Tēnā koutou, Kumusta, Salaam Alaikum, Talofa Lava, Konnichiwa, Guten Tag, Ni Hao and Greetings to you all.

This has been a full week at Te Aratai, and a good one. Whare Day, Polyfest, and School Council confirmed; a lot has happened, and our students have shown up well across all of it.

It’s worth pausing to name what sits underneath moments like these. Our ngā uara are not aspirational; they are descriptive of who we already are when we are at our best. This week was a good example of that.

A note to our parent and caregiver community: your involvement in your child’s school life makes a genuine difference. Not in a passive, peripheral way, but directly, in how settled, motivated, and connected your child feels day to day. Knowing what is happening at school, having conversations about it at home, showing up when you can — these things matter. We are not asking for perfection; we are asking for engagement. The partnership between home and school is one of the strongest levers we have, and it works best when both sides are in it.

As always, our door is open.

WHARE DAY 2026

Whare Day 2026 ran well. The four whare — Mahira, Mana, Pono, and Kaha — assembled on the field from 9 am for the opening karakia before moving through seven event rotations across the day.

One of the standout moments came courtesy of our partnership with Kimihia ECE. Their tamariki joined us for their own event during the day — and our students were there to cheer them on. It was a simple thing, but it meant something. Watching our older students get behind those little ones said a lot about the culture we are building here.

Highlights of the afternoon included Sprint Finals, Tug of War, and the Whare Sprints across Tāhuhu, Junior, and Senior grades before the Closing Ceremony brought the day to a close.

Thank you to the staff who organised and ran events, and to the students who competed with the right spirit throughout. Good competition, well run.

SCHOOL COUNCIL 2026

Our School Council for 2026 is confirmed. Congratulations to the following students who have taken on this role:

Seniors: Paige Palmer, Arush Prakash, Alex Dodd, Ina Mercado, Palak Rawat, Farah Langridge, Samantha Foote, Izariah Jack-Kino, Kiera Neels, Sophie Timothy, Sonja Shuker, Alex Whitworth

Juniors: Valerie Tamate, Connor Fosbender, Griffin Du Plessis, and Berne Liebenburg.

On Whare Day, the council ran the Sausage Sizzle BBQ — a practical reminder of what student leadership actually looks like.

CHRISTCHURCH POLYFEST — 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Te Aratai College closed out the 25th Anniversary of Christchurch Polyfest as the grand finale. 110 performers. The hours they put in — afternoons, lunchtimes, weekends — were considerable, and given willingly.

Ōtautahi saw something worth seeing.

We are very proud of every student who performed, and grateful to the staff and whānau who made it possible. Thank you. We were also featured in The Press, page 3.

Prefect Profile – Leof Cusi

Hey everyone! My name is Joesiah Leof L. Cusi, and my ako class is 13RTH. I have been at this school since Year 7, and I serve as the International Prefect at Te Aratai College.

One thing that catches my interest is the New Zealand Cadet Forces, where I actively serve as a Corporal. This hobby of mine is not only a stepping stone towards becoming a pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, but also a way to make new friends and influence the cadets in my squadron to be confident and help them become future leaders.

Another important part of my life is going to church. This not only helps strengthen my relationship with my beliefs, but also with my family and friends. I am a proud Catholic and love to show my faith to people through my actions by being friendly and showing love to those around me.

Being an International Prefect is important to me because there are many international students in the school who are either trying to find their place in New Zealand or are trying to understand their identity within their culture. Having such a pivotal role in the school, I aim to uplift students who are similar to me and allow them to discover their identity within themselves and within the school. I look forward to talking with them, inspiring and uplifting them to become future prefects or people who can make a difference in our community.

As a prefect, I want to be approachable and relatable, as many students at this school can be very reserved and isolated within their friend groups. Being approachable is not just about starting a conversation, but also about putting my best self forward and giving students a good first impression, which can in turn, make me more approachable.

I hope this year turns out great. Our prefects have been working very hard to give back to our community, and I cannot wait to see everything unfold!

Have a blessed day, everyone!