From the Principal’s Desk

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

What a week it has been. Our ākonga have shown up with heart, competed with spirit, and carried our school with pride. This newsletter celebrates the moments and the people that have made this week something to remember.

As we move through the final stretch of Term 1, a reminder that what happens at home matters just as much as what happens at school. When whānau support their young people to get here on time, in uniform, and treat others with respect, it makes a real difference, not just for their own child, but for the whole community around them. We have high aspirations for every ākonga at Te Aratai, and we know our families share that. We are better when we work together.

Research tells us that young people who are connected to a club, team, or group at school are more engaged, more motivated, and more likely to thrive. At Te Aratai, we have so much to offer in Sport, Culture, Arts, Music, and Service, and there is something here for every student. If your young person hasn’t yet found their place, encourage them to have a kōrero with their Dean or with me directly. We will make sure they find it.

Next term, we will also be running a sign-up day at the start of the term, where students can explore and register for the different groups and activities on offer. More details to come, watch this space.

Ngā mihi nui,

Maria – Tumuaki

GRAND FINALE — 25TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTCHURCH POLYFEST

On Saturday, 14 March 2026, Te Aratai College closed out the 25th Anniversary of Christchurch Polyfest at Hagley Park as the grand finale act. One hundred and ten performers took to the stage in front of Ōtautahi and they delivered.

The commitment these students gave, training across afternoons, lunchtimes, and weekends, was considerable, and it was given willingly. Ōtautahi saw something worth seeing.

The school was also featured on page 3 of The Press. We are immensely proud of every performer who represented our kura on that stage, and deeply grateful to the staff and whānau who made it possible.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S HILLARY AWARDS — TURANGA CEREMONY

Congratulations to our Te Aratai College ākonga who received their Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Awards at the Tūranga Christchurch City Library ceremony. It was a proud day for our kura.

We are especially proud of two of our own who took to the stage: Leah Kipa, who opened the ceremony as a student keynote speaker, and our former Head Girl Dormay Laufiso, who closed proceedings as an alumni keynote. What incredible role models for our community.

Gold: Dormay Laufiso, Jack Templeton, Zach Derham, Anna Bly, Dana Bunce, Jacob Drewery, Edison Hay, Suleqo Horlor, Ayden Jayet, Leah Kipa, Stephanie McNabb, Emily Park, Robert Pugh, Josh Ritchie, Levi Ryan-Moss, Lanz Sanorjo, and Torryn Sinclair-Wright. Silver: Samantha Foote, and Farah Langridge.

Well done, Te Aratai. This is what dedication, perseverance, and giving back looks like. We are so proud of every one of you.

LUNCHTIME PERFORMANCES — RANGATAHI TAKING THE FLOOR

A huge acknowledgement to two of our ākonga who brought something special to Te Puna this week. Nita Roderique (Year 9) performed a beautiful set celebrating St Patrick’s Day and she brought joy and heart to our community in equal measure. And to Saloni Panwar (Year 12), after the rain took away her moment at Children’s Day, this week she showed us exactly what she is made of. Worth every bit of the wait.

Te Puna was packed and the energy in the room was something else. The highlight for many was watching our Aukaha students light up with excitement, and when our performers came down to meet them afterwards, the smiles said everything.

We cannot wait to see more of our rangatahi take the floor at lunchtime throughout the year. Watch this space.

YEAR 7 SLEEPOVER — EOTC

The Year 7 sleepover EOTC took place on 20 and 21 March, an important first community-building experience for our newest ākonga. Staff across multiple kaiārahi groups supported the overnight programme, and we hope our Year 7s came home with good memories and new friendships.

DO THE DUKE! — WHĀNAU SHOWCASE EVENING

Thank you to the 70+ students who have already registered their interest in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. If you haven’t signed up yet but want to be part of our Te Aratai College Bronze Led Pilot for 2026, there is still time, but you need to act quickly.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award connects our ākonga with over 1.3 million young people across more than 130 countries. It is a chance to step outside your comfort zone, build resilience, develop leadership, and earn a globally recognised award through community volunteering, learning new skills, and outdoor adventure.

To officially sign up for the programme, whānau and students must attend our Whānau Showcase Evening together.

When: Tuesday, 31 March | 5:30pm to 7:00pm Where: Waitā Canteen area

Catering: Light nibbles and drinks provided

During the evening, you will hear from Ms Lemalie-Herbert (Principal, Te Aratai College), Leonie King (Development Manager, Duke of Edinburgh), and one of our own Year 13 Gold Award achievers.

Whānau attendance is a requirement, not optional. Because the programme involves a financial commitment, it is important that whānau are fully informed from the start. Students will only be able to access their Duke of Ed accounts and officially begin their journey once the showcase has taken place.

If you are already signed up but cannot attend due to a serious commitment, or if you wish to register for the 2026 pilot, contact Mr. Lowe directly at low@tearatai.school.nz before 20 March.

Come along, grab some kai, and DO THE DUKE!

PREFECT PROFILE – INTERNATIONAL KAHUI

Hello everyone, my name is Laxmi Budhathoki, and I am your International Kāhui for 2026. I am in Mrs. PK’s (13NPE) AKO class, and I have been at Te Aratai since Year 8.

I enjoy going out with my friends and spending time together. In my free time, I like to paint and draw. I am not an outdoor person, but I’m open to trying new things to challenge myself. I am an ambivert, so you may find me loud and talkative at times and more shy and quiet at others. One challenge I face is public speaking, so this year I aim to build my confidence in this area, as it is one of my main weaknesses.

As the International Kāhui for 2026, I want to help people from different backgrounds and ethnicities feel welcomed, and to celebrate and share different cultures within our kura and wider community. As a prefect, I hope to encourage others to feel proud of their culture and identity, and to confidently share their nationality, as I do. One of our school ngā uara that is especially important to me is manaakitanga, as I believe we should treat everyone with care and respect. We do not always know what others are going through, so it is important to be thoughtful about what we say and how we say it.

In 2026, my goal is to become a leader that ākonga can look up to. I want to be someone who is approachable, so that students feel comfortable coming to talk to me. Please do not hesitate to say hello if you see me around. I would love to get to know you!

Finally, as this is my last year of high school, I am looking forward to the excitement and challenges ahead. I am especially excited to meet new people and build strong connections.

TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY — 15 MARCH

Sunday, 15 March marked the seventh anniversary of the Al Noor and Linwood Mosque attacks. This date sits with weight in our community and in our kura. We stand together, as we do every day, in upholding values of inclusion, respect, and belonging.