Monday, April 30, 2012
ANZAC Day
Photos from the recent ANZAC Day parade where our students ably represented the school and Head Boy Cameron Johnson and Head Girl Nicole Booker spoke at the morning service.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Relay 4 Life 2012
Well, there sure was a lot of mud. If I try and recall a picture of the Relay for Life 2012, held at the Pukekura Raceway from midday Saturday 24 to midday Sunday 25 of March, that is the first thing that I see.
Certainly, that’s not all that comes to mind, though. The smiles, the camaraderie, the sense of a team spirit. The rubbish-bag-manufactured clothing, duct-taped tarpaulins and cable ties. The heartache of hearing bagpipes while standing in the soft candlelight of the remembrance ceremony. The rain-filled socks (soaks?) and shoes, warm water squelching around feet as we walked on the tar-sealed car park, after the mud became ankle deep in places by 10:30 at night, and so was deemed too dangerous. Finding myself walking through the rain in time to Sacha Baron-Coen singing, ‘I like to move-it-move-it,’ as Madagascar played on the big screen during the wee-small hours of Sundays morning. Cheering for Beth-el, Jessica, Kyle, Mr Fergusson and the others from the Stratty team who took it to the Relay Idol stage at different points over the weekend.
And aside from these few snapshots from my memory, there are all the others of the fundraising and preparation and lead up to the event, on top of the fine form that the event itself was carried out in. But really, you’d expect nothing less from such a dedicated crew from one of New Zealand’s top high school communities (at around 300 metres above sea-level – or 1,010 feet at the old railway station, as Mr. Caldwell informs me).
With fundraising and Easter-egg raffle tickets still coming in, we don’t have a final figure for the funds raised yet, but prior to the Relay itself, a little over $3,500 was banked with the Taranaki Cancer Society. This money will go to support those who have to deal with cancer in their lives, and in the lives of those they love. While not yet complete, this nevertheless is a substantial effort, and everyone who has contributed can be proud of the part they have played this year.
My thanks to all in the team, those who have participated, and who helped us out. This group of people includes the Alexander and O’Carroll families, who along with Mr. Smith loaned us the tents which were essential to the success of the weekend. There are the parents who braved the weather to stay with us, Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs Duthie. Also the student leaders Cameron, Laura, Leah, Nicole, Nikayla and Andrew, who helped out and gained invaluable experience of working together in adverse conditions. And to the staff involved, whether it was helping with meetings at school, dropping it to say hi at the Raceway, helping us put up (and later modify) the tents, assist with management and supervision overnight, or help with the vital pack-up. My especial thanks to four staff for their indefatigable support both prior to and at the event: Mrs. Broadmore for your sanity with paperwork; Ms Rawlinson for your willingness to step in and make things work where it was needed; Miss Kay for your positivity and pragmatic organising; and Mr. Walker for your practical nous and ability to make things happen. You guys are awesome!
Mr D Woodd, TiC Relay for Life 2012
Certainly, that’s not all that comes to mind, though. The smiles, the camaraderie, the sense of a team spirit. The rubbish-bag-manufactured clothing, duct-taped tarpaulins and cable ties. The heartache of hearing bagpipes while standing in the soft candlelight of the remembrance ceremony. The rain-filled socks (soaks?) and shoes, warm water squelching around feet as we walked on the tar-sealed car park, after the mud became ankle deep in places by 10:30 at night, and so was deemed too dangerous. Finding myself walking through the rain in time to Sacha Baron-Coen singing, ‘I like to move-it-move-it,’ as Madagascar played on the big screen during the wee-small hours of Sundays morning. Cheering for Beth-el, Jessica, Kyle, Mr Fergusson and the others from the Stratty team who took it to the Relay Idol stage at different points over the weekend.
And aside from these few snapshots from my memory, there are all the others of the fundraising and preparation and lead up to the event, on top of the fine form that the event itself was carried out in. But really, you’d expect nothing less from such a dedicated crew from one of New Zealand’s top high school communities (at around 300 metres above sea-level – or 1,010 feet at the old railway station, as Mr. Caldwell informs me).
With fundraising and Easter-egg raffle tickets still coming in, we don’t have a final figure for the funds raised yet, but prior to the Relay itself, a little over $3,500 was banked with the Taranaki Cancer Society. This money will go to support those who have to deal with cancer in their lives, and in the lives of those they love. While not yet complete, this nevertheless is a substantial effort, and everyone who has contributed can be proud of the part they have played this year.
My thanks to all in the team, those who have participated, and who helped us out. This group of people includes the Alexander and O’Carroll families, who along with Mr. Smith loaned us the tents which were essential to the success of the weekend. There are the parents who braved the weather to stay with us, Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs Duthie. Also the student leaders Cameron, Laura, Leah, Nicole, Nikayla and Andrew, who helped out and gained invaluable experience of working together in adverse conditions. And to the staff involved, whether it was helping with meetings at school, dropping it to say hi at the Raceway, helping us put up (and later modify) the tents, assist with management and supervision overnight, or help with the vital pack-up. My especial thanks to four staff for their indefatigable support both prior to and at the event: Mrs. Broadmore for your sanity with paperwork; Ms Rawlinson for your willingness to step in and make things work where it was needed; Miss Kay for your positivity and pragmatic organising; and Mr. Walker for your practical nous and ability to make things happen. You guys are awesome!
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