Greg Thornton, the Principal of Cambridge High School, opened his address by referring to their strategic plan.  Their core purpose is to “develop young people who can navigate competently through their secondary school learning into life beyond school”. The vision is “Our students will have a sense of purpose and direction; they will understand who they are and where they are going”.

 

Greg said the school is performing well academically.  He also stressed the importance of the extra-curricular activities sport and arts and culture.  They are trying to get as many students into sport, playing an instrument or being in a cultural group.

The Ministry expects the school to keep growing and it will have the capacity for 2500 students.  The population growth is putting pressure on facilities.  Nine repurposed classrooms have arrived on site and are being fitted out.  There are plans to convert two blocks

from single storey to two storeys. The school currently has 1600 students and many students feel a disconnection.  To address this and to improve the sense of well-being, they are ramping up the house structure.  There will be vertical form classes with years 9-13 in the one form class.

 

The gym was developed as a public partnership and is used by the community extensively with groups using it every evening.

 

The school recognises the importance of awareness of our bicultural heritage and to understand Maori culture.

 

During questions members commented that they had seen Greg going to work on his skateboard.

 

In response to one request he spoke a bit about himself.  He mentioned that his father and grandfather were both principals.  This initially drove him away from the idea of working in education.  He also spoke about his journey through a series of schools starting teaching at Rangitoto College through a number of other schools and his last post was in Hong Kong.

Robyn Crickett mentioned it was Mental Health Awareness Week and said it was good to reflect on it and think about our recent address on Rural Support.

 

A small group of members met with Peter Parr and his son and daughter during the afternoon and presented Peter with his certificate as an honorary member.  He enjoyed the time reminiscing.

 

Ken Leatham spoke about the firewood project and said that about 20 people, including 3 from Business After 5, had a fantastic day last weekend.  He estimated about 23 cubic metres of macrocarpa wood was cut which we will be wanting to sell.  We will probably have another day or two of working bees on the project.

 

Greg Gascoigne spoke about World Polio Day on October 24.  He is organising a fundraiser via the screening of the Australian movie, “Riding like a girl”, about the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup.  The screening may be on the Wednesday if it can be arranged to provide a little more space before the long weekend.  There will also be a display about polio in the window of PaperPlus.  Please contact Greg if you can provide any appropriate photos so we can show why we vaccinate.

 

Robyn reminded us of our Te Puia trip the following week on October 31.  Please let Don Wilson or Robyn know if you want to come now and didn’t respond to the survey.  We need to finalise our numbers.

 

Bill Macmillan had a fall recently and is in hospital.  He seems to be recovering well.

 

Members were encouraged to vote in the local body elections.

 

Roger Gordon spoke about the PR Committee’s media project.  They are planning a monthly spot in the Cambridge News.  This will be similar to the quarter page done by the Cambridge Tree Trust.  Rotary will have full control of the editorial content.  Contact Roger if you have ideas for potential sponsors.  The monthly sponsor will have a banner on the page and it will cost them $199.

 

In his Magic Moment, Andy Newman commented on the small numbers of young people who have voted in local body elections.  He has been trying to get young people he is involved with to engage, take an interest and vote.