BOT Chairperson

Kia ora

It’s definitely an understatement to start this report with - What an absolute rollercoaster year 2021 has been!!!

I am still amazed and proud of all of our Glenfield College students and how they have all adapted to the disruption of normality and embraced remote learning and google meet classrooms. This is truly a reflection on the calibre of students attending our college. Coming together to support each other during these challenging times epitomises ‘pride and respect’.

For some of you this is your last year at Glenfield College and it probably wasn’t the way you had expected it to turn out. Regardless, you should be very proud of your achievements during your time at Glenfield College. This pandemic will not define you as you take the next step in your ‘journey of life’. Be very proud of yourself and your own personal achievements, this is your journey. To all the students returning next year, we look forward to seeing you in 2022.

To the Principal, Senior Management, Teaching Staff and Administration, although we remain in the midst of this pandemic, it is appropriate to reflect on how all of you have responded to this unplanned disruption. You have done so in a spirit of collaboration, focussing on the well-being of all, with a commitment to striving to the very highest standards of excellence. Your unwavering dedication has been on full display during these past several months.

When we consider what Glenfield College has achieved so far this year, it is truly remarkable and a testament to the school's senior management and staff. Working together, you have transformed the school to meet physical distancing guidelines; you adjusted schedules, classes, and curriculum to meet the blended academic needs of our students; you used your innovative spirit to bring community and joy to not only students but also whanau on social media. You have communicated to all members of the Glenfield College community with clarity, compassion, taking well-being into consideration. What is perhaps most remarkable, albeit not surprising for those of us who have witnessed for years how this community works, is that you have rolled up your sleeves to do this job with a can-do spirit. No one asked for this, but every one of you does what needs to be done to serve our students during one of the most challenging times in our school's history.

We hope you all take enormous pride in those efforts of accomplishment and mutual support. All your hard work and what you do every day at school is making a tremendous difference in students' lives. Your efforts have been recognised and admired by each member of the Board of Trustees. Our profound thanks go to all of you for your commitment to the hard work involved in continually creating a Glenfield College experience.

The Board of Trustees have met virtually to govern the strategic plan and drive outcomes for Glenfield College. A key deliverable of the plan is to ensure we are meeting academic targets. The Board regularly receives reports outlining achievements and we have been very impressed by the academic results that have been achieved thus far. School improvements have progressed where possible and these investments made by the College are to ensure the learning environments we provide is safe, up-to-date and comfortable for all the current and future students. This year the Admin block and staffroom have been upgraded, as well as the school library. Lighting has been upgraded to a more sustainable option in several blocks. Thank you to our Property Manager, Mark Bredin for overseeing much of this work under alert level restrictions and Michael Joo for continuously ensuring our school grounds look well maintained, neat and tidy.

Financially, the current situation continues to impact our income from International Students, however our Business Manager Frances O’Brien has done a great job in managing our funds to meet our operational needs.

I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas.

Ngā mihi nui

Donna Kahaki