It was a very special welcome with a karanga called by Anna Preece and responded to by Ruby Walker. The St Cecilia Singers performed the waiata He Honore and led the audience into the National Anthem.
It was a special night marking a full year since Board Chair Jenny Spillane took over the Board of Governors at Dio – her speech marking the occasion with a metaphor of gymnast Simone Biles sticking her landings after performing to the level of complexity that Jenny had noticed with oversight of running a school. It was a wonderful segue into celebrating achievement and wondering in awe how our amazing young students have the time to contribute so much.
Head Prefect Edith Li delivered parts of her speech in Te Reo, English and Mandarin demonstrating the intellectual capacity and love of learning that she has experienced on her journey. She told the story of a bird ready to take off – does she trust her wings, or will she stay on the branch? The message for the Year 13 students was summed up beautifully. Edith acknowledged her Deputy Head Harriet Fletcher and referred to their vision for the year – looking into the past to move forward – a vision that engaged students across the school.
After Edith’s speech, the new Head Prefects for 2025 were announced.
They are: Deputy Head Prefect Ivy Barrington and Head Prefect Lotosina Tavui. We are delighted to welcome Lotosina and Ivy into their new leadership roles next year. These positions are voted democratically by students and staff and shortlisted applicants are interviewed. We congratulate Lotosina and Ivy who were roommates together back in the Junior School when their choir was invited to present in Chengdu, China. We believe that they will make an awesome leadership team.
This year has been an exceptional year for senior students and we are delighted to  wish them well as they fly off into the future.
