TRUST BOARD From the Trust Board Chair Forging a Legacy of Progress

As we approach the second half of 2023, we are continually reminded about the need for resilience and the constant that is change.

Our resilience and that of our families and communities has been truly tested in recent years. The pandemic, along with the increasingly frequent weather events, serve as a reminder that these ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ events will become more regular occurrences in our lives.

For Saint Kentigern, we have largely completed our Shore Road campus building development with the opening of our new Preschool earlier this year. This has created physical resilience for that site which will stand the test of time for generations of future Sons and Daughters of Saint Kentigern. Another opening ceremony we have planned for our Shore Road campus is the Place of Honour named Te Pou o te Rīpeka, the Pillar of the Cross. We will have a special event in September to acknowledge the first four inductees and their significant service to our schools on that campus. More news of this recognition event will be shared in future editions of Piper. A similar Place of Honour will be identified as part of our master planning for the Pakuranga campus. We have previously communicated our intention to commence the Master Plan development on the Pakuranga campus. The increase in the roll at our College, our commitment to enhancing our campus facilities, the guiding principles of our Presbyterian faith, our values and obligations as stewards of the land, along with a refresh of our thinking about the delivery of world-class education for our students are all at the forefront of our planning and consideration. For the Trust Board, we are mindful that the journey we will embark on is our once-in-alifetime opportunity to truly transform the campus for the future. We have undertaken a comprehensive period of engagement, involving many of our existing stakeholders and external experts. This work has culminated in an impressive plan which the Trust Board is now considering, with initial phases of development expected to be announced later this year.

While transforming our buildings across campuses will support our plan for resilience on one level, we continue to work closely with our valued staff to better understand and continue our journey of becoming an employer of choice for our people. We asked a lot of our team as we navigated events of recent years, and we continue to acknowledge and celebrate their collective and individual achievements.

Alongside that, we have continued to hold a mirror against our performance on various areas. This year the Trust Board commissioned a Special Character review, receiving a report from the independent panel. The scope of the review intended to reflect and comment on how we live up to our principle of Presbyterian values through our chaplaincy, service, and curriculum. We note some comments from the report:

• “We commend the Board for the integration of Special Character at all levels (from Preschool to Trustees).”

• “We observed that values are lived out in the Saint Kentigern environment.”

• “We commend the way the Chaplaincy team provides a broad, inclusive and balanced approach to Christian faith.”

I am pleased that the report speaks to resiliency and that we continue to honour our core principles while continuing to embrace growth and change.

Lastly, and in the spirit of embracing change, I acknowledge the work of the College leadership team in their efforts to best interpret the direction of the Ministry of Education with regards to NCEA, initially with Level 1. College Principal Mr Emtage has communicated our approach, which the Trust Board fully supports, and more information will be shared at Parent Information evenings planned in Term 3. While the probable evolution of Level 2 and Level 3 will test our resilience in the coming years, I am confident that our team has the skills and leadership to engage on your behalf with confidence and care to ensure that the educational outcomes for our students are front and centre.

Saint Kentigern is truly thriving. We are well placed to face the future, knowing that we have a sound strategy, team, and resources to execute our strategy, and a community that is passionate in their support.

Fides Servanda Est. Mr Mark Conelly Trust Board Chair