Principal's message

By Sara Quelch | Posted: Friday April 3, 2026
Tēnā koutou ngā whanau of Balmacewen,

As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding term, I would like to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the many successes and achievements across our kura.

In the classroom, we have continued to see the success of the wonderful academic programmes we offer, culminating in the many Quiz Nights organised by our dedicated ākonga and kaiako. These events showcased not only academic excellence but also collaboration, enthusiasm, and school spirit.

Our Kapa Haka group represented us with pride, delivering a wonderful performance at the Graduation Ceremony for Otago Polytechnic. This was a special opportunity to share our culture and talents with the wider community.

On the sports field, we have much to celebrate. A particular highlight was the success of our Year 8 Premier Girls Touch Rugby team, who, under the coaching of Mr Aaron Pitts, secured a title after an exciting 12 minutes of extra time—an outstanding achievement.

We extend our sincere thanks to Ms Rachel Smart, Ms Alex Buttery, and the many parents who gave their time to coach and manage our teams. Your commitment and support are greatly appreciated. Similarly, thank you to Mr Terry Taripi and the many parents involved in supporting our successful Volleyball teams.

A thank you also to Mr Scott, and all of the parent managers for our school futsal teams.

Congratulations also to Ms Lisa Dixon and her water polo teams for their successes in the pool this term. The gold and silver teams both won their grades! Your dedication and teamwork have been evident.

Thanks to Mr Peter Bowler for a competitive outing on the Cricket field against Taieri College and we thank Taieri for being gracious hosts.

We were proud to award the Fair Play Cup to Fleur and Arnelle and Ben (runner up), recognising their outstanding sportsmanship and positive attitude throughout the season.

The term concluded with a highly successful Swimming Sports event, where it was fantastic to see ākonga supporting one another, regardless of their House affiliation. This sense of unity and encouragement is something we deeply value.

Additionally, our school camps were completed successfully, providing students with opportunities to experience a wide range of activities, build resilience, and strengthen friendships. We appreciate the ongoing support from our whanau and your collaboration with our kaiako.

Thank you to our staff, students, and whānau for your ongoing support and contributions to our school community. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable break, and we look forward to welcoming you back next term.

Nāku noa

Corey Todd

Tumuaki/Principal