Rototuna High Schools are at the heart of our community, dedicated to serving the best interests of around 2,400 young people across our campus. We ensure that our students leave school ready to navigate the world with dignity, purpose, and a wide range of opportunities. At Rototuna, we empower our learners to be connected, collaborative, and community-minded individuals, inspired to achieve their full potential.
KŌRERO FROM MEL
This week I am sharing with you the same message I am giving in our first Iwi assemblies of the year.
Just over ten years ago, this building was silent. The paint was fresh, the desks were new, and the doors opened for the very first time.
Think about where you were ten years ago. Most of you were between one and four years old, probably more worried about nap time than prepping for NCEA. In that decade, thousands of students have walked these same floors. They’ve sat in the seats you’re sitting in now, nervous for their first semester, just like some of you might have been a couple of weeks ago. But as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary, I want you to realize something: A school isn't just a collection of bricks, glass, and Wi-Fi routers. A school is a living thing. And for ten years, the 'soul' of this school has been built by the people inside it.
So, as we look forward to this year, I want to talk about one of our main kaupapa - Kindness or Manaakitanga & Kaitiakitanga. Kindness is often misunderstood. Some people think kindness is 'being nice' or just staying out of trouble. It’s not. Kindness is a superpower. It is the backbone of a strong community.
In Junior High, things get complicated. Social circles shift, the work gets harder, and the pressure ramps up. In our environment, the easiest thing to do is to be cynical, to make a joke at someone else's expense, or to ignore someone who is struggling. But at this school, we have high standards. We expect more from you than just 'getting by.'
Being part of the 'Culture of Us' means:
We Protect the Environment: We have high expectations for how you treat this building. We take pride in our space because it represents who we are.
We Protect Each Other: Kindness means having the courage to stand up for someone else. It means being the person who includes the student sitting alone.
I have high expectations for your grades, yes. But I have even higher expectations for your character. If you are a straight-A student but you aren't kind, you are missing the most important lesson we have to teach.
So, to kick off our tenth year, I’m giving you two specific challenges. I want to see these in action.
The Micro-Challenge: I want you to introduce yourself to one person you don’t know. Maybe it’s someone in your advisory or module set, or someone sitting alone at break times. One introduction. It’s the simplest act of kindness, and it’s how a community is built.
The Growth Challenge: Identify one area where you’re going to raise your own bar this year. Maybe it’s being on time, maybe it’s participating more in a subject you usually hate. Whatever it is, do it with pride. When you wear our school uniform or walk through our doors, do it with your head held high.
You are part of a ten-year legacy now. You aren't just attending a school; you are building a reputation. Let’s make sure that when people talk about this school, they talk about our excellence, our high standards, and above all, our kindness.
Welcome to the anniversary year. Let’s make it the best one yet.
