Cambridge High School year nine students got the message loud and clear from principal Greg Thornton at their pōwhiri last week.
Realise your potential: Cambridge High School principal Greg Thornton, centre, gives students a pep talk after their pōwhiri. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“Realise your potential,” he urged the 360 plus nervous looking young people sitting quietly in the school gymnasium.
He told The News the biggest thing he wanted the students to do was to “give things a crack” during their five years at the school.
“Don’t be afraid. Have that courage to just put yourself out there because it will turn into success.
“I want when they first come into the school to acknowledge all that’s in front of them and set them a little challenge that says ‘think about this time as a way of being able to realise your potential, learn a lot more about who you are and what it is that interests you and then go for it.”
Nervous year nine students wait outside in the bright early morning sun-shine outside Cambridge High School with year 13 flagbearers for their pōwhiri. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The school starts the year with1860 students, 150 staff – two thirds of them teachers – about 60 international students and 160-170 community volunteers in sports alone.
“I’m just super proud of what we do for our community here and the way in which the collection of experiences both inside the classroom and outside, really shape the students and influence them so by the time they graduate from here, they’re really quite capable people.
“They have had a lot more knowledge. They’re smarter, they’ve got, you know, a lot of a lot of stuff going for them,” said Thornton, who started as principal in January 2019, leaving his job as principal of Tin International College in Hong Kong.
Cambridge High School staff welcome their new colleagues and year nine students inside the gymnasium. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
His speech to the year nines and the new teachers and staff focused on what a supportive community there was in Cambridge in the background.
“We’ve got some wonderful community members and staff that will help guide them to some real great success,” he said.
“We’re really proud of some of the connections we have with some local businesses that will provide the kit or costumes for our students where, you know, they wouldn’t be able to afford it.”
The school has been excelling at hockey, rowing, cycling, girls’ rugby, music and drama.
Cambridge High School senior leadership sing a waiata welcoming year nine students, new staff and whānau to the pōwhiri. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge High School Māori teacher Mahaki Corbett welcomes a whānau member to the pōwhiri while behind him, from left Cambridge Middle School principal Daryl Gibbs, high school principal Greg Thornton and languages teacher Braden Bryant welcome other family members. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
“It is fuelled by our community; we are really well supported but of course spearheaded by some incredible staff here who give them those opportunities and open up that world for them.”
Lack of space inside and out is not a problem. Cambridge High School’s campus redevelopment is up to date and phase four begins this year with some weather tightness work on the block housing English and Social Sciences.
International student numbers have returned to pre Covid levels capped at 60-70.
Thailand and Japan are the school’s major markets with the others mostly from southeast Asia and Europe.
“There’s a lot of reasons why coming to study in Cambridge is a wonderful place to be. We just describe what this environment is like.
“You can walk from home to school and or all your sports and activities are at school,” he said.
A principal’s job involves many challenges including getting the neigh-bour’s cat, held by Greg Thornton, out of the staffroom so guests can have morning tea after the pōwhiri. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The school’s National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) achievement rates went against the trend nationally and for equity groups.
“That’s a really positive story.”
All year nine to 13 students are back at school this week with swimming sports on Thursday next week being the first big event of the year. The term ends on Friday April 11.
New staff and whānau head to their seats at right while Cambridge High School staff welcome them and the year nine students. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Kimiora Wynyard (Te Huingaa – School Prefect) and Te Ao Haka and Mu-sic teacher Vy Conrad call the Year Nine students into the gymnasium. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge HS principal Greg Thornton introduces staff to the students. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge HS principal Greg Thornton introduces staff to the students. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
