A Heartfelt Thank You
Dear Dio Whanaau
As I write to you for the final time in my capacity as Acting Principal, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and admiration for this extraordinary Dio community. It has been a privilege to serve in this role and I want to sincerely thank each of you—students, families and staff for the support you have shown both to me personally and to our beloved school over this past season.
We are incredibly fortunate to find ourselves in such a strong position. Our roll is not only full, it is bursting at the seams with a waiting list of hopeful students and families who long to be a part of what makes our school so special. That interest is a testament to the shared commitment we hold as a community to something deeper than academics alone.
To our dedicated staff: you have played an integral role in holding and upholding the high academic standards and strong behavioural expectations that we are known for. Your professionalism and belief in our students have laid the foundation for their success, both in the classroom and beyond. Your work has not gone unnoticed and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
At the very core of our school are the values we seek to live out daily: courage, respect, empathy, diligence, integrity, and tolerance. These are not just words we display on walls, they are virtues we aim to embody in our relationships, our decision-making and our growth as individuals and as a collective. They guide how we treat one another, how we face challenges and how we contribute to the wider world.
Underpinning all of this is our Anglican Christian special character, which is our foundation. It shapes the way we educate our wahine – mind, body and spirit. Through service opportunities, Chapel services, the Religious Education curriculum and a commitment to compassion and justice, we are nurturing not only students, but citizens of character and faith. Our Anglican identity reminds us that each student is deeply known and valued as a unique creation of God.
If Bishop Cherrington were with us today, I am certain he would be immensely proud of how this school has lived out his vision of undaunted hope. Over the past year, especially following the restructure, which, while necessary, brought grief and challenge, we have not only endured but emerged stronger and more united. The strength, grace and determination shown by our community during that time reflect the very heart of Bishop Cherrington’s dream for this school: a place of hope, resilience, unceasing prayer and unwavering faith in the future.
As we look ahead to the end of the year, we also prepare to farewell several valued long-serving staff members who will be leaving us. They are Susi Webb, Alistair Hutchinson, Jo Munn, Jenny Bothwell and Nicola Ratima. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their service, loyalty and excellent teaching, which have inspired and empowered so many of our students. Their contributions to our school have been deeply appreciated and they will be greatly missed.
In particular, I wish to express heartfelt thanks to Jo Munn, who has served this community faithfully for 33 years. Her long tenure as a dean and more recently, her leadership as Acting Deputy Principal (Pastoral) have been marked by wisdom, compassion and commitment. Her contribution to the special character of our school, particularly through her modelling of servant leadership and faith, has left a lasting legacy.
As we now head into the holiday break, I want to wish all our students, staff and families a well-deserved time of rest and renewal. To our seniors, this is your opportunity to take a breath, refresh yourselves and begin to focus your energy toward the final term ahead. The lead-up to external exams can be demanding, but with clarity, balance and determination, you are more than capable of finishing strong. We believe in you!
As I step aside from this role and hand over to Angee Robertson, I do so with great confidence in what lies ahead. Our school is thriving, our values are strong and our path is clear. Thank you again for walking alongside me during this chapter. It has been an honour to serve. May God continue to bless our school and each of you richly in the days to come.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11
With warmest regards and every blessing,
Sonja Maree
Acting Principal
Key Events Week One
-
Monday 6 October – First Day of Term 4
-
Monday 6 October – New Principal Pōwhiri, Chapel 8.45am
-
Thursday 9 October – Sports Awards, Gym 6.30pm
Pop In Your Diary
Week 2
-
Thursday 16 October – Arts Awards, Chapel
-
Sunday 19 October – Boarders Leavers Service, Chapel 7pm
Week 3
-
Wednesday 22 October – Founders Service, Chapel 11.45am-12.45pm
-
Wednesday 22 October – Dio Day Celebrations, 12.45-2.10pm
-
Thursday 23 October – Senior Prizegiving, Chapel 1.30-3.30pm
-
Friday 24 October – Leavers Servce, Chapel 11.15am
Week 4
-
Monday 27 October – Labour Day
-
28-31 October – Junior Exams