Reminder - there is a teacher only day on Friday 22nd March, this is to allow staff a professional development day.
OPEN NOW: Get in quick to nominate a young person you know (13 - 18 yrs) for an Upper Hutt City Young Achievers Award. Nominations are closing soon (31 - March). There's $4700 of grants up for grabs over 6 categories: Resilience, Arts, Leadership, Kaitiaki, Manaakitanga, and Sports. Local bands and performers from Heretaunga and Upper Hutt Colleges will also be performing at the event, and supper and drinks are provided. It's easy and quick to nominate, just click here:
https://upperhuttcity.com/community/our-community/young-achiever-awards/
As a new week begins many of us are still impacted by what happened in Christchurch on Friday afternoon. The senseless killing of so many people is something that we, in New Zealand, on our soil, have not had to face before.
On behalf of Heretaunga College, students and staff I would like to express our heartfelt sympathy to all impacted by this tragedy. To those who have lost loved ones we can only offer our deepest condolences. Our hearts also go out to the families that are sitting beside hospital beds waiting, hoping that their cherished family members will pull through. I am also conscious that so many people have seen and experienced things that people should not have to see and experience and we know that many will never get over what they have been through.
Over the next few days we will consider as a school community what we can do to help. I was taken by one of the clerics from the Mosque being interviewed by the media and whose wife had died trying to save his life. He said that he forgave the killer. He did not hate him in fact he loved him.
It is hard for many of us to understand this sentiment. This cleric understands that love is the opposite to hate and the only pathway from hate to love is forgiveness. This is a window into the true nature of Islam which is not about hate and waging a holy war. This crime was committed against peace loving people from many countries around the world who had gathered peacefully to practise their beliefs. The other tragedy from this event is that Muslims gathering to worship, exercising their rights that our laws uphold will never feel safe again.
So I think that one response we can have is to realise that intolerance leading to hate is not cool. Each of us can examine the way we respond to people who have different beliefs, ideas, lifestyles or who are of different races. It is not cool to express ideas or make jokes that denigrate those who are different to us. If we hear people around us make racist jokes - don't laugh, say to them its is not cool. If we hear people make sexist or other offensive remarks - don't laugh say to them it is not cool.
The greatest challenge in responding to a shocking event like this is to examine our own hearts and to change the way we think and behave. To truly embrace the differences in people that enriches our community. In this way we
can allow some good to come out of the evil that has happened.
Bruce Hart
Principal
ON CALL LIBRARY RELIEVER
There is a position available as a library reliever. On an as-needed basis. Hours would be between 8.30-3.30 school days.
Some experience with computers needed and an interest in working with our students with research and reading.
To request an application pack please contact Phillipa Steiner, Principal’s PA via email – steinerp@heretaunga.school.nz
Applications close 4pm on Friday 15th March 2019 and should be addressed to Mr Bruce Hart, Principal and emailed to: steinerp@heretaunga.school.nz
