VOLUNTEER WEEK ADVERTISING FEATURE
Our community, our strength – Ko to hapori, kō mātau.
At our kura, we live by our motto: “We work together to achieve one’s true potential.” The close relationship we share with our community is our greatest strength, and we are immensely proud of these bonds.
Our community supports our students in diverse ways. We see it in our dedicated sports volunteers, academic study sessions, and staff volunteer firefighters – like English Kaiako Ms Yorke, whose recent Sky Tower Challenge provided phenomenal role modeling for our taiohi.
Our Gateway programme thrives thanks to local businesses providing vital real-world experience.
We also appreciate environmental guidance from Rachael Cheeseman at Enviroschools, the Thames Community Centre’s Drivers Programme, music donations, collaborations with Thames Music Group, and whānau initiatives like the Ball Dress Lending scheme.
Equally inspiring is our Student Volunteer Army (SVA), led by Student Leaders Kim Ju Taing and Shanarra Smook.
Our SVA volunteers have been doing amazing work, from supporting the Rhodes Park rugby event and Christmas Parade, to packaging flood-relief parcels for local families.
Recently, they spent a week assisting the Salvation Army and helped Moanataiari School with poster distribution, security, and parking management for the Light Up Thames event.
These volunteer hours cross-credit for students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
On top of this, our Enviro group managed waste at the food festival and attended the Climate Summit to study sustainability.
Weekly student leadership also thrives within our walls through peer tutoring, refereeing, and library assistance
Looking ahead, the SVA is excited to partner with Thames Coast KiwiCare, participate in Tapu planting, and run a Food Bank drive to celebrate National Volunteer Week, with all proceeds donated to the Baptist Church.
Thank you to everyone strengthening our kura!
– Supplied by Thames High School
