Head Students

From the freshmen year of 2015 to the end of an era 2019, Karamu High School, you have done me well. Time has travelled and has gone too fast where what seemed to have been endless hours of class time & homework to now, what only remains of a few short weeks before “adulthood”. I am grateful for all the experiences and opportunities that I’ve had over these 5 years from adventures of Outward Bound, ski trip, lunchtime schemes with Mr Ross, incubator programme, Friday night basket balling, early games of footy and of course the school events which show the true rivalry of friends and teachers: House sport (Kaweka for the win). I have come to learn that Karamu High school is far more than just academics and sporting abilities, it’s about growth and building of character within a person. The hardships we experience inside and outside of the classroom are only something to learn and grow from. I know for sure these hardships have shaped the person I am today, safe to say after five long years of heartbreaks, 2nd place badges and sweat marks after every interval and lunch, I’ve made it. As of course I would have never been able to make it without the help of the staff and my friends. First, to the people I have great respect and utmost admiration for. Constantly giving their time and effort for the students, that would be teaching, organising timetables, references, career interviews, cleaning the school grounds, making sure all IT is functioning and, of course, the help needed due to the lack of knowledge of not knowing how to tie a tie. I am thankful to each staff member who has helped guide me into the world of learning and shown that, with perseverance and belief, anything is possible. To the students of KHS and especially to my own year group, the class of 2015, you lot are a crazy bunch. Getting to know you guys throughout the years, I have come to conclude that you all are individually unique in your own way. We have all been through many highs celebrating them as individuals or as a collective. We have all been through many lows but always had a shoulder for support. We’ve been there for each other and always will be, pushing one another to exceed our limits. I am truly grateful and blessed to have been surrounded by fantastic people on a daily basis. As always, study smart, dream big, set goals and always smile.

- Ben Randle Ben Randle

Head Boy

When I started at Karamu, I remember looking up to the prefects, especially when I was in junior school, and knew I wanted to be in a position to make an impact on members of the school community when it was my chance. So when I was lucky enough to be announced Head Girl for 2019, I knew I was being set up for an amazing year. We often hear “what would you tell your Year 9 self now if you were able to change something?”, and although there are a few things I would do differently, I would have to say that my willingness to try all the endless opportunities that Karamu has to offer is a trait that I am proud I kept up, and is why I’ve been able to look back and say I’ve had an amazing 5 years at Karamu. I’ve lived through my high school years with the knowledge that you only regret the chances you don’t take, and through this I’ve had endless amazing experiences.

From the extremes such as kayaking through Marlborough Sounds, getting a medal at the Grant Jarvis football tournament this year, ski trips, high ropes, completing a half marathon, to the more mellow things such as the feeling of getting a good grade on an exam you know you worked hard for, or the proud feeling of watching the juniors you coach win their debate. However, I can’t act as if all these things I’ve been lucky enough to partake in have been achieved simply because of my willingness to give things a go, but rather because of the amazing teachers, and school that have allowed the success of any student who should want it. Whether it’s been Mrs van Rijk organising all our Duke of Edinburgh trips, the PE staff pushing us to the limits on the skiing and Rotorua trips, Mr Rafferty coaching our team up to silver in our tournament, Mr Chamberlain printing out hundreds of pieces of paper to get the chemistry message across, Mr Blake setting up endless opportunities in the sports sector, and so many more teachers in so many different areas, all backed up by an amazing senior staff as well. So, if I can recommend something to every student at Karamu, it would be to take up as many opportunities as possible that Karamu has to offer in order to reach their full potential, because you won’t regret it. Knowing that very soon I’m going to have to say goodbye to the place that’s been a home for the last 5 years in order to chase my dreams is very bittersweet, but I know that I’ll live the rest my life remembering Karamu and everything it did for me.

-Lucy McKay Lucy McKay

Head Girl

Tia Ward

Deputy Head Girl First, I would like to say a huge thank you to the students and staff for allowing me to be your Deputy Head Girl 2019. I will never forget the first day I walked into Karamu High

School as a Year 9 and being greeted by the student leaders of 2015. Each year the leaders of Karamu would inspire me to always aim high and do my best in everything, this led to me wanting to inspire others someday by becoming a leader in Year 13. My life at Karamu has been an honourable experience I will never forget. One of my highlights at Karamu has been the many opportunities for students to utilize their skills and passion, especially in the Performing Arts area. From Show Quest to school productions to Stage Challenge to Dance NZ Made, Karamu has done it all and I’m extremely proud to be a part of it. If I have learnt one thing while being at Karamu, it’s that you will always be told to follow your dreams. But this doesn’t come easy, success takes a lot of time and dedication. So, if there is anyone reading this that has a dream in life that seems far-fetched, go for it! What’s stopping you? Is it the thought of failure? Because if you don’t try, then you’ve already failed. If I could give one final piece of advice to the students of Karamu High School it would be: Don’t let anyone stop you from following your dream no matter how big or small, if you put in the time and effort you will be rewarded with the success you deserve.

- Tia Ward

Tyler Boyes

Deputy Head Boy Wowee, no words just that! What a wild ride the last 5 years of my life with Karamu High School has been. Karamu has allowed me to meet an amazing cohort of people, make friendships that will last a lifetime and has given me endless opportunities across all Academia, Sporting and Cultural fields. I have been given the chance to be a part of amazing experiences such as Whale Watching in Kaikoura, eating raw sardines and eggs for rugby tournaments in Whanganui, snowboarding trips, being a part of the performing arts groups that have won awards in Stage challenge and Showquest and competing in all the house events for the mighty Heretaunga. However, Karamu would not be the school it is today without it’s hard working staff. They put a mammoth amount of work into us students and without them we wouldn’t be able to succeed. I have formed many great relationships with different staff members over my years at Karamu. From Tina constantly having to fix my collar in the office, to singing along to “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys with Mr Chamberlain and going for a round of golf with Mr Wooster. All the staff are always there for us students whether it’s to organise an extra tutorial or just for a chinwag. They are more like friends then teachers and this is what separates our school from the rest. One thing that I have learnt from being at Karamu is to get amongst what the school has to offer and to get outside of your comfort zone. As teenagers it is easy for us to stick to the same old boring routine and do what we know we like or are good at. But if I have any advice for you it is to break your daily routine and shake things up. Go and try your hand at something new and get involved in different groups whether it be signing up for a new sport, joining a new cultural group or signing up for a new subject. Get out there and give it your best shot, you never know, you may just love it. Another important life lesson I have learnt is that you need to work hard. In the famous words of William Waiirua “Do the mahi, get the treats”. If you want to succeed and achieve your goals, the only way to get there is by putting in the work and not cutting corners. No one else can do it for you, it is up to you to find the drive and put the work in so you can get those treats. Finally, thank you to the school for allowing me to be your Deputy Head Boy for 2019. This journey has been a once in lifetime experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. To all the students, get out there and get amongst what the school has to offer, work hard and stay humble. For now, it’s time for us Year 13’s to hang up our boots and begin the next chapter of our lives.

-Tyler Boyes

Lucy McKay (Head Girl) Ben Randle (Head Boy), Tyler Boyes (Deputy Head Boy), Tia Ward (Deputy Head Girl)

Cultural Leaders

April Kihirini, Dylan Dempsey, Jemma Green Dean Polak, Oliver Wiggins-Crowe, Dane Skogstad Shakoa Puketapu, Hannah Bursnall, Jacinta Foreman, Anna Barbridge, Ruby Brett

Sports Leaders

Abigail Kilkolly, Isaac Hinton, Te Waiarani Randell

Performing Arts Leaders

Te Au Skipworth, Lian Hontalba

Academic Leaders

Amber Flashoff, Thomas Steinmann, Xanthia Coombe, Ben Colquhoun (absent)