The 2018 Senior Prizegiving was held on Friday, 2 November at the Rutherford School Hall.

At Rutherford we know that we get to choose our attitude and this is the most important thing we can do with our mind; to choose our attitude. Our attitude is the critical element in the pursuit of personal excellence and our happiness.

Here is a quick snapshot of the year of 2018.

Early in term 1 we had the year 9 Powhiri, Swimming and Athletic Sports events, and then the new to Rutherford Family and Whanau BBQ. Our premier Touch Boys and Girls teams won the Central West competition.

A wonderful Scholar’s Assembly where we celebrated our NCEA results for 2017.  In scholarship we could celebrate for the 6th year in a row the best results in the West. Liana Sabetian received the top scholar award for dance in New Zealand at the Top Scholar Awards ceremony at the beehive. Zoe Taylor won Silver at the NZ Secondary School Athletics Champs in the 200 meters.

At the end of term 1 we completed the first phase of the upgrade to D  Block with major refurbishments of Room 56 and 57 in the Science Learning Area.

We had our Indian Dance group, Samoan group and Kapa haka groups perform with distinction at Polyfest. Later in term 2 Te Kotuku represented the Auckland Region at the Kapa haka Nationals in Palmerston North. Dux Ludorum Mollie Tagaloa represented NZ at the Under 20 World Champs in Touch and picked up a silver medal.  Term 2 included the Year 9 camp assisted by many of our seniors as peer mentors. Our wonderful dance programme featured at You dance. Our Choir performed at big sing and our Concert band returned to the KBB Musical Festival and won a Bronze Medal.  James Marriott was selected as one of 20 in a Auckland region Concert Band. Term 2 as always ended with a wonderful senior school ball at Eden Park.

In term 3 our Senior Girls Basketball won the West Auckland Premier Grade for the second year in a row. Our under 16 Boys Football Team won the greater Auckland champs beating Sacred Heart, Auckland Grammar and Westlake Boys along the way.

We celebrated our 56th annual Rutherford Day and our guest speaker Dr Pita Sharples delivered a personal message of his connection with Rutherford and what the West Auckland community means to him.

Anna Choi came first in Year 13 Maths in NZ in the rigorous ICAS UNSW exams and Year 10 student Tunde Ficza came first in the equivalent for Year 10 in English. Academic excellence at the highest level.

Ryan Verney helped the NZ under 17 men’s football team men to qualify for the Under 17 World Cup in 2019.

Dux Artium Tiana Maihi’s korowai artwork was selected to be the kai karanga at the entrance the NZQA Gallery.

School is a snapshot of life, there are highlights, there are less positive moments and more often than not, it is the day to day stuff that we must do that helps to keep us moving forward. At Rutherford we celebrate the special moments and events but what I love about working here is being part of this community and the day to day wairua. We are not pretentious or self-obsessed and we understand the value of little acts of human kindness.

A lot goes on, but it makes our school a special place to be a part of. We work hard to create opportunities and the environment that students and the wider whanau can enjoy. We focus on developing foundations that build integrity, strong character, the making of lifelong friends and an ability to make good choices.

It is my pleasure to announce the successful applicant for the staff travel award for 2018.  This year we had six applications all who could have been worthy recipients of the $5000 travel scholarship.  The 2018 Staff Travel Award goes to our Sports Director, Gill Bloxham to support her further investigation into identifying and removing barriers to young people accessing sport and leisure activities as a foundation for healthy lifestyles.

Rutherford College Top Scholars
2018 Eric Clark Award for Dux Litterarum | Reuben He
2018 Eric Clark Award for Proxime | Daniel Quach
Year 12 | Maggie Li | Critical Mass Award ($200)
Year 11 | Benjamin Quach | Te Atatu Bible Chapel Award ($200)

My best wishes and thanks to all Year 13’s and any other students who depart Rutherford this year.

Live with courage- the type of courage I mean is moral courage. It’s having the strength to do what you know to be right.

Pursue excellence in all that you do.  Excellence is not about perfection; excellence is a journey of doing better and remembering that we are what we repeatedly do. It is the little things done well and done often over time that make the difference.

At Rutherford I believe that you know who you are, where you are from and what you believe in, and that you learn to never compare yourself to the best others can be, always be the best you can be.

In other words; Tohea – Strive for Personal Excellence.