The Owaka Memorial Community Centre was packed with parents, caregivers, grandparents and the general community as we came together to celebrate Prizegiving on Thursday the 7th of December. Kapa Haka, accompanied by Heni Landreth and Casey Evans, started off the celebrations and gave a very moving, heartfelt performance which left goosebumps and a few teary eyes. After hearing from our Principal Glenys Hanley and Acting Presiding Chair Hamish McDougall the itinerant music team gave an enthusiastic performance of two items, Wild Thing and Proud Mary.

TCAS awards were handed out to the junior classes for Tenacity, Care, Achievement and Service, and thanks to the success of this year's Scholastic Book Fair, all junior children were presented with a book. Years 7 to 13 were next to receive awards for Tenacity and Achievement for each subject, and a Care award presented for each year level as chosen by the students. Cultural awards and the Interhouse shield were presented by our Board Members. Sports awards, special academic awards, leadership and citizen awards were awarded also. 

Tuimanu’a Makerita Young Tyrell performed a Taualuga to Tautai A'e. This is a traditional special Samoan performance that celebrates a person’s significant achievement like finishing school. There was hardly a dry eye in the crowd!

Blake Affleck and Mia Cable were announced as the Head Students for 2024, with support from the prefect team; Arts Prefects; Yui Nakajima and Avni Batra, Cultural Prefects; Amelia Morrison and Mau Fatialofa and Sports Prefect Jethro Melville. 

After a small break the junior school entertained the audience with song and dance before our farewells to our students. Kotaro Nagatsuka our International Student together with our Year 13 leavers Hayden Gordon, Charlotte Pitts and Margret Tyrell were acknowledged and stood on stage for their citation. These students were each presented with a gift from Home and School. As their final leaving gift they performed Uptown Funk with special guests of staff as the flash mob. It was an fantastic memory to end the evening.

All guests, students, staff and whānau members were invited to a shared supper to finish the year and celebrations. Thank you all for celebrating our year, we look forward to more success in 2024!