Recognition for those who have flourished in 2024

Te Kura O Paeraki Mt Pleasant School recipients Brooklyn-Jane Taylor-Clark and Kayne Tucker-Mowbray

Te Kuro o Te Tihi o Kahukura Heathcote Valley School recipients (L to R) Johnnie Alheit, Autumn McCarthy, and Juniper Munro-Keegan.

Te Raekura Redcliffs School recipients (L to R) Nao McLauchlan, Emily Taylor, Bella Alldridge and Jack Murray

Te Kura O Matuku Takotako Sumer School recipients (L to R) Guthrie Williams-Gillies, Joshua Boomer and Violet Worthington

Excitement was in the air as 2024’s Year 8 students had their last day at primary school. But with excitement came a little bit of disquiet as they looked to the beginning of 2025 when they would start at one of Christchurch’s many high schools: the fun of making new friends and the concern at leaving old ones; the anticipation of new things and the unease that can come with change. It’s also a time of enjoyment for the parents too as they watch their kids mature into secondary school students, but with that comes the concern about the costs associated with the transition from primary to secondary school, especially in the current economic climate. However, twelve children in the local community have received a helping hand from the Sumner Ferrymead Foundation.

Five years ago, the Sumner Ferrymead Foundation spoke with primary school principals in the Foundation’s catchment area – from Taylors Mistake through to Mt Pleasant, around to Heathcote and across to Brookhaven – on how best to assist with the transition from primary to secondary school. The advice was to introduce the Puawai Award, an award that recognises students who flourished in the final year of primary school. Each school determines their own criteria for the award, and the number of recipients they wish to recognise.

As in previous years, the recipients of the 2024 Puawai Award are a diverse group. Ask them their favourite subjects and you find art, reading and writing a common theme, with maths a close second. In their spare time they are an active bunch, participating in every sport you can think of. Robotics and digital technology also feature too. Next year they are heading off in different directions to seven different Christchurch high schools.

Sumner Ferrymead Foundation Trustees John Christensen and Andrew Clark presented the Puawai Awards to the students at their schools’ prize giving ceremonies. “It’s great to be able to recognise year 8 students who have flourished in their own way,” said Christensen. “Education is a strong contributor to the success of an individual but the cost can be prohibitive for many, be it the transition from primary to secondary school, or the cost of tertiary education. It’s important to the Foundation to provide support where ever we can.

Whilst the Puawai Awards are for Year 8 students, each year the Sumner Ferrymead Foundation offers a range of academic and Outward Bound scholarships, along with an apprentice award for individuals, thanks to the generous support of local businesses and residents. The Foundation is also providing a range of awards for community groups, clubs, and organisations – for education, sport, art & culture, and the environment. Applications are now sought for the 2025 round of scholarships and awards; more information is available at www.sumnerferrymeadfoundation.co.nz