This week students, whānau and staff gathered at The Orchard Garden to celebrate our Year 13 leavers. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the journey of our senior students and for them to recognise those who had contributed to their schooling lives. Tahlia and Eve, our BOT Representatives, spoke beautifully on behalf of their year group.

Good evening, everyone. I’m Tahlia, and I’m Eve, and we’ve had the privilege this year of being your 2026 Student Board of Trustees Representatives. Tonight, we’re speaking on behalf of the Dunstan High School Class of 2026.

It’s strange to think we’ve finally made it to this point. For some of us, Dunstan has been part of our lives for five years, and for others, a little less. We’ve gone from a year group of over 100 people in Year 9 to 68 Year 13s who are somehow expected to know what we’re doing for the rest of our lives. While some of us don’t quite have that last bit figured out yet, we’ve all certainly come a long way.

                      Eve Sinnamon & Tahlia Sangster

Over the years, we’ve shared so many memories, from Year 10 camp at Tititia, sports days and house competitions, to formal and the countless conversations in the corridors. We’ve had the laughs, stressful assessment deadlines and last-minute exam revision, often wondering why we left everything until the night before. Along the way, we’ve also had plenty of people helping us get to where we are today.

First, to our parents and families. We wouldn’t be here tonight without you, and we know it took a fair amount of patience to get us to this point. From the little things you’ve done every day to the bigger sacrifices you’ve made for us, you’ve supported us through it all. You’ve listened to us talk about our days, celebrated our achievements and were there for us through the stressful times. 

Thank you for believing in us, the sacrifices you’ve made and the opportunities you’ve given us. Thank you for reminding us that one bad mark or difficult day doesn’t define us. To every parent, grandparent, sibling, caregiver and member of our whānau, we appreciate everything you’ve done to get us here, and we hope you know how much it means to us.

We’d also like to thank our teachers, staff and the wider Dunstan High School community for the time and effort you’ve put into teaching and supporting us over the past five years. We know we haven’t always made your jobs easy, but we appreciate everything you’ve done to help us get to where we are today.

Tahlia Sangster & Eve Sinnamon