We are now well into our final term of the school year and this week our senior sport and music prizegivings have taken place which allow time to reflect on the many achievements, experiences and opportunities that have shaped 2026.

While Carmel is a relatively small school compared with many others across the North Shore and Auckland, that certainly does not stop our young women from competing with confidence and making their mark. Throughout the year, we have witnessed not only fierce competition and outstanding performances, but also fairness, encouragement and genuine spirit. These are the qualities that make us proud and strengthen the sporting and art cultures we continue to build at Carmel.

Reflecting on both the Sports and Music Prizegivings, these occasions offered an opportunity to celebrate so much more than medals, trophies and personal bests. Participation in these areas of school life teaches commitment, teamwork and resilience, builds friendships and helps students discover strengths they may not have known they possessed. Sometimes, the greatest achievement is not winning, but having the courage to try, learning from disappointment and continuing to challenge ourselves. 

In sport we are seeing encouraging progress in participation. This year, 63% of our students in Years 7 to 13 participated in organised sport, up from 56% just three years ago. By comparison, participation across our Harbour region sits at 49% for girls. These figures do not include the many other opportunities available to our students, such as the activities our Sports Council runs at lunchtime or the social sport offered after school. Across the College, 75 teams have competed in weekly North Harbour and College Sport competitions, with our students participating in 92 events across New Zealand throughout the year. Behind these opportunities are 40 staff and community coaches and 65 student coaches, all contributing their time, energy and expertise.

These figures are worth celebrating as the experiences our students have through sport can shape their confidence, their relationship with physical activity and their willingness to pursue opportunities throughout their lives. Recently, an article in the New Zealand Herald by Dr Sarah Leberman and Louisa Wall, titled Stop fixing girls – it’s time to fix the system, highlighted the importance of creating environments where girls feel comfortable participating, trying new things and making mistakes without fear of judgement. This is something we continue to prioritise at Carmel; creating opportunities for every young woman to discover her strengths, challenge herself and experience the satisfaction of working towards a goal. We celebrate excellence and competition while ensuring enjoyment, belonging and personal growth are equally valued.

These ideas extend well beyond sport. As we move through the final weeks of the school year, our students are encouraged to reflect on their own progress, recognise what they have achieved and consider where they can continue to improve. For our senior students, mock examination results have provided valuable feedback as they prepare for NCEA examinations. I encourage all students to use the feedback they receive, seek help when needed, ask questions and act on the advice of their teachers. Feedback is only useful if we do something with it, and there is still time this term to make a difference.

As we celebrate achievement, it is also important to remember that our personal best is enough. It is easy to compare ourselves with others, particularly when we see someone receiving an award, achieving an outstanding result or representing our school at a high level. However, each of us has different strengths, challenges and circumstances. Our starting points and journeys will be different, and what matters is that we continue to grow, learn from our mistakes and make the most of the opportunities before us.

For some students, a personal best might mean achieving an outstanding examination result. For others, it might be improving on a previous result, having the courage to ask for help, returning to something after a setback or finding the confidence to try something new. Each of these achievements deserves recognition.

I think it is also important to be reminded that not all achievements are formally recognised. Catherine McAuley encouraged those around her to be a shining lamp, giving light to others. I love this image because it reminds us that we all have something unique to offer. Our qualities, strengths and gifts can make a real difference to the lives of those around us, often in ways that may never be acknowledged with a certificate, badge or trophy.

Integrity is doing the right thing because it is right, not because we expect recognition or reward. It is reflected in the choices we make every day- including someone who feels left out, encouraging a friend, showing kindness when someone is struggling or demonstrating fairness when competing. These actions reflect our Mercy values and what it means to see the need and respond with compassion.

At assembly I encouraged our young women to focus on two things for the remainder of the year;

1. Be the best version of yourself that you can be. Use feedback, seek support, put in the effort and finish the year proud of what you have achieved and how far you have come. Do not waste your energy comparing your journey with someone else’s.
2. Think about the light you bring to others. You have countless opportunities every day to make someone else’s experience of Carmel a little brighter. You do not need a certificate or a badge to do that. You simply need to notice the people around you and choose to respond with kindness, compassion and courage.

Thank you to our students, staff, coaches, families and wider community for the many ways you contribute to the life of Carmel College. Whether through sport, music, academic pursuits, the arts, service or the everyday moments of care and encouragement, you help create a community in which our young women can flourish. I look forward to celebrating the many achievements still to come as we finish the year together.