Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa, nau mai haere mai. Welcome to you all; Bishop Peter, board members, staff, parents, friends and wonderful students, to The Cathedral Grammar School’s annual prize giving ceremony. My name is Kiran Pereira, and I have had both the honour and privilege of being Cathedral Grammar’s Head Boy for 2025.
Thank you all for coming here to celebrate Cathedral Grammar’s Students and their many successes and efforts this year. Whether you win an award or not, you have all put in hard work, which is what counts, so congratulations. You’ve all developed, learnt, and grown this year, so let's give one another a pat on the back and a round of applause.
Writing this speech has brought me both moments of sadness and joy. I’ve thought back through many memories, both highs to lows - and wow - our time here has really been a full and epic journey. Along the way, we have learnt valuable lessons and made lifelong friends. We have faced obstacles, but we have overcome them and grown into young leaders, equipped with knowledge and ready to take on the world.
Can I let you all in on a secret? Initially, I did not want to come here - a scary new school, leaving my friends behind and entering a whole new environment. “I DON’T WANNA DO THIS!” I wailed in the car minutes before the scholarship exams began. But my goodness, lucky my mum knocked some sense into me, because otherwise I would have missed out on the best opportunity of my life!
I want you all to think back to when you first started here. I’m sure many of us were shy and anxious, but look at us now! We have been shaped into completely different characters - compassionate, hard-working and courageous.
I would like to thank teachers, staff, and family for everything you have done for us, on stage and behind the scenes.
Thank you Mr Lean-Massey for your awesome Civix game - it provided us the opportunity to explore politics in a hands-on and fun environment. I loved setting up my ‘fascist’ dictatorship - my family can vouch for the fact that the number 1 thing I talked about when I got home each day was how to conquer Sylittia. Classmates, I hope you haven’t required too much therapy to recover from the evil dictator behind this smiling face.
Ms Dyer, thank you for teaching me how to be a good leader, develop my character, and serve others during your insightful mitre classes. Your exciting social science lessons about ancient civilisations were always enjoyable; however, I got quite wet cleaning my dog after accidentally covering him in the green paint from my Inca project!
Miss Lawrence, your humour, leadership and encouraging personality have allowed 8B to receive quality guidance through the challenges this year has brought.
Thanks so much, Ms McCormack, for helping me through leadership and service opportunities, as well as always having a kind, caring spirit.
Thank you, Mrs Leith, for the most hilarious and fun English classes - your laugh is so contagious. I also appreciate your support and patience with 3d Printing - sorry about the numerous fails that ended in spaghetti balls.
Mr Brooke, your wit, humour, and political chat always made science and maths lessons extraordinary. During my first science lesson, I doubted you were really our teacher, as surely teachers don’t set their hands on fire!? Your crazy experiments have made me love science ever since!
Chaplain Teresa, I have really appreciated the wisdom and knowledge that you have imparted to us throughout our time in the Chapel Committee and during R.E. lessons. We will always treasure your valuable advice.
Thank you so much, Mrs Knight. Your kind, caring presence has made me feel confident in my own shoes. Thanks also for your help in last-minute organisation with assemblies; you really did save me in a few tight situations.
Mrs Gray, Mrs Holt and Mrs Harrington, your guidance, fun lessons, and creative teaching have made specialist subjects an awesome aspect of school life. To the rest of the staff, all the work that you do behind the scenes ensures everything runs like clockwork, so thank you.
Thanks, Mr Thelning, for running the place and taking us out for delicious termly lunches. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be head boy and learn more about my character. You have built strong foundations on which all of us have flourished into the best versions of ourselves.
To my whānau — thank you for the endless encouragement, early drop-offs, reminders, pep talks, and of course, the opportunity to come here. I have really appreciated your support throughout this journey!
I would like to thank my fellow head students: Hamish, Naomi, and Amelie, for your hard work, organisation, and leadership skills. I have particularly enjoyed our afternoon meetings with delicious baking as well as the lunches out.
Congratulations to the Head students for 2026: Nate, Rosalind, Oliver, and Bea. I wish all of you the best for this awesome opportunity. I truly hope that it is as rewarding and enjoyable for you as it has been for me.
I would now like to farewell my fellow year 8s. Thank you for all of the unique contributions you brought, and for all of the marvellous memories. I will treasure the warmth we shared around the campfire despite the freezing rain on year 7 camp! I wish you all the best wherever the next chapter of life takes you. Many of us are going our separate ways, but I look forward to seeing you at events like the Grammarians’ Breakfast. Thank you all again, farewell for now.
Finally, I would like to leave you with something important that Chaplain Teresa taught us. As Lao Tzu said, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” So, as you enjoy your holidays, always remember these words, and fill your thoughts with love so that it is reflected in your character, as that’s what counts.
Thank you all - school whanau, for everything you do and have done to make this school such a special place for us all. I am eternally grateful. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. No reira tena koutou, tena koutou tena tatou katoa. Thank you.
- Kiran Pereira