The 2024 Junior Prize Giving was a wonderful event celebrating all those who excelled in their academic, sporting and cultural pursuits this year.
Board Member John McKeowen, who presented the awards to the Year 9 recipients made three points that sum up what the afternoon was about:
He thanked the teachers and staff for all that they do to nurture our taiohi and their learning, he acknowledged our community and the parents and whanau of our students and he congratulated the recipients for making the most of the opportunities they are given at school and for striving for excellence.
Congratulations to Eliza Carter who was awarded the 2024 Year 10 Dux.
Eliza also performed a wonderful rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on the piano as entertainment. Luca Yamamoto (Year 9) also performed a Flamenco guitar piece.
The 2025 Head Student Izzy Fitzsimons presented a new award this year, here is her speech:
“Kia ora koutou,
My name is Izzy Fitzsimons and I am one of the Thames High School Head Students for 2025.
I am excited to announce a brand new award that has been set up by myself and TJ Judd as the Art and Culture Student Leaders this year. We noticed that there were a lot more sports and academic awards than artistic ones and so became the Dennis Mita Award For Contribution to the Arts.
This award is named after my friend Jacob Rush’s stepfather who passed away suddenly earlier this year. Dennis and Jacob shared a love for music that has inspired me and I hope it continues to inspire others.”
{Izzy shared a quote from the movie Dead Poets Society}:
“ Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love: these are what we stay alive for”
“The very first recipient of the Dennis Mita Award has been involved in the Thames High School Cirque Troupe, plays bass guitar, sings, was in the arts and culture committee and participated in the 2024 Photography Competition and this person is Eli Lester”
Here are the photos from the day.
