Apii Arorangi’s prizegiving on Wednesday last week saw Teraipoia Rose Heather presented with the Dux of the Year award. Lana Aperau-Toa won the First Runner-up Dux award and Ariki Tekorona took out Second Runner-up Dux.

Heather is the daughter of school principal Mairi Mokoroa-Heather. She will attend Tereora College next year and was pleased to know her cousin Niva Malcolm had received the Senior Dux award at Apii Nikao.

The prizegiving ceremony was also a farewell to Mokoroa-Heather who has been the school’s principal for the past eight years. Annie Kauvarevai will be taking the reins next year.

“It has been a learning journey,” said Mokoroa-Heather, who is looking forward to the challenge of taking up a position at the Ministry of Education in the Human Resources department.

Mokoroa-Heather said there are many “highlights” of her career at Apii Arorangi which included the glow on the faces on the children when they were recognised for their achievements, connecting with the children and seeing their progress, and the support from the staff and parents.

She received a gift from the Ministry of Education and the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) in acknowledgement of her service to the school.

“I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a joyous Happy New Year,” said Mokoroa-Heather.

Apii Arorangi Year 8 Top Senior special prizegiving awards: Teraipoia Rose Heather - Overall Year 8 Academic and Dux of the Year, Equal Runner up Senior Sports Girl, Equal Top student in IT & Health, Top Student in Science, Social Science, Enterprise, Mathematics, English & Maori; Lana Aperau-Toa - First Runner-up Dux, Senior Sports Girl, Equal Top student in Arts, IT & Health; Ariki Tekorona - Second Runner-up Dux, Best Attendance; Genesis Teiho - Senior Sports Boy;  Derick Aerepo - Runner up Senior Sports Boy, Equal Top Student in Arts; Hanalear Soatini - Equal Top student in IT; Feliza Nicholas - Equal Top student in IT; Rotana Tangi Tangapiri - Runner-up Senior Sports Girl & Top Student in Culture; Maiva Glassie - Most Improved & Top Student in Home Science.