Greetings to you all from our beloved school, St.John's College, Cawaci!

The new academic year 2010 has kicked off well! A good number of students turned up on the first day, accompanied by some of the parents and guardians. This is certainly a good sign for us as we have had problems in the past years with students coming in late. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of parents and guardians to ensure that the students are here on the first week.

The cyclone 'Mick' that came through Fiji at the end of last year didn't do much damage to the school. As you recall from last year we had to start a week late due to the flooding and landslide that damaged our water system. We are indeed blessed this year with good weather, an ideal setting for a good year.

Our external exam results last year were not as good as the previous year, unfortunately. Our Form 7 pass rates drop from 74% to 54%; Form 6 from 68% to 64%; and Form 4 from 96% to 81%. We humbly accept these results even though we are all disappointed. Some factors that may have contributed to this downfall are: 1) lack of commitment from the staff; 2) we had a few inexperienced teachers last year just coming out of study from USP and other Institutions; 3) we had on our hands last year too many ill-disciplinary cases which resulted in a good number of students being sent home.

We have done some 'soul-searching' activities on the first week. Different Departments have analyzed their performances. New measures are now put in place so that we can improve and better our results. In fact this decrease in our performance is like a spring-board that should lever us to greater heights. Hence each departments are urged to archieve their respective targets, in line with the overall school's objectives in the 2010's Annual Plan.

Some changes have taken place: Mr.Takala is now Acting VP while Mrs.Rokoqera will act on the AP post; Fr.McGuire has shifted from the Commerce Dept to Social Science, teaching History for Form 7; Six new teachers have joined us this year but have taught in other schools; New team of Sisters looking after the Girls'Hostel led by Sr.Mereoni; 3 new members joing the Marist Community replacing Fr.Sam, Fr.Mikaele Marisi, and Br.Viliame Lotawa. Joining us this year are Br.Elia Sawesawe, Fr.Sipiliano from Tonga, and Br.Patrick from the Solomons doing his Pastoral Year; All the teachers now have been divided and attached to the Boarding Sections of the school. This means that they will be more involved in the supervision of the Dormitories even though we the religious are still the main guardians of both Hostels. I firmly believe the more present we are to our students the better.

There is a good spirit indwelling at the school right now and the forecast is for a very good year 2010. With your support and cooperation as parents and guardians, we will certainly lift the school to greater heights this year. The school's roll has increased slightly from last year, a testimony that Cawaci is heading in the right direction.

May I take this opportunity to say 'Vinaka vakalevu' to you parents/guardians from last year. Together we went through some rough patches but we come out wiser and more determined. To our students who are moving on to other Institutions and Schools, we wish you all the best and God's blessings for your future undertakings. For the new Cawacians joining us this year, a hearty welcome to your new home.

Let us remain united in our efforts to take Cawaci forward to ensure that our students are given the best possible opportunities to become good christians and citizens.

Long live Cawaci Lomani!

Fr.Ekuasi Manu sm