Hi, I’m Kate Caird, and I am delighted to be Head Girl for 2026. I came to Craighead as a boarder in Year 9, which was a big adjustment coming from Beaconsfield School, where I would see my family, pets, and my own bed every day. However, the welcoming environment created by everyone at Craighead, especially the Year 13 leaders, helped me to slowly find my feet.
In Year 9, I joined our Chapel Committee, Hockey team, and at the end of the year, the Craighead Rowing squad. This was a great way for me to get to know other girls in my year and the years above, as well as learn skills such as organisation, hard work, and making strong friendships that I have been able to carry with me throughout my time at Craighead.
During the rest of the years, I have aimed to participate in as many Manaaki events, boarding house activities, and various committees and sports teams as I can, which has helped me to surround myself with people who celebrate each other’s successes, providing me with places I feel that I belong. Outside of school, I enjoy rowing, hanging out with my friends, and travelling to new places, all of which I have found to instil important qualities in me, such as empathy and gaining a wider understanding of different styles of leadership.
Craighead has also given me so many opportunities to grow inside and outside of the classroom, allowing me to keep my options open for what I plan to do in the future. At the moment, I am wanting to go to University after school, and although I’m not set on a degree, I’d like to continue to further my education in subjects that interest me, such as English and History.
This year, I am eager to continue to create strong connections with girls from all Year groups to help maintain Craighead’s ability to let everyone feel a sense of belonging at our school. I am looking forward to working alongside Libby as we encourage students to step out of their comfort zones and be the best versions of themselves. Our goal as Year 13’s is to help students form connections and strengthen them throughout the year, so they can look for the help of others to support and celebrate them when feeling stuck or unmotivated. My goal for this year is to encourage these connections so students have at least one person they can spot around school who will smile at them, and make Craighead a place where they feel they belong.
