Head Prefect for 2025-26, Alex Goodwin, is someone who embodies the true spirit of Kristin. Loved by his peers and many members of the Kristin community since he started as a ‘Kindy Kid’ in 2013, Alex has grown into a fantastic student who now finds himself as a key leader of our school in the final year of his Kristin journey. Basketball-obsessed and well involved in multiple service clubs, we hear from Alex to see what else we can learn and what his goals are for the year ahead.

 

Tell us what year you started at Kristin? 

I started Kristin in Kindergarten in 2013 in Mrs Kelly's Kindergarten. 

 

What is your first memory of being a Kristin student? 

My first memory as a Kristin student would be my trial day in Kindy. I remember running around the massive playground wearing the old Kristin hat with the flap on the back and riding down the slide. Later in the day, I remember getting read a Christian story and taking a nap. I also remember meeting a bunch of people, some of whom I am still friends with today!

 

What do you love most about Kristin? 

I love the people at Kristin, students and teachers. Being at Kristin for so long, I’ve always been surrounded by so many amazing, friendly and humble people as well as teachers who genuinely care about you and want to see you do well. I've also had a fantastic basketball coach, pretty much my whole life at Kristin, Norman Fong, who has been coaching me since Year 3, all the way to Prems. I’ve been very fortunate to have met such a good role model in Norm, who has really helped fuel my passion for basketball and become a better person on and off the court. 

 

What motivates you / what are you passionate about? 

I am really passionate about basketball because of how fun a game it is to play and all the friends and connections I have been able to make along the way. I also find passion in giving back to the community and being able to be involved in lots of fundraisers and service opportunities. I love coaching my Year 7 and 8 teams, as I find great joy in helping these kids see the same passion for basketball that I found, and in making meaningful connections with all of them. 

 

What cocurricular activities do you take part in 

Kristin Premier Boys’ Basketball, Year 7 and 8 Basketball Coach, Chairperson of UNESCO, Leader of Everest, Member of SADD, Member of Lucas Creek Restoration Club and Apollo House Council.

 

What is your favourite subject at school? 

I enjoy all the subjects I take, but I especially enjoy Chemistry, Maths and Physics because of the real-world applications and seeing how theory works in real life. 

 

What are you most proud of in your time at Kristin?

Being a part of the Kristin Basketball teams throughout my many years at Kristin, I have been a part of many teams that have done really well, in particular, the last two years have made me very proud. Last year, we finished in the top 3 in our grade for our season and then played and won the tournament. Winning the tournament was especially important to me because I had a dental surgery the day before and to be able to play through that and help our team to win was one of my proudest moments as a player.

 

What are your goals as Head Prefect? 

I want to make a difference and leave an impact on other students and the environment we are surrounded by throughout the school and wider community. I also want to be an amazing role model to all the younger students, like the ones I looked up to in my earlier years at Kristin. 

 

What does becoming Head Prefect mean to you? 

It means a lot to me; it means that I need to set an example for everyone else, and I need to lead by example. It means a lot to be able to be in this position and to have so many amazing opportunities and responsibilities to be a leader. I am looking forward to being a part of a team with a lot of amazing people where we can do a lot of important things while having lots of fun doing it and making a great impact in the community that raised me. 

 

What are your plans beyond Kristin?

I plan on going to university in New Zealand or Australia. I am keeping my options open in terms of what I want to do, but I want to work in an industry where I can interact with people a lot. I would love to be able to help people and make a positive difference in their lives.

 

Do you have a favourite Kristin moment? 

Camps are always a highlight, and if I were to highlight one, it would be my Year 7 camp at Waipu Cove. It was especially cool because I was in a class where I didn’t know many people and we were all getting to know each other. What camp allowed us to do was to get to see a side of each other we wouldn’t see in the classroom, and that camp has allowed me to make so many new friends that I’ve kept over these years. 

 

Another favourite Kristin moment that I have to add was in Kindergarten when we recreated the story of Christmas for the Kindy families, which included me starring as the innkeeper, where I said my infamous line to Mary and Joseph, “You may sleep in my stable.” My parents and friends’ parents still haven’t forgotten about the play and it is often a talking point when we all get together. 

 

What does your ideal weekend look like? 

A weekend up at Omaha during the summer on a sunny day with some friends doing one or more of the following: running, ocean swimming, beach walking, Basketball, Tennis or Golf. 

 

Do you have a funny Kristin story you can share? 

A funny story that I hope I can share is from my Year 7 camp. My tenting group had a Tipi as a tent that was supported by a pole in the middle and could be knocked down easily from the outside. We woke up the next morning and the roof of our tent was lying flat on our faces. We knew it was our friends in the inflatable tent next to us, so one of my friends and I undid a few of their air valves in their tent so the tent would look funky. We all got a good laugh out of it. 

 

Anything else you want to add?

I’m honoured to be in this position and would really love to thank all the amazing people who really helped me get here, including Coach Norm, Mr Haslam, Mrs Bennett and the greatest teammate, friend and role model I could have, Zaid, plus all the amazing people at this school. I’m very grateful for this opportunity, and I am really excited to get involved more in the Kristin community and meet new, amazing people.

 

 

Our people’ is a regular series where we shine a spotlight on a remarkable individual who contributes to our school and our community, highlighting their unique stories and the passions that drive them. We hope you enjoy as we celebrate the incredible characters who make Kristin a special place of aroha.