12 April 2024

So now we find ourselves at the end of Week 11 and this means the tail end of Term 1. Every year has a particular flavour and I think that Term 1 sets the scene for the rest of the year. The tone.

If I reflect on this first term, the words that come to mind are connection, inquiry, creative and heads together.

We started with a welcome back Whānau Picnic at the beach. Even though the weather wasn't our best friend, it wasn't in full foe mode either and we braved a bit of a breeze and got to chat and ease our way back in. I love the way this event is often a way for visiting grandparents and friends to also connect with the school.

Hot on the heels of the Whānau Picnic, we had our Hikoi around the hill - a bit of a local history walk.

The Mihi Whakatau and formally welcoming children and their extended whānau to Te Kura o Whetūkairangi is always a special day and another good chance for parents to mix and mingle. Stay and Play proved to be a great followup and we were pleased the children enjoyed the health benefits of fruit on a Friday afternoon.

Goal Setting meetings with you, your child/children and their Base Group teachers create the triangle - the strongest shape. These events really do a lot to support home and school being on the same or, at the very least, a very similar page.

The Positive Education Parent Workshop proved to be a highlight and was enjoyed by us all. It's always good to be able to have a bit of a laugh together as well! Shining up our Character Strength of Humour!

Literacy and Mathematics, Sailing, Moanamana, Sports teams, Ākau Tangi sessions, ....School Camp has to be a highlight and the feedback from the teachers... "The best camp yet!" So much is going right, in fact very right..... for the pieces that maybe aren't there yet - this will be a focus for teacher's thinking and planning in readiness for Term 2. Written reports are also being drafted and you can anticipate these meetings before mid Term 2-ish.

In the meantime, as you know, the teachers will contact you if they are worried about anything - please do the same. The triangle needs to be high functioning!

My desire is also for us all to have a bit of downtime - we need to be well rested to be able to dream and enact the magic Term 2 may sprinkle.