19 November 2021

Last week, you would have seen the first information about transition to new places for 2022. We will keep these FAQs in the Newsletter for a while as there is a lot of information coming at us all to digest - we know it!

A lot of thought is going into how we keep building momentum through the school, how we keep 'raising the bar' (quoting the Senior school slogan of 2021!), how we respond to individual needs, how we truly collaborate with home/school/child. We are all learners and make new discoveries all the time. If we just kept doing the same as we always do, there is no opportunity for learning or growth. To me, it's all about growth. Sometimes, when I get asked "So, Jude, what do you do?" Well, cheeky me could think of a wide range of responses... but, thankfully, I know better (mostly!) So, instead, I say "I grow people". That's the most important thing for me - to grow others - it's my thing!

At this time of the year, the Year 6 Leavers tend to be spending more time together as a cohort. As well as being part of lots of fun activities organised for and with them as a group this year, they collectively decided to undertake a Fun Run and contribute the funds earned to the Cancer Society. How cool is that? That's 'growing people' illustrated in gold dust!

I am just so proud of where our Worser Bay School children get to once they leave for Intermediate as well. They climb their maunga in many different ways. The best thing is many come back, check in and let us know what's happening for them. The thing is, a lot of the groundwork from Primary School education isn't actually measurable in terms of the 'whole person' until they are older and move through another developmental stage or 2.

Year 6s will be practising their 'Leavers' Speeches' in front of the other children who are keen to listen from across the school. The little ones are often in awe of them and get an idea of what they will be capable of one day.

At this stage, it looks like we can have up to 100 parents of Year 6s and other parents who are keen to receive pearls of wisdom from our Leavers.

Every year, I find it pretty emotional and have to try hard with my Self-Regulation!

It's because I just think about their time with us and the part we have all played in shaping and growing them, equipping them for the next stage. So, pop it in your diary!