Kia ora e te whÄnau, Itās been a funny old week with all our big kids away on their camp in Makahika this week. They came home yesterday with some amazing stories of having the best time and thatās what camp is all about. Lots of challenges faced and overcome, I am so proud of all of them! I was gutted to not make it down there as we have had a lot of teachers down to accommodate here. Iāll just have to listen to Cameronās yarns about it all. LOL! Thanks again to our amazing parent helpers; Rusty, Rob,...
Category: News
End of Term 4 Week 3 PÄnui
What a magic day we had on Saturday for our annual Lamb, Calf and Pet Day! A massive thanks to the PTA and all those who stepped in and helped make the day come together. Whether you set up equipment for us, turned a snag on the barbie, baked and decorated a cake, sold raffle tickets or painted faces, it all contributed to a great day showcasing our school value of whanaungatanga (positive relationships).
End of Term 4 Week 2 PÄnui
Kia ora e te whÄnau, Wow, the buzz is here today at kura today, I can tell you! There really is a great ora/vibe around the school as the tamariki are completing their creations or decorating their gingerbread men. I was showing a new family around this morning right in the thick of everyone doing this. I had to explain to them that everyday didnāt look like this, however they were really impressed to see and hear that this goes on in our school. It certainly is the ābread and butterā of rural schools around the country. It is with...
End of Term 4 Week 1 PÄnui
Kia ora e te whÄnau, Lovely to be back on deck for our final term of the year. Sadly, our Friday PÄnui has lost a reader. My beautiful mum Barb was an avid reader of this pÄnui, passed away over the holidays. I appreciated those of you this week who checked in and asked of her, it meant a lot. Some of you may not know, but I attended a rural primary school that Mum was a teacher at called Harrisville in South Auckland. Just recently she reminded me of an embarrassing story, that I had tried to erase from...
End of Term 3 PÄnui
Iām back on deck after having last week home in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland with my dear mother Barb, who hasnāt been very well. Being a proud former tumuaki/principal herself, she sent me back to finish the term out. Didnāt the weather treat us well yesterday? Having looked at the weather forecast and waking up to the early morning rain, I have to admit āMy head said no, but my gut said go!ā so I was really glad that I trusted my gut, because the weather was the ideal condition for a day of athletics.
End of Term 3 Week 9 PÄnui
Whakawhetai koe (Far-car-fear-tie-kwear: Thank you) to Craig Kawana, the original carver of our pare (pah-rear: lintel) from 2001 which lives above the main office door. Keeping it in the whÄnau, his son Mahina Scott-Kawana, under Craigās tutelage, lovingly helped restore it to its former glory. Look up the next time you pop in and see for yourself how good the whakairo (fa-kai-roar: carving) is as a first impression to our school.
End of Term 3 Week 8 PÄnui
I am writing you this pÄnui from Åtautahi (Or-toe-tar-he: Christchurch) as I am currently attending the NZPF (New Zealand Principals Federation) annual hui (who-e: conference) down here. Iāve felt privileged to be able to connect with almost 800 tumuaki (too-moo-ar-key: principals) from around the motu (more-too: country). I've also been able to listen to some amazing speakers including former Black Fern legend Dr. Farah Palmer, Crusaders Coach Scott Robertson, Renown Scientist Dr. Siouxsie Wiles and NZ MÄori Academic Prof. Russell Bishop.
End of Term 3 Week 7 PÄnui
Thanks for all the love you showed me on Tuesday for my ābig birthdayā. Sounds like some things canāt be kept secret around here. It wasnāt all treats, cards and presents though (however they were really nice, see the photos) my office did get quite the makeover! Have a laugh at my expense here to see what some of the staff did for me... Hope that some of you took on the wero (weah-roar: challenge) of using some Te Reo MÄori in your daily life this month. Iād love to hear how youāre getting on. With next week being Te...
End of Term 3 Week 6 PÄnui
Yesterday marked the start of Mahuru - MÄori Language Month. I challenge you to Kia Kaha Te Reo MÄori - Have a go at using MÄori Language. Sadly, we only have 3% of fluent speakers of Te Reo, a language that is native to us here in Aotearoa. You could start small; even if it is just changing from saying Hello to Kia Ora (Key or-ra) or See you later to Ka Kite (Car key-tear). Iāll try and support you with the pronunciation and give some phonetic pointers to help you out. One cool site Iāve stumbled across is MÄori...
End of Term 3 Week 5 PÄnui
Iām getting in a day early on the pÄnui action as I am off site tomorrow. Thanks to those of you who booked Learning Check Inās for today and yesterday. We hope you found this process useful. Remember you can arrange to meet with the teachers anytime via email. This is what they do and value meeting with you.