Highlights from this week and Heads Ups for the weeks ahead...including sharing our success near and far, writing with the learners in Hapua and acknowledging Support Staff Week.

Those of you who were at our assembly would have heard me tell our students that I had sent their Addington Superheroes Music Video to all corners of New Zealand. And wow what a response so far. First there was the letter from Iona Holsted the Secretary for Education

And since then the emails have kept coming in...

"Kia ora Donna, staff and tamariki, What an amazing video clip, I loved the lyrics and clearly this clip will be treasured by you all. Addington School is full of talented and very special people! Thank you for sharing this with us, you have made today a great day for us all."

Arohanui Coralanne and the Ministry team

WOW! What an amazing video and a fantastic song. I used to be a music teacher and I understand how much talent and hard work has gone into this. I love the way you encourage your students to be everything they can be. Thank you so much for sharing this with us here at the MOE.

Anna Greenslade- Speech language Therapist

And then yesterday it was on the Ministry of Educations Facebook page! The Facebook comments are too numerous to list but boy it makes you feel blessed to call this place home!

Thinking about superheroes....a big shout out to Juanita, Sarah, Janetta, Lemz, Harry, Michael, Ang, Millie, Kylie, Ira, Julie, Vanessa, Lillly, Nebraz, Belinda, Leanne, Kim and Vic. Thank you for all you do for our students and teachers, often above and beyond your job descriptions. Our kura just would not be the same without you. We hope you have enjoyed your morning tea shout as we wind up Support Staff Week.

Our roll number continues to grow - so much so that we are going to be opening up Ti Kouka as the new entrant nest to start in Term 3. We are very happy to say that Whaea Amber and Whaea Nicole will be job sharing in this position. Both Amber and Nicole are experienced teachers with strong curriculum knowledge and a passion for learning that is contagious and assuring. We know they are looking forward to being back with a class of their  own while balancing their young families on maternity leave from their full time positions. This means a few changes need to be made with the teacher release system. I will be able to update you on that next week.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting our Year 3 Ngahere students in their Hapua space during writing time. The learners were using their 5 senses to describe a setting from a picture prompt they had been given. I loved their imaginations as they considered an over grown temple or a snow covered forest clearing. I arrived in time for healthy snack . It would seem my love of mandarins was shared by many. Isaiah was very animated as he described squishing all the juice out. See photo gallery below

I'm off on a bit of a roadie this weekend - like many of you taking the opportunity to explore our country and help local business and economy.

Until next week, take care

Donna