Happy Aotearoa Teacher's Day!

Kia ora koutou

I hope you all had a lovely extra long weekend. I had a wonderful time up in Napier. The weather was amazing. And I was able to enjoy spending some time in the sunshine with my Mum.

The week kicked off for us with half the Y0-3 beginning their 3 day Structured Literacy Training and the rest of the teaching team and teacher aide team working with an MOE facilitator Phil Kelly and me on risk management and de-escaltion of unhelpful behaviours, through a person centred/trauma informed approach.

I thought this model might be interesting for you as adults in your home and work life too.

The CPI Crisis Development Model helps us as adults recognize and respond to different stages of a 'crisis' in a way that can prevent escalation. Here's a brief overview:

1. Anxiety: The person may seem nervous or distracted. Offer a supportive, calm response to help them feel understood.

2. Defensive: They might argue or resist directions. Respond with clear, calm boundaries and offer choices to help them feel in control.

3. Risk Behavior/Acting Out: This is the peak, where they might yell or act aggressively. Focus on ensuring safety for everyone involved.

4. Tension Reduction: As they calm down, they may feel tired or ready to talk. Provide support and, if appropriate, reflect on what happened together.

This model gives us tools to de-escalate situations calmly and safely.

It has been so good to have everyone back at school today to celebrate Aotearoa Teacher's Day together.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share some kind words, wrote notes and brough flowers to acknowledge the extra mile our staff go to every day to make our kura the special place it is.

I want to give my own heartfelt thank you to our incredible teachers for all they do! Every day, you bring energy, patience, and a deep commitment to our students, guiding them to discover new ideas, explore their potential, and build confidence in themselves. Malala Yousafzai wisely said, "One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." Indeed, the impact of a teacher reaches far beyond the classroom, often shaping a student’s journey in ways that last a lifetime.

Let’s take a moment to remember the teachers in our own lives who inspired us. Think of a teacher from your past who left a mark – maybe they taught you something unforgettable or helped you see the world a little differently. Just like those influential figures, our teachers strive to make a meaningful difference every day in the lives of our students.

We see you, we value you, and we celebrate you!

And now we are in November (birthday month for me)

Next week some of our Hāpua classes are heading off to the Botanical Gardens to make worm farms,. Our Harakeke team are visiting local community gardens to see the stages of plants growing. On Thursday some of our seniors are participating at the Zone Athletics - we wish them the very best in their events.

And it is also the time of the year that our Year 6's begin some of their Y7 transition programmes.

Have a fabulous weekend and see you all again next week.

Ngā mihi

Donna