Kia ora koutou

Welcome back to Term 2. I trust you had a wonderful and refreshing break with your tamariki (children) over the holidays. John and I went away for a few days and found amazing weather in Taupo and Ohakune. We enjoyed sailing to the Maori rock carvings on a lakeside cliff and walking in the Tongariro National Park. 

I wish to express how devastated we are about the 21 April Easter bombings in Sri Lanka. Our thoughts are with our Sri Lankan whanau and all who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. We know this must be a time of great sorrow and pain for you all. It is yet another reminder of how we must all take steps to counter and prevent extremism and terrorism. 

We have our mihi whakatau coming up on Tuesday 14 May at 2.30pm to welcome new students and their whanau to our school and to the school community. This special event takes place every term. In the past we have called it a powhiri. However, a powhiri is a formal  Maori welcome with a very particular protocol/kawa; so, going forward, we feel it is more appropriate to call our special ceremony to welcome new people a mihi whakatau. All school community whanau are welcome to attend.

Just a reminder about the Board of Trustee elections coming up early in June. Please think about whether you might put yourself forward for trusteeship. We definitely have one Board member leaving the Board at these elections, so we do have one place to fill. Nomination forms will be sent out shortly by Gail, our returning officer. If you would like to know more about what trusteeship entails, please go onto the Loomio thread, Being on the Board of Trustees (sign on if you haven't already),  and ask away. 

Shortly, we are having Dr. Yinuo Li visit our school. She is the Director of China at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, overseeing a team that works with China’s public, private, and non-profit sectors to address key domestic and global health, development, and policy issues. She also founded her own school  (ETU School) which has been labelled an “icon of education innovation.” I am looking forward to talking "education" with her.

Finally, wishing you all a lovely week. 

Ayubowan (a Sri Lankan greeting meaning "long life" )

Lesley