Amesbury School


Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.

When I speak to people, I have noticed a recurring theme - hope and expectation that 2016 will be better than 2015. 2015 seemed to be in a great rush to finish and it just hurtled by. People are hopeful that 2016 will move at a more moderate pace and there will be more time to smell the roses.

In fact we often assign time more agency than it actually has. When we say "time flies", we are personifying time and giving it human qualities it actually doesn't have. Time cannot make decisions, it just moves by at the same rate year after year after year. It is human beings who have the agency to decide how they will experience time. We can live in the moment, experiencing every minute of it. In doing so, we effectively slow time down. Or we can rush through, barely marking the passing of time and experiencing little meaningfully.

This weekend our fifth child was married. Natasha Kym Murrihy married David Paulussen at the Medici Court, Hamilton Gardens. Natasha's five sisters were bridesmaids. One of her brothers was a groomsman and the other brother was the marriage celebrant - his first wedding. Like all families, when our family gets together, childhood stories are told. Always, I am a little surprised at what happened that I knew nothing about. Perhaps children are meant to have their own little secrets. Certainly, it would be terrible for them if parents knew everything. However, I sometimes wonder if I had my finger enough on the pulse. I thought I was so present - but perhaps I was not as present as I thought.

One day children are babies in your arms and the next you are walking down the aisle with them. It happens in the blink of an eye. I think that rather than hoping that 2016 will be slower paced, we need to take control of time by being present in every moment - or working towards it - and, thereby, experiencing our lives more meaningfully. The children in Koru Team are exploring "Mindfulness" this term. This is all about being focused on the present moment. Perhaps this is something we all need to explore. I know that Mindfulness seminars are being held at the Churton Park Community Centre.

We have had a lovely, calm start to the year. My hope is that we take control and hold onto that calmness and avoid that "hurtling" feeling. Acknowledging that whether we do or don't "smell the roses" is actually up to us, is a necessary step towards achieving this. Here's to a mindful/present 2016.


  1. Welcome to our 2016 school year.

    And so it begins - the excitement of the new school year!This article gives parents and caregivers some housekeeping information about ... Read more…
  2. ICAS Exams for Year 4-6 Students

    ICAS Examination entries are now open for 2017. Read on to find out what they are and how you can enter.  Read more…
  3. Playground opened!

    The Wellington weather couldn't have come at a better time - since it's opening last week, the new playground has seen a lot of action. Read more…
  4. DreamWorks exhibition here we come!

    Harakeke Hub will be heading to Te Papa to visit the DreamWorks exhibition, hurrah! Read more…
  5. Return of the Walking School Bus

    Monday 15th February is Walk to School Week Read more…
  6. Amesbury School Noho Marae

    As part of our Living Together inquiry this term, Amesbury School cordially invites all students and whanau to our Term 1 Noho Marae.  Read more…
  7. Welcome to our 22 new students today!

    Wow - 22 new students joined Amesbury School today. Read more…
  8. Playground close to completion!

    It's looking fantastic!  A few more finishing touches still to be done and then the playground will be ready for action... Read more…
  9. Lunch Orders - 2016

    The new lunch order form is now ready to accept orders for week 1. Read more…
  10. Playground with a few more features

    Making good progress! Read more…
  11. Construction underway for the new playground!

    Read more…