Kia ora koutou,

What a very busy week we have had! There has certainly been a lot going on, with much sharing, celebrating and reflecting happening. The teaching teams have been very busy moderating their reports, which is an important step in the writing process. For each student, a report is written by one key teacher, and is then moderated by a group of hub teachers. This allows other teachers to add their ideas or knowledge of the student into the report, meaning that the finished comment is truly a team effort. Demelza and I were involved in all team moderating that happened throughout the week, and we heard wonderful discussions where teachers shared their knowledge, questioned each other and thought carefully about each student. The reports will go live on ALF (meaning students and parents can access them) in the last week of term. We will send out a message closer to the time to let you know how to access the reports.

Our learning celebration on Thursday was a great chance for students to share some of their inquiry learning with parents and whānau. There was fabulous art work, and a range of dances, dramas and musical items, all sharing messages about cultures and cultural stories from around the world. Well done to our lovely MCs for the event: Georgie, Emma and Jade. They did a great job, took it very seriously and prepared thoroughly beforehand - super effort, girls. 

Some of the inquiry learning was shared again at the cultural festival on Friday. Again, the festival had lots of dancing and musical items, along with short plays, demonstrations, and food from around the world. Huge thanks to Regina, for organising the cultural event, and thanks to all of the teachers and parents who helped out behind the scenes and/or on the night. Special thanks to all the parents who helped to make food such as our amazing hangi food, roti and satay, dumplings and curry. Another group to acknowledge is the amazing group of students who organised and ran a fundraising elective to raise money for Canteen. Rosie, Scarlett and Mia worked with Regina to organise a fundraising stall, with baking, cards and various craft items for sale. Well done girls, you did a great job. We are also very appreciative of the huge donation from Gar Kee towards this worthy cause - her fabulous ponytail! Gar Kee has the most beautiful hair, and it had become very long. She has been growing it in order to donate it to a charity who makes wigs for people in need of hair. On Friday, as part of the festival, Gar Kee had her lovely hair cut off to raise money for Cancer Support and also to donate her hair. A worthy cause, Gar Kee, and an amazing gesture.

On Friday there was also another wonderful celebration - the Wellington North Primary Schools Citizenship Award ceremony. Amesbury School’s winner for 2020 was Neria. Kalesha and I attended the ceremony, and Neria was presented with her award by Mayor Andy Foster. There is an article attached to this digest about Neria’s leadership. We are incredibly proud of Neria, and we wholeheartedly congratulate her.

Along with all of the action, we have also been planning for next year. There is an article attached to this digest that explains the school structure for 2021. As usual, we will finish the year by transitioning students who will be moving to a new hub, so that they have a chance to settle into their new team. This transition will happen on Tuesday of the final week; students will begin the day in their current hub, and will move over to their new hub in the morning. For the rest of the week they will then base in their hub. This means that the hub will not be entirely new to them at the start of the new school year.

As we all take a breath after the busy week of celebrating and sharing, we also begin to gear up for an exciting camp week. We are looking forward to lots of action around the school and further afield, and we will share some of the camp action in our digest next week.

Events coming up

• Mon 30th Nov - Fri 4th Dec: Pōhutukawa EOTC Week (events and trips happening each day)
• Tues 1st - Thurs 3rd: Koru trip to Police Museum and Awesome Bounce (one group going each day)
• Tues 1st Dec: Harakeke Hub Zoo trip
• Wed 2nd Dec: Harakeke trip to Churton Park Reserve; Pōhutukawa overnight stay at school
• Thurs 3rd Dec: Koru and Harakeke overnight stay at school
• Mon 7th Dec: Junior Athletics Carnival 9:30 - 12:30pm; Year 6 Graduation Dinner at school 5:30 - 7:30pm
• Tues 8th Dec: Year 6 Graduation Trip into Wellington (all day)
• Wed 9th Dec: Big school tidy up!
• Thurs 10th: School farewell / water play morning / sausage picnic / school closes for the year at 12:30pm

Have a great week - not many more left before the end of the year!

Ngā mihi nui,

Urs Cunningham (Acting Principal)