Amesbury School


Kia ora koutou,

We had a fabulous end to last week with our learning celebration, sharing the learning from our second inquiry of the year around Living Sustainably. I was so impressed with our tamariki who were very focused and ready to share their learning, despite having been stuck inside for so long due to all the rain. I loved speaking with Xavier and Ariana about their healthy lunch design, which included a somewhat heated debate about including a cookie in their lunchbox. Vhari, Callan and their group educated me on the clothes that can and can’t be made from number 1 recycled plastic, including a wonderful demonstration of their recycling machine. Shenaya and Jhaedyn took me through their design for a future underwater school, and I later saw another underground design from Keith, Denzel and their team. Oliver, Shiloh and their group took me through their designs for future school uniforms (I love their fluffy jumper design), and Max, Ignacio and their team were very articulate about their subway for the future design. Throughout the sharing across the school I was completely caught up in the engagement and pride in their learning from our ākonga, and it was lovely to share it with them.

Another aspect that stood out to me as I walked around the school yesterday, was how impressed I was yet again with parents and whānau who came along. Wherever I went, when I got up to leave a group there was always at least one other adult waiting patiently to move into the group and share their learning, and generally they were not parents with tamariki in that group. As always, your willingness to talk with a wide range of tamariki about their learning, not just your own children, really impressed me. When I move into a space during a learning celebration, I always look to talk with children who don’t currently have adults with them already, and yesterday that was quite hard to do, because there were adults everywhere talking animatedly with children.  Thanks to everyone who came out on such a rainy, gloomy day, and ka pai for showing such an interest in the range of learning being shared.

And lastly, ngā mihi to our fabulous kaiako, our teachers. It has been a tough start to the term in some ways, with ongoing poor weather and quite a high number of staff away for the first few weeks. Despite all of this, there has been a strong focus on designing engaging learning, and this comes from high levels of commitment, hard work and strong collaboration. Thanks to you all for your ongoing mahi for our learners. 

All in all, I felt very blessed yesterday to be surrounded by such an amazing community of tamariki, whānau and staff. I am now really excited for the shift into our third and final inquiry for the year around our global community and our wonderful multicultural school community. Part of this inquiry will build to a showcase learning celebration in week 2 next term, so watch this space!

Kia pai tō wiki - enjoy your week.

Ngā mihi nui,

Urs Cunningham


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