Kia ora koutou
Here we are at the end of another term. It has been a long term, and, as usual, a busy term. I would like to put a spotlight for a moment on our amazing staff who work so hard and so effectively. Someone commented to me recently that the school is like a well-oiled machine. This is because all our staff - including our admin team - are so switched on. It is also thanks to Associate Principal, Urs Cunningham, who is incredibly well organised and such a great planner. We will miss Urs next term as she goes on a well-deserved ministry-awarded sabbatical. She will do some study in the first half of the term and then travel overseas after that. In what seems to be a bit of a revolving door, we will welcome back Angela, at the beginning of next term. Angela has been on sabbatical, and has travelled all over the world this term. I am sure she will come back refreshed with some great stories to tell. We are certainly looking forward to her return and to hearing about all the ideas that she has, no doubt, generated during her break from school.
We have just farewelled Bex, our sports’ rotation teacher, who will be going on maternity leave at the end of this term. She has been with us on and off over the last few years and it will be sad to see her go again. We wish her all the very best with her burgeoning family. It was also with sadness that we farewelled Anna-Maria this morning, who will be returning back home to the Netherlands. She has been a wonderful addition to the Amesbury family of teachers with her background in early childhood, and we wish her all the best with whatever the future brings. The children will really miss her. However (here’s that revolving door again), it will be great to welcome Amaria back into Te Rito, where she taught before going on maternity leave 15 months or so ago. I know it is hard to keep up with all the changes!
Just one more day to get your votes in for the Board of Trustees By Election. Voting finishes midday tomorrow (Thurs, 12 April). The ballot box at school will be closed off after 12midday. If you are planning to post your vote, it needs to be posted prior to midday tomorrow. Votes will be counted 18 April to allow time for all postal votes to arrive.
I want to say a big thanks to both candidates, Vijay and Phil, for putting themselves forward for this By Election. It is not always an easy thing to do to allow yourself to be nominated for an elected position. However, I really appreciate that both of these men have done so. It is worth mentioning that the full board is up for re-election this time next year, so it would be great if people could begin to think about whether they might stand next year.
Wishing everyone a wonderful and restful holiday and quality time with their children, if possible.
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa
Lesley