From our tumuaki / principal

I would like to start off with a loud and hearty well done to all of our amazing cross country runners who headed off to represent Amesbury School this week at Northern Zone cross country. You all ran hard and your very best, and we were so proud of you all. A special well done to the runners who qualified in the top ten and now go through to Inter Zone cross country: Annabel, Luca C, Vedant, Basti, Ruby, Anna, Arthur Y, Josh, and Johnson. Congratulations on making it through to the next round of the competition - we’ll all be cheering for you.

It was also great to see so many ākonga (students) and kaimahi (staff) supporting Pink Shirt Day on Friday this week. It’s a fabulous way to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion and kindness. I love the idea of being an ‘everyday upstander’ - stand by people who are experiencing unkindness or bullying, support the person who is experiencing this, get help or call out the person who is doing it. Here’s where you can donate to support Pink Shirt Day across the nation, and thank you for helping your tamariki (children) to be part of this great initiative.

Earlier this week I had the privilege of sitting with some parents of our year 4 ākonga (students) and chatting with them about what success would be like for their children and what they wanted them to experience at school. One of the things we discussed was how it can be difficult for some parents to talk with their child/ren about school. Often at the end of a busy and tiring day, a very open question such as ‘how was school today?’ can be hard for tired children to answer, and you’ll often get a very basic reply such as “it was fine”. Some different conversation starters you could try instead are:

• You look cheerful. Something good must have happened today.

• What was something today that made you laugh out loud?

• What was something that made you really think or work hard to solve it?

• What was your favourite thing that happened today?

• What was something that was difficult for you, but you did it anyway?

• Instead of asking a question, share something from your own day and this can invite them to share in return - “Someone brought in biscuits today and they were chocolate chip - my favourite!”

• What did you do today that made you feel proud?

• Who in your whānau group has a skill or talent you think is great?

• Which person in your whānau group would make the best prime minister?

• Who thinks up the best games at school?

• If you have a problem or issue at school, who would you go to for help?

• Who made you laugh the most today?

• What was something that surprised you today?

• Who was kind to you today?

• Who was someone you were kind to today?

• Where is the best place to play and hang out at school?

• What book are you reading at the moment?

• Did you learn or hear a new word today?

• What made you smile today?

• What made your teacher smile today?

And finally, one of our fabulous local places to play is getting a makeover, and you get to be involved in how this could look. Churton Park play area is being refreshed, and you can look at the two proposed designs and give feedback on the plans. Click here to have a look at the plans with your whānau and tamariki (children), and share your thoughts.

Kia pai te rā whakatā - have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy spending time with whānau and friends.

Ngā mihi nui, 

Urs Cunningham