Principal's Report

Quarantine Island Trips

Ten of our classes have now completed Quarantine Island trips, with the last two classes scheduled for Monday next week. This has been an outstanding learning experience for our students and I would like to acknowledge the support from the Orokonui Educators during our trips. I would also like to thank parents for supporting us in providing memorable trips like this through the payment of the annual school contribution donation. To ensure that we can continue to offer these experiences throughout the year to our students, we would very much appreciate families who have not yet organised the payment of this contribution donation to make arrangements with the school office to do this.

As you may be aware from reading the Otago Daily Times this week, two of our students went on an alternative trip on the peninsula due to the lack of wheelchair access on Quarantine Island. We were very grateful to Andrew from Experience Dunedin Tours for donating the amazing trike experience and also to the team from the Monarch for making Maadi's trip so special. An ex student who read the article in the ODT has emailed me, and I wanted to share what he said. We are all very proud to be a part of the Andersons Bay School community and it was great to hear the strong connection that ex students still have for Andy Bay.

Dear Principal, Staff, and Students of Andersons Bay School,

I recently read the Otago Daily Times article about how your school went above and beyond to create a special experience for Maadi Van Delden, ensuring she didn’t miss out on the joy and adventure her classmates experienced on their trip to Quarantine Island. As a former student of Andersons Bay School from 1983 to 1987, I was both deeply moved and incredibly proud to see this act of kindness and inclusivity in action.

The thoughtfulness and effort shown by Anna Hailes and the entire school community speak volumes about the values that make Andersons Bay School truly special. You didn’t just find a solution—you created a moment of pure magic for Maadi, showing that no child should feel left out. That kind of care, creativity, and commitment to every student’s happiness and learning is what education should be all about.

Reading this story brought back fond memories of my own time at Andersons Bay, and it’s heartening to see that the same spirit of warmth, community, and going the extra mile is still alive today. It’s not just about what happens in the classroom—it’s about the experiences, the friendships, and the sense of belonging that stay with you for life.

To the staff, thank you for your dedication. To the students, you are part of something truly wonderful—never underestimate the power of kindness and inclusion. Andersons Bay School has always been a special place, and this story is a shining example of why.

With heartfelt appreciation and warmest regards,

Nick Renfree 

Experience Dunedin Tours - click on the link below to visit their website

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TE9OMa80Mks3YLRSMahItDBKTUw2SDFITjMwsDQxtTKosEhKNrc0SjUyMDZONDUy8ZJIrShILcpMzUtOVUgpzUtNycxTKMkvLSoGAIMWGD4&q=experience+dunedin+tours&rlz=1C1GCEA_enNZ1072NZ1072&oq=Experience+Dunedin+T&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDQgBEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQyBggAEEUYOTINCAEQLhivARjHARiABDIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMggIBBAAGBYYHjINCAUQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAYQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAcQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAgQABiGAxiABBiKBdIBCjI5NTM1ajBqMTWoAgiwAgHxBT7LEKJvGmVW&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

ngā mihi nui

Pauline Simpson

Principal