We decided to change it up this newsletter with a Deputy Principal's Corner rather than a word from Mr Smith this fortnight. Some families may not be aware that we are both Deputy Principal's here at Bluestone, having had a change in our management structure this year.

Thank you to all the families and students who have made our first term in our new deputising roles together, so welcoming. It has been a rewarding term for us as we navigate our new roles together in our joint office space next to Mr Smith.

We both have a long history here at Bluestone and are well known to a number of families. We are very experienced teaching practitioners with experience teaching in a wide variety of learning communities.

This year we both have a day teaching in classrooms each week supporting Team Leaders in their roles. When we are in the office a big part of our role is supporting our families to ensure children are attending school everyday. We work with whānau and other agencies to do this. Attendance always matters here at Bluestone and even if students have had explained absences we make contact when a student's attendance becomes concerningly low. We will endeavour to work with whānau and ask, how can we help you to get your child to school everyday?

We are both enjoying supporting our teachers and team leaders to implement a rich and varied curriculum which is empowering our students and their abilities. We offer our ākonga so many opportunities here at Bluestone and value whānau input with curriculum development and ideas. The recent whānau input forms sent home early term one and the meet the teacher evening gave families great opportunities to make known to teachers aspiriations for their children's learning and to make them aware of any important information. 

Georgia and I help drive Relational Based Learning here at Bluestone and both became accredited impact coaches in 2023. Relational Based Learning is putting relationships with your children at the forefront in the classrooms and ensuring they feel valued and supported in their learning. Valuing their culture, heritage and learning ability. A focus for us both this year is engaging more deeply with our Māori and Pacifika whānau  to ensure aspirations for learning are valued and that these aspirations are being met through our curriculum learning opportunities. 

We love seeing families and value making the connections so if you have any questions around what we have briefly discussed in this issue, please feel free to make contact with either of us on our emails as listed below.

Ngā Mihi

Rebecca and Georgia

rebeccah@bluestone.school.nz

georgiaj@bluestone.school.nz