Hero photograph
 
Photo by Christine Gillard

Tēnā Koutou Kātoa - Welcome to Term Four

Sharon Keen —

Welcome back. With the country all in Level 1, it makes for a great start to a very busy term with many cultural and sporting events.

This term has two groups on a 'Dunedin Experience', our Water Polo teams competing in the South Island competition, also in Dunedin and many sporting and cultural events.  

On Thursday 22 we have a 'Culture and Kai' evening in our school hall.  This is a time for our Kapa haka and Pasifika groups to perform but also for them to share the learning they have been involved in this year.  As well as performances the students will run small group sessions with you, plus provide dinner. It is a night I encourage you all to attend. 

A reminder that we have a Teacher Only Day on Friday 23 and so school is closed for our students.  This day will be used by staff to engage in professional development on the writing program we have been focusing on.

Due to the unsettled nature of the year to date, we have had fewer opportunities to meet with parents and so are offering whānau interviews on Tuesday 27 and Thursday 29.  Please refer to the information sent out by your childs teacher so that you can confirm a time.  It is an opportunity to look at learning progress to date and discuss future learning goals or transition concerns if your child is moving to High School.

On the night of November 1, our Cultural groups are performing in the 'Tuhono Cultural Festival', I know many of you have tickets from last term but there are still seats available if you wish to attend.

We will keep you well informed of future events and really do appreciate your support with these.

On the school front, we are close to having our school canteen moved to the other side of the hall so it is more accessible for our students and frees up the hall space as well as upgrading the facilities.  This will mean the hall will be closed from early November, all going well.  We are also in the process of finalising plans to upgrade some of our classrooms and our specialists spaces.  Work that is long overdue.

The Ministry of Education is working with us and other local schools to implement a school zone for Casebrook.  We will be sending out details so that our community has the opportunity to comment.

All in all a very busy time with many exciting opportunities for our young people.

Nāku iti noa

Sharon Keen

Principal