Kia ora e te Whānau

Brrrr!  Winter sure is biting at the moment!  We are grateful to our Road Patrol tamariki and supervising parents who are braving the cold to keep us all safe when crossing the busy Cashmere Avenue.  They do notice all the "thank you" shout outs for their efforts - ngā mihi for your support e te whānau.

This Monday our kaiako (teachers) attended meetings with their colleagues from our surrounding schools including Rāroa and Onslow.  The community of learning focuses on four concepts that are our current shared challenges in education.  These are the focus of the meetings: Cultural Responsiveness, Wellbeing, Empowered Students and Equity.  Teachers have chosen the area they would like to focus on and connect with others over.  I attended the wellbeing meeting which was facilitated by the NZ Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience.  There was provocation around how we prioritise our own wellbeing in order to support others.  The institute provided some realistic and practical ideas.  Such as:

- Several mini breaks during the day support your mind.  This could be a stand and stretch, with a look out to the horizon.  Come on down to the school's lower level of the school for an amazing view of the harbour if you're after a horizon!

- Celebrate your small wins.  During last night, our little baby Imogen woke a few times.  I felt pretty delighted I got her back to sleep within a couple of minutes.  Sleep has become the best win ever!

- Prioritise ruthlessly.  Recognise what really matters and what you have influence over.  I find this tricky - I want to focus on everything!  Alas, we're all human and we can only stretch ourselves so far.

Last night at our Board meeting we discussed the school's programme for beginning teachers, who are known as Provisionally Certificated Teachers (PCTs).  We have developed the programme over time in response to guidance from the Teachers' Council.  Two of our experienced teachers Linda and AnneMaree, who have been mentors to PCTs, were responsible for the design and implementation of the programme.  We have had five PCTs at our school in the last four years.  Each of them expressed gratitude for the school's commitment to the growth of their career.  We have loved observing these teachers become emerging leaders.

Our Covid numbers have continued to decrease.  We have just one student case and one staff member with Covid.

Ngā mihi nui

Kate Christie