Kia ora koutou and a very warm welcome back to Term 3. We extend a special welcome to our new entrant students and their whānau who are joining us this term – we are delighted to have you with us.

We have also welcomed a number of short-term international students to our school community. We know our Devonport tamariki will help them feel welcomed and included from day one.

A huge thank you to our wonderful PTA for organising the Icy Plunge – Warm Up Edition at the end of Term 2, and to all the parents and whānau who supported this fantastic event. Thanks to your generosity and enthusiasm, we raised an incredible $17,495 towards replacing the solar heating for our school pool. We are so grateful for your continued support. During the holidays, work has been going on to repair and reline the pool. At a time when many schools are no longer able to keep their pools open, we are lucky that we have been able to carry out these essential repairs. As with many things, costs have risen considerably and this work represents both a huge fundraising effort plus a significant financial commitment from the board.

From our recent parent survey, we know that parents are keen to see the improvements to our site continue. I am sure that you will have noticed that we have commenced repainting the exterior of the school.

This term, our learning programme includes some exciting opportunities across the school. Our key school value for 2025 is Respect, and in Term 3 we will be focusing on Respect for the things that have shaped Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes learning about our local and national history, the people and events that have influenced our country, and how we honour the past in meaningful ways.

This is also a Board triennial election year. We have three positions available for new board members, and we warmly encourage everyone to consider standing for election. Being part of the Board is a valuable way to contribute to the direction and success of our school. You can read more about what is involved in the articles within this newsletter.

Ngā mihi nui,
Beverley Booth
Principal