‘Meri kirihimete’ from the staff of East Taieri.

Kia ora koutou

It is hard to believe that this is the last newsletter for the year. 2017 has been such a successful year for East Taieri, thanks to the input of such fantastic children, staff,  Board of Trustees, Home & School committee and parent community. It is with sadness that we farewell several staff members this week. Karon Read leaves her full-time role as Dean of the Junior School and Special Education Needs Co-ordinator after 24 years at East Taieri. Our staff and students surprised Karon  with a special assembly last Friday and an evening on Friday night to acknowledge just how much she will be missed and what a huge role she has played in making East Taieri such a great school. Karon has started hundreds of children off on their learning journey as new entrants and has had a huge impact on initiating innovative programmes in the New Entrant area. She is an outstanding teacher and we are pleased that she has agreed to come back in a part-time teaching role next year. Karon has many dreams and talents to pursue, as well as  family - especially her grandchildren, to spend time with. 

We employed Lucy Morris as a beginning teacher five years ago and have watched her grow into the fabulous teacher that she is today. East Taieri has benefitted from her many talents and although we are sad to see her leave, wish her well in her new teaching position at Wanaka. Lucy assures us that she will be back!

Vicki Thorburn has stepped in to set up our extra New Entrant class  as numbers have grown and she has created a welcoming, supportive 'nest' in Room 13, giving children a wonderful start to their learning journey. We thank Vicki for her valued contributions to East Taieri.

Jaimee Rangi and Katherine Bradfield have supported the teaching team in their roles as Teacher Aides and we wish them well as they venture down new pathways.

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped in so many different ways this year. A special thank you to families who end a long association with East Taieri as their children move on to college and intermediate. 

A special thank you to our fabulous Year 6 students who have been an outstanding group, giving so much to East Taieri and being such great role models. We look forward to your special evening on Thursday and wish you well as you take up the next challenge in your learning journey . We will follow your futures with interest.

To our families - I hope you all have a happy Christmas, a well-earned break over the festive season and enjoy time with your whānau and friends. 

Ngā mihi 

Jennifer