Kia ora koutou whanau

I hope you are managing to stay well and warm as we progress through the depths of winter. At least having now passed the shortest day we can tell ourselves that we are heading towards summer!

Wow, what a fantastic week we had at school last week with our Matariki celebrations and hāngī. I must say Thursday was an extra long day having to be down at school shortly after 5:00am to light the fire for the hangi.

Thankfully, the whole thing went like clockwork. We certainly learnt a few things from our first hāngī experience three years ago. It was great having the students out and taking an interest in the inner workings of the hangi.

The anticipation was worth the wait as 470 meals were devoured by hungry students and teachers in a short space of time.

Holding these sorts of events requires a considerable amount of planning, resourcing and implementing. To that end I would like to acknowledge the following people:

• Mike Anderson (Waimairi School) for acting as our coach through the whole process.

• Marcel Gray (Pak'nSave Wainoni) for his kind generosity with supplying the food

• All of the parents who helped prepare the food / food parcels.

• The enthusiastic, dedicated team of staff, led by Claire Peacock-Price, who saw the whole thing through.

PERSONNEL

Earlier this term we welcomed back Megan Stedman who has started our next New Entrant classroom (along with Lynette Williamson). Welcome back Megan and your 12 students.

Next term we will also be welcoming Cherie Kneebone who will be starting another new entrant class in the junior school.

We also take this opportunity to farewell Zoe Rose, who has been standing in for Caro Searell over the past two terms. Thank you for all you have given to the students and staff at Elmwood over this time Zoe.  It is not entirely goodbye to Zoe, as she will still be doing some teaching around the school.

We welcome back Caro Searell next term to her Ruru Tāhi class in the senior school.

WHOLE SCHOOL PRODUCTION

We are again looking forward to sharing our many talents with you at our whole school production at the Town Hall on Thursday 19 August. More details to come early next term.

TEACHER ONLY DAY (Monday 23rd August)

As advised earlier in the year, in Term 3 our teachers are undertaking professional learning at our next Teachers only Day on Monday 23rd of August. Please also mark this in your calendar. Thank you for your support with this.

LOST PROPERTY

For those of you who have children who are missing an item of uniform, please encourage your children to look in the lost property (situated on the deck opposite the end of Room 6a). It is overflowing with polar fleeces. Any unclaimed uniform at the end of the term will be taken to the second hand uniform shop.

HAND WASHING

With quite a few children away sick at the moment, it is timely to remind everyone to remain focused about hand washing and continue with this process even though we are out of lockdown. Please remind children that this is the best way to prevent the spread of bugs.

Have a restful holiday break.

Ngā mihi nui,

Paul