the final newsletter for term one already! Ten and a half busy weeks have disappeared and on reflection so much has been achieved and our year is developing well with our children’s engagement and learning and also with the many and varied projects.

On the property front, I have been reassured that the refurbishment of rooms 1 to 6 is on track. The frustrations with the old pool site are gradually being resolved but I am a little nervous to give you a definite date for completion, as it is still being managed by the MOE.  Once our Board can do their steps, I am sure we will be able to give a definite date early in term 2.  All good things are worth waiting for.

We farewell two staff this term. Sara Collie,  from our part-time teaching team for CRT and Donna Frame as Deputy Principal. We are welcoming three new teachers; Margaret King as the new entrant teacher for the next start-up group and Megan Donkers to replace Sara.  Donna’s role is a little more complex to fill. So we are going to share her role across our talented leadership team. Vanessa Lidstone is going to have some release and we welcome Angela Paxon to work with the collaborative team in year 3.  She has worked in this team during term 1 and so is already building relationships with our children and staff.

I want to acknowledge the commitment and efforts of our leadership team. They have all stepped up and I know we are fortunate to have such collective strength in this team.  Judy Harford will be the Acting Deputy Principal and  Vanessa will be the Acting Assistant Principal.  Carmen Dodd and Carolyn Silby have also taken on new responsibilities.

Sara and Donna have both had a long association with the Fendalton School staff and have come and gone through their teaching careers. They will both be sincerely missed and we hope that down the track, they may, return again!  Regardless, we have strong connections and I know we will follow their new chapters in their lives with interest. Sara with a new baby to love and adore and Donna with a new school to help establish and lead. We wish them both every success.

Next week, we see our year 5s off to camp at Wainui.  We wish them well, a lovely way for them to all bond and we value the input from parents.  We are also working through the end of all the summer sports and preparing for winter sports. Again parent support and involvement is the only way we can offer such variety so thank you to all those who get involved.

Enjoy the April holidays and we will look forward to seeing you all back on Monday 30 April for term 2 and all the wonderful opportunities that it will bring.

Warmest regards,

Ngā mihi nui

Raewyn