It's a wrap!

It's been another jam-packed year of awesomeness. For 11 years we have said PIA has had the greatest year ever and think that there is no way we can possibly go one better. 2023 has seen us peak. Our superstar students have stepped up again and PIA continues to be at the top of the leaderboard locally, regionally and nationally. Nothing like a handy natural disaster to showcase our talent. The hardest part of running PIA is getting outsiders to understand how talented we are, that we are outstanding young people with an enviable work ethic and can actually do what we say we can do.

2023 has seen batches of fudge move beyond the 80 mark and we have used enough wire to fence from school to Hinds. Another batch of 16 year olds have passed their learners licence and can now build on the superior skills demonstrated by Sally and Team Leader. Notable highlights include:

• Tom Batty & Richard Russels speech, “This year we attended 2 shows, the Winchester and Fairlie, where we ran modules for the primary school kids, these included setting up an electric fence with standards and many more fun activities. Our biggest challenge was avoiding bird’s nests as the reels were wound up, always planning for the worst we had 8 spare reels and we used them all. Although we were well organized, once we added little kids a lot of our organization went out the window. We realized that if we ever have children of our own we need to be well prepared. Both days were a lot of fun and the modules ran well and we were really happy to see the kids go back to their parents so we could relax and eat fudge.

• Quinn coming to class long enough to fill out his IRD form to move up a tax bracket having fully embraced the concept of a creative timetable this year.

• Scott also attending class to fill in Team Leaders details as a referee.

• The blogs - ie the truth according to Team Leader and watching the more honest team members struggle with this concept.

• Sally’s U-turn count being passed by BOT rep Sharon Wallace.

• The joy of watching Kim Christie work out how to use a microwave.

• Flying and all the antics that accompany introducing PIA to the urban world.

On a more serious note, we don’t know how lucky we are in having such wonderful students, whanau and community all of which make PIA the success it is. Some special mentions to some long-standing PIA families who are moving on. Kim & Tracey Christie for all their support on trips, with hangis, practical interviews and advice, Dallas Rae for her insight on the interview panel and outstanding camp mum attributes.The Chisholms & Sowdens who finally complete their educational journey at GHS with just one of each family's 4 boys escaping the PIA net.

Our students are all unrecognisable from the shy and nervous PIA babies we met at interview time back in the day. They have grown in confidence immensely and have learnt a few handy skills along the way.

To our leavers, some advice: Feedback about your job or work is not bullying. Learn from it, take the advice, be better. Make the most of all the opportunities that come your way, and get involved. Be a volunteer. There is no such word as can't - stand tall and make it happen. Remember we are always here to help but also remember at those questionable times when a dodgy decision could be made “Would this annoy Sally & Sarah?", Decision made.

After a fair while batting our eyelashes and meeting posh people I think after this year’s efforts we can class ourselves as some of the posh people.

Best of luck team and Bloody well done.