As my time here draws to an end, the only thing to do is thank you. Please read on for my principal's address from the End of Year Celebration.

Mauri ora ki a tātou

Kā mihi ki te mana whenua o tēnei takiwā, Ngāti Wheke, tēnā koutou.

E mihi ana hoki kia koutou, te kaiako, tēnā koutou

He mihi tenei kia koutou, te tamariki, tēnā koutou

Kā mihi nui ki a koe, Matua Steve, tēna koe

Anei mātou, e te whānau o Te Kura o Ōhinetahi, tēnā koutou

Kō wai au?

Nō Ikarani me Aerana me Kānata ōku tīpuna.

I tipu ake au i Kānata me Aotearoa.

Kei Ōtautahi tōku kaika ināianei. 

Ko tumuaki ahau ki te Kura o Ōhinetahi.

(for a short while longer, anyhow...)

Ko Meagan Kelly tōku ikoa.

Nau mai haere mai ki te huihui i tenei rā!

Nau mai & welcome to this grand occasion! To be honest, I am standing here today with mixed emotions, as the main reason for us being together today is to celebrate the achievements and awesomeness of our ākoka - our learners, and most importantly, our stunning Year 8s. Today really is about celebrating them. Buuuut, in the back of my mind, I also know that this is also my last event with you. 

This is a very special kura that has been my home for these past four and a half years. I am filled with gratitude, pride, and more than a touch of nostalgia as I reflect on what we’ve achieved together and the relationships that have grown during my time here. So, I will take (indulge myself for) a few moments to acknowledge you all, but then I want to focus on these fabulous Year 8s. 

When I applied for this job, I wasn’t looking for a principal position. Some of you have heard this story, but my husband was doing a renovation project for a local family just before the big COVID lockdown. They said to him, we like you, so we’d probably like your wife - she should apply for this job at our school! So, that’s what I did during lockdown. In preparation for my interview, I read about this amazing community, school, students and staff. I want to acknowledge the 2020 School Board who hired me and the staff of the time for welcoming me as they did. 

Of course, coming in, I had so much to learn. Rebecca was patient and supportive as I learned the ropes - I think I’m her fourth principal!; Liza, Rachel and Ange R introduced me to “how we do things around here” and Angela and Gráinne started a few months before I did, weaving their inclusive approach into everything we do. 

The Board had a strong vision for the future of the school. Like any Board, they wanted this school to be the best it could be. They wanted our students to be - and feel - successful in all areas. They wanted the school values to really be at the heart of everything we do. They wanted to ensure that our cultural and environmental connections were strong and enduring. 

To make all of this happen requires a staff who are reflective and committed to improvement. Ruth Stevens and Beth Jolly brought Pīwakawaka along for the ride, Sarah Nicholl came in as our stunning Reading Recovery teachers and Ruth Renwick joined us as the junior team leader. We had Nicky Vincent and Anneke Wilkenson with us for a few terms in Tūī. This year, we brought in the dynamic duo of Ange Tutt and Sarah Meadowcroft and had Milo join us as a learning assistant. I want to acknowledge how absolutely fabulous this team is. Not only do they know their stuff, but they are funny, ambitious and they know how to get things done - They’re the ones who bring us Walk or Wheel to School Week, Pink Shirt Day, Lots of Socks day, Sports events and camps. These are the things that are the heart and soul of a school. Your dedication to our tamariki is the foundation of this kura and the reason it thrives. Your commitment to our learners is unwavering, and your belief in their abilities shines through in everything you do. It has been a big four plus years of consolidating our curriculum knowledge - and embarking on that ride again with our reviewed and refreshed curriculum - aligning our assessment and Overall Teacher Judgements, making robust target groups and tracking our interventions, and seeing the remarkable progress and achievement of our ākonga.

You will remember that we have had a major MAJOR focus on maths over the past four years and a special mention needs to go to Ange Rayner, who has been our Leader for Maths since we joined the kāhui ako in 2021. 

We have had a mind boggling shift from mid-year 2020 of 63.7% of our students who were at or above the school expectation to our end of year 2024 results of 90.1% at or above! 

One of the waiata that we sing during Kapa Haka goes like this, 

Ko te whirika o te taura takata

Ahakoa uaina e te ua                                                                    

Whitikina e te rā

Te taukaea o te aroha

Ka mau ake tonu e

The stands of the rope that binds us

Even though it is battered by the rain

And scorched by the sun

The rope made of love

Will always hold strong

This idea of weaving together is so true of this school and community. This is a place that wraps around its people. While our priorities may sometimes differ—parents advocating passionately for their children and the school working to balance the needs of many—we’ve always shared a common goal: helping our tamariki feel included, inspired, successful and excited about school and life. I have learned a lot from our interactions and I know that all of our staff hold tightly to the small gestures or messages of thanks you send to us. I think you can be particularly proud of your voice being so clear in our strong school values, which we can now see around the school and hear in the classrooms and playgrounds. 

The backbone - or maybe it’s the safety net - is the School Board. They ask the right questions at the right time to ensure that every decision and initiative has centered on what is best for our tamariki. The trust you placed in me as your principal has allowed me to grow not only professionally but also personally, and for that, I will always be grateful.

This school is more than just a place of learning—it is a community and a whānau. The connections we have nurtured and the shared commitment to our children’s futures have made this kura a place of warmth, growth, and inspiration.

Of course, at the heart of any school are its ākoka, its learners. Working with our tamariki has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. They have inspired me daily with their curiosity, resilience, and joy. I love being at those sports events, when everyone is in their house colours and trying really hard. I love handing out the shiny principal’s stickers - and I’m stoked Mrs Cooke left some behind for me! - when learners bring me their writing or read me their books. I love the teaching I have done with my Grammar Ninjas, learning the intricacies of the English language. I love being out in the hills with the William Pike group. 

Tamariki mā, watching you grow, learn, and thrive has been nothing short of a privilege, and I take those memories with me as treasured taonga. 

To our Year 8 students, today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. As you prepare to take your next steps, carry the values of kindness, resilience, and curiosity that you’ve learned here. They will serve you well in the years ahead.

For some whānau, there is the realisation that your youngest child is completing their journey at our kura. A special and poignant moment, and I know there will be a few tears! Good luck to these whānau as they head to their new kura:

• The Dawsons, who have been here since Kate who started here on the 17th of June 2016

• The Thompson-Wilds, who joined us from Heathcote Valley in 2022

To others, we’re delighted to hold onto a Fitzhardinge, one Wallace, a Santry, a Galbraith, and the last in a long line of Jeffreys for a little bit longer!

Meg, Aria, Emily, Bronte, Kate, Iona and Harper - I wrote you a poem. Well, Chat GPT did. 

The time has come, the moment's here,
To say goodbye to this cherished sphere.
From tiny steps in your early days,
To confident strides through life's new maze.

You’ve laughed, you’ve learned, you’ve grown so much,
Through every challenge, every touch.
From spelling tests to science fairs,
You’ve built a world of dreams and cares.

The friends you’ve made, the tales you’ve shared,
The times you stumbled, the ways you dared.
These memories crafted with love and grace,
Will forever hold their special place.

Now high school waits, a whole new start,
A bigger world to test your heart.
New teachers, new faces, new paths to take,
New goals to chase, new dreams to make.

So walk with pride and hold your head high,
Reach for the stars, aim for the sky.
Remember the roots that helped you grow,
And all the love this place did show.

Goodbye for now, but not farewell,
The future holds stories yet to tell.
Year 8s, go forth and shine your light,
Your journey's just starting—your future is bright.

Year 8s - Leaving this school is not easy. It has been a privilege and an honour to be part of your community, and I am incredibly proud of what you have accomplished together. While we may be moving on, I know a piece of your heart - and a piece of mine - will always remain here, with this kura and its people.

As I step away, I do so knowing that this school is in the best possible hands. The staff here are exceptional, the Board is forward-thinking and supportive, and the community is vibrant and engaged. The foundation we have built together will continue to support our tamariki to thrive for years to come

Thank you for the learning, the memories, and the shared commitment to our tamariki. Kā mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa. Mā te wā.