Kia ora tatou,

I would like to start by saying a huge thank you for all your incredible feedback in regards to our new timetable. It is awesome to read your comments, positive and constructive. It is so important for Highfield to continually review its systems and processes, as this creates a shared ownership. Our students and teachers also completed the survey and they had very similar responses. It is evident from everyones’ feedback that the new timetable creates clear learning time and wellbeing time. The most common concern was the later lunch time. Therefore, from Monday 15th March lunch eating will be first at 1pm and then play will be from 1.15pm - 1.45pm. We will be observing this change very closely.

Yesterday, Monday 15th March, Highfield held our official opening of our Te whare whakamana reo. The name means to uplift and power the reo. The official opening was based around a blessing. We bless the whare, to chase out any negative energy and cleanse it to put in our new seed, so everything grows straight. There is a call on spiritual guidance and protection for the whare and those who use it, and to welcome positive energy into the space. This is a way to inspire our whare with aroha, kotahitanga, whanaungatanga and have a sense of calm and serenity about it. This protocol was very new to me, but I had a sense of pride during the process and all our students were so respectful. A huge thanks to Kerryn Hurrell for organising this and for her inspiration in teaching Te Reo. Kerryn has created a perfect cultural environment.

I was very fortunate to be part of the Year 7 and 8 camp last week at Mount Hutt Retreat. The camp is based in the most beautiful environment and the students were given a plethora of different activities to experience, as well as free time to build friendships. The students’ behaviour was exceptional and I thoroughly enjoyed watching one group abseiling for the first time. A huge thanks to all the parents that helped to make this camp a huge success. Their support, energy and encouragement are crucial in making camps possible. Finally, thank you to Mrs Haynes, Mr Boon and Mrs Cooper for all their hard work before, during and after the camp.

Last Friday a group of Year 5 and 6 boys and girls represented Highfield in the South Canterbury Primary Schools Triathlon Festival. I know they swam, ran and cycled hard and did themselves and their school proud. This Thursday 18th March, Highfield are holding our school swimming sports at Cbay. This is a great opportunity for all our students to experience competition and create a feeling of camaraderie within their house. It is wonderful that we can offer so many different opportunities.

At the beginning of the year I introduced our school vision and school strategic plan and I am pleased to say that we have finally completed our school poster. This poster shows everyone what our school is focusing on, the direction in which we are taking and the type of students we are aspiring to create. This is an exciting journey and it has only been possible from the help of our students, staff and whānau. You will be seeing this poster in every classroom and every school public space. My wish is that students, staff and whānau follow this direction and use the same language at school and at home so that ‘together we soar to new heights’.

Have a wonderful week and I hope to see some of you at our swimming sports.

Ngā mihi

Stuart