A message from the Principal: Important Updates on Staff, Vision, and Plans for the New Year

Dear Parents and Whānau,

Term 4 is always a busy time, and the end of this year is proving to be no different, with events such as the Year 6 and Year 13 Graduations, Sports Awards, Junior and Primary Prizegivings, and the Colour Run, to name just a few!

Thank you to those parents who completed the feedback form related to the parent evening held this week and who attended the evening. I understand not everyone could attend, so I wanted to share some key information that was discussed.

Some had asked about my vision for the school. After praying into this, I believe our top priority is to build further capacity for quality teaching and learning while integrating our special character more deeply into the curriculum. Additionally, there is room to refine how students transition between different areas of the school, ensuring that high standards are maintained academically and behaviorally during these transitions.

We also introduced some key staff for next year during the parent evening, and I am thrilled to announce that we are now fully staffed for 2025:

• Simeon Hawkins will join us as Associate Principal. Simeon will oversee special character and curriculum mapping for Years 1-8, among other responsibilities.

• Amy Williams, who has already started, will work as Senior Dean in the College space, bringing strong experience from her previous school.

• Nicole Bennett, my wife, will be teaching in the Year 7 and 8 area, with experience leading staff at Westminster Christian School.

• Lana Purdon will join us as a College Mathematics teacher and will collaborate with local schools to ensure consistent delivery of the mathematics curriculum.

• Marla Ferguson will join us as a Middle Years Teacher.

• Katherine Wyllie has also accepted a role in the Primary school.

In a subsequent communication, we will share details about who will be teaching each year level and outline slight adjustments to the Primary classrooms to make the most of our available spaces, as discussed during the parent evening.

Ngā mih nui,

Daniel Bennett