Kia Ora everyone. 2019 has been another positive year for our school. It is important to reflect on the year that has gone and there is a lot to celebrate! Our children have continued to strive for personal excellence throughout 2019, and our school roll has grown to 560 students.

KNS is a wonderful place to be! Our strength as a school revolves around our positive school culture, strong values and beliefs, fantastic family support, many opportunities to shine and participate, and dedicated and caring, supportive staff. Our Year 8 students had an exciting night last night at their graduation and social! We gave out awards, shared some kai and then had a bit of a dance! A big thank you to Mrs Steph Hunter, Miss Caitlin Turner and the team of helpers for organising this night for our Year 8 students. Congratulations to all award winners, a special congratulations to Dux winner Kacey McAllister!

Congratulations to the following students and groups:
- our award winners announced and presented at the Sporting, Outdoors and Coding Celebration evening last week. Special congratulations to the major Year 8 trophy winners Max Dunbar (sportsboy) and Aliyah Newton (sportsgirl).

- all students who went on the KNS float at the Santa Parade - thank you so much to our wonderful PTA for making this such a special experience for our children!

- our KNS basketball teams for competing so strongly in the North Canterbury competition, special congratulations to the two KNS teams who won their finals - particularly the Section 2 and 3 Year 7/8 and well done to our Section 1 Year 7/8 team who played in a fantastic final, going down by just 1 point! A big thank you to Mrs Megan Gilmore for your leadership and to all coaches and managers!

- our First Lego League Team who travelled up to Auckland to compete in the New Zealand competition who placed 3rd and will now compete in the Asia - Pacific competition in Australia in 2020 - WOW!!! A big thank you to Mr Brayden Johnson (who also won the coaches award!), and parent Mr Dean Sole for preparing this team so well, and to Mrs Jo McCurrie for supporting the team on their trip.

- our KNS athletics team who competed with grit and skill at the Canterbury Athletics - special congratulations to Ethan Watson (1st in 60m sprint AND long jump!) and Aliyah Newton (2nd 1200m!). It was so special to watch the Year 7 girls high jump competition as the only 2 left at the end were in KNS tops!! Well done to Shilo Jenkins (1st) and Maddie Gascoyne (2nd)!

- our Year 8 art extension group for their amazing mural that is now on the wall in the hall! Thank you to Mrs Christine Watton for your amazing guidance and for your time with this talented group! 

Well done to our 2019 student leaders who were announced last week. The following students will have leadership roles at KNS: 

We are farewelling 3 teachers from KNS on Friday - a big thank you to Ms Adelma Matthews (RTLB), Miss Ashley Butler (Clarkville School team leader), and Mr Dave Ermerins (St Andrews)for your contribution to our school - all the very best for your new ventures in 2020! We welcome 3 new teachers in 2020 - Mr Hamish Dale (Tōtara), Mrs Victoria Hurley and Miss Libby McDonnell (Akeake).

On Thursday you will receive a letter with details about the beginning of the 2020 school year and notification of your child’s home class and teacher. Please be aware that there has been a detailed and sustained process into making class placements for our children. For Year 2-8 students your child will have a core teacher but will also be working in a Flexible Learning Space (FLS) with other children and teachers. I encourage you to take the time to visit your child’s class and learning area early in 2020 to familiarise yourself with the classroom spaces. Below is a map of the school to give you information about where teachers are located and where classes will be located in 2020. Where 2 teachers are listed the first teacher is in the class for at least 4 days with the exception of Rm 23 where Mrs Hunter and Mrs Gilmore share the class 50/50.

The school office will re-open in 2020 on Friday 24th January for existing families to provide us with any new information about circumstances and for new enrolments. School uniform is available from The Warehouse in Rangiora and from Kaiapoi Monograms in Hilton Street. Your child will receive a pack of stationery (cost will be added to family account) on the first day back next year - Wednesday 29th January.

I would like to conclude with a thank you to everyone in our school community, thank you to:
- our exceptional children for striving for excellence
- our wonderful staff for your effort, enthusiasm and expertise
- parents and caregivers for your positive support throughout the year
- the Board of Trustees for your effective child focused governance of our school
- the PTA for your outstanding support and financial donations throughout the year
- our 2019 Head Students for your wonderful service to our school.

If you need to contact me over the holidays please feel free to email me jason.m@kaiapoinorth.school.nz. We will conclude 2019 with a school assembly on Friday 13th December from 11:00am - 12:00pm. Please make sure you pick your children up by 12:05pm. Wishing you all a very happy and safe holiday season, we look forward to welcoming the children back on Wednesday 29th January, 2019.

Kia Kaha, Kind Regards
Jason Miles, PRINCIPAL