Every year seems busy but I am sure this one has been busier than most.

It seems like a long time ago since we held our "Kids Conference" where our students taught parents and grandparents about the STEAM tools they have learnt to use.  This was soon followed by the popular and successful KAIKville financial literacy programme.  In term 3 we switched our focus to the arts for the school production and then we became historians as we celebrated our 150 anniversary!

2020 will see the start of the rebuild actually happen which will pose its own challenges and opportunities.  It is also the third and final year of our innovation funding from the Otago Community Trust.  Next year we will focus on embedding the Project-Based Learning (PBL) philosophy consistently throughout the school.

We welcome Anya Matravers who will be teaching Year 5/6 in Room 1A which is the current library.  The library will now be in Room 11.  We also welcome Jody Bolger who was one of our final year students and will be teaching in Room 7 while Emma Riley is on maternity leave.

Long-serving teacher, Alison Baker is retiring next year.  She has been at the school for 22 years with much of that time teaching in the juniors.  In recent years she has been supporting many of our students learn their basic facts in mathematics and her results were always of the highest standard.  Alison has been an incredibly hard-working and loyal member of staff and we wish her all the very best for her retirement.

We also say farewell for now to Mrs Susan Oldfield who has been teaching our new entrants in Room 11. 

Thank you to the Parent Group for all that they do.  They have worked hard for your children right up to the last week where they organised a school disco and provided a leaving gift of the Kaikorai Reunion book for all Year 6 leavers on Wednesday night.  Next year is the big fair year.  Please consider putting your name forward for the parent group or to help in some way with the fair.  It is a great chance to meet new people and feel even more a part of the Kaikorai School community.

We wish all of our Year 6 students the very best as they go onto the next stage of their schooling.   You will have many exciting challenges ahead, and if you keep the Kaikorai values in the back of your mind, I am sure you will go on to many great things.

Thank you to the Board of Trustees, the entire staff of teachers, teacher aides, admin, caretakers and cleaners who all pull together to try their very best every day for your children. The work that you do is very much appreciated.

Finally, we look forward to seeing all returning students next year, and we wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Christmas break!

Kind regards

Simon Clarke

Principal