Principal's news Week 8

Rob Cope cyber safety event 📲

It was wonderful to see so many Kaikorai faces at the cyber safety event on Tuesday night. As a parent of a teen, I found it to be a sobering and heavy experience, with many important takeaways for me personally. As a school principal, it was equally poignant to reflect on the generation of learners entering our school and their reliance on and the impact of digital devices.

The key takeaways for me were:

• Disconnect to reconnect as a family — prioritise quality time together without digital distractions.

• Model appropriate device usage in the home — set a positive example by demonstrating healthy screen habits.

• Keep devices in shared spaces — ensure devices stay in the lounge and are never used in the bedroom.

• When your children go for a playdate or sleepover, do you know whether they are going to be online? If not, ask the question. It's okay to say no to your child about going on a sleepover or playdate if you are uncomfortable with the environment.

• Creativity often comes from being 'bored'; it's okay for children to experience boredom. Allowing children to experience boredom can provide the mental space necessary for creative thought, which is often hindered by constant stimulation from devices.

If you were unable to attend to urge and encourage you to visit Rob's website and explore the content for yourself.

Poly Fest 🎵

As I write this newsletter, we are on the eve of our Polyfest performance. I know the Kaikorai rōpū are excited and well prepared, as evident in this week's dress rehearsal. We are so grateful for Whaea Ana sharing her skills with our tamariki and we are thrilled to have her as part of the Kaikorai whānau.

Mrs McDowall and Miss Sims have supported the group each week and we thank them for their efforts. I look forward to sharing photos in next weeks newsletter of our performance.

Staffing news 📚

Ruth Faulkner (Rūma Rima) has accepted the position of teaching principal in Garston, Rural Southland, and will be leaving Kaikorai Primary School at the end of the year. An exciting time for Ruth and her whānau.

In due course, we will let you know who will lead the Pīwakawaka team in 2025.

Today, we farewell to Hannah in our office. Hannah has been amazing to work with on Thursdays and Fridays for the last year and we wish her well with her return to the insurance industry.

As always, please don't hesitate to get in touch at anytime.

Ngā mihi maioha.

Beth