He mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, nau mai haere mai ki tēnei tau hau. Welcome back everyone to this new year.

We have had a wonderful start to this 2023 year, despite some unexpected weather events. Our new Year 9 students have started their new school exceptionally well and our students from Year 10 -13 are providing some positive role modeling to each other as well as our new Year 9s in and around the school.

I have just stepped in from tabloid sports - which again is an afternoon to enable our students to work collaboratively together and to build Whānau and Iwi cohesiveness. Events such as tabloids are valuable to help build positive spirit and it is great that these are all back on our calendar after the last few years of covid interruptions.

At the start of this year we are wanting to set a positive approach to learning and preparedness for school. This means that we are making sure that our students:

• attend classes and school on time

• are dressed in the correct umiform for school and specialised classes.

• have all of their equipment for learning.

We ask that you as whānau and caregivers support us to ensure that your young people are ready for learning and are here for the purpose of school - that is to learn and achieve.

We are once again measuring engagement in learning and will be following up with any learners that are struggling to engage in their lessons. When we know that there are issues, we can create solutions to support. If you need to discuss anything related to your child and their learning we encourage you in the first instance, to contact their whānau teacher. All parents should have received contact from their child's whānau teacher already.

Ngā mihi

Natasha and the SLT