So here we are at the end of another busy year.  The last few days have gone by in a blur with so much going on.   On Tuesday we had a wonderful graduation ceremony for our Year 6 children with a stunning performance by our senior kapahaka group.  We are so very proud of all our special award winners and all of our graduates.  They have been an amazing cohort of students and we will miss them very much along with the many parents who are leaving us as well.  It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you all.  Our Year 6 children had a dinner and party that evening in our hall which was a lot of fun, a highlight being the many speeches that were delivered about individual children's experiences at school over the years.

I would like to acknowledge our 64 staff on an successful year in their various roles as teachers, support staff, Library, administration, office, caretaking, team and senior leaders.  Together we make up one big team looking after our 800 children to the absolute best of our abilities. Each and every one of our staff go over and above in their roles and I am so proud of them all.  

Our Board of Trustees are a fantastic representative group of our parents and are doing an outstanding job in their governance role.  This year the Board have undertaken some big projects with the refurbishment of our newly named block Ko Te Patrick Heremaia Whare Mātauranga and the new surfacing of the playgrounds.  This has also been helped along by the generous efforts of those involved with fundraising projects through Te Whānau Āwhina, our parent group. Amazing contributions by all.

A personal highlight for me this year was the incredible turnout to the opening and dedication of our new block back in June.  I was overwhelmed and thrilled that so many of you got up at 6am and came along for this event.  To see everyone lining the walls several people deep in that big space will remain a lasting memory for me of the support, commitment and aroha you all share so generously with our community.

I believe as I always have that Kaurilands is unique for a big school in that it still has a very strong sense of community and people looking out for each other. This is at the heart of what we are about.

Have a wonderful holiday with your gorgeous children, be safe and we will see you back on the 7th February.

Arohanui Jo