Kia ora whanau. This is our last school newsletter for 2022. On behalf of all our staff I would like to thank everyone for all your support as we navigated another year of uncertainty and wish you all a very relaxing summer holiday with family.

We are saying goodbye to staff members as they take on another challenge in 2022.

• Nadya is moving to Norway with her partner to live

• Zac is leaving teaching to try other educational challenges

• Wendy is retiring from Khandallah School after 18 years as a part time teacher

• Daniel is on leave for the 2022 school year to be involved with new house renovations

We wish them all the best and thank them for all the mahi they have done teaching our tamariki at Khandallah School.

We would like to welcome our new staff for 2023 and we look forward to them joining Khandallah School

• Zoe Lilley for Year 5&6

• Sophie Westenra for Year 2&3

• Samantha Chittock for Year 2&3

Congratulations to Meagan and Zach for Graduating and receiving their Full Teachers Registration.

Our Powhiri was well attended by our new families. We had 62 new students start this year. New families also arrived from Australia, United States, South Africa, Brazil, United Kingdom, Chile, Indonesia, India, Germany and Thailand.

This week the Matai team had a great afternoon for the Jump Jam event. Certainly a great way to engage all their parents in a fun PE session and the kids were loving it.

The Kowhai Christmas Concert and the singing at Khandallah Town Hall today also had a great turn out of parents and grandparents. The parents and children's smiles said it all. We are certainly enjoying performing in front of an audience again and welcoming all our parents back into school.

The Kaukau Challenge was a big success with our community even though the wet weather provided some challenges. There were no serious accidents and we still had a great turn out of adults and children participating in the event and activities at the end. We are very appreciative of all the hard mahi that was put in by Rebekah Yeoman and the Home and School committee to ensure the day was successfully run. The Home and School have donated $30,000 to the school this year which we are very grateful for. The unsold books, games and toys were gifted to Windley School in Porirua East to support their library and junior classrooms.

A big congratulations to the boys who competed in the Regional Athletics Event in Masterton. Blake Cording, Oliver Hindle, Sebastian Fewster and Grayson Paku you were great Khandallah Stars.

I wish you all a safe, restful and sunshine-filled break to refresh and recharge. Meri Kirihimete in whatever way you celebrate this time of year. I look forward to seeing you all back in 2023.