The 2022 Cross Country Team at the Zone event.

This week I attended the Year 5-8 Zone Cross Country with our group of 22 runners. I was impressed with their dedication, optimism and courageous attitude. They represented our school so well and we are proud of them for doing their best. It was also great to see a number of parents transporting and supporting the children with an event!

Kapahaka is back in action and our new tutor is exciting the tamariki with new songs, actions and tikanga. It is wonderful to hear singing again too. Parents whose children are receiving certificates have been invited back into the school - such a proud moment for a parent when children are recognised in various ways for demonstrating our 5C's. The Garden to Table project also has a number of parents, grandparents and community volunteers empowering tamariki to grow, harvest, prepare, and share great food.

I was humbled to have a call from a local business Smokin' Que Crew this week that raised money for the On the Spot Dairy after the ram-raid. The managers of this did not want the money and suggested that they donate it to our school. We received $1015 that has been put towards our new Gagaball Dodgeball Pit (playground)! This innovation came from 6 Year 6 boys that played this on camp and worked on a comprehensive plan that I could not turn down! Thanks to Hamish Ritchie for his support in helping build this!

We are certainly not out of the COVID-woods yet but I feel optimistic that we are starting to regain some of the connection we have been missing for such a long time.

We look forward to seeing more of you in the future.