Kia ora koutou whānau,

Wow, this has been an eventful year for students and staff who are part of our Outreach School services.

With Covid years behind us, most Deaf and hard of hearing students nationwide have returned to school and have resumed a sense of routine and normality! We note that some students choose to access their education through their local school in combination with Te Kura (Correspondence School). We recognise the need for the customisation of student programmes, and we can work with students in a variety of different contexts.

This year, I've had the opportunity to observe students and their learning in a significant number of schools across Aotearoa.

It's heartening to witness student engagement and progress at your local school and the multiple opportunities for inclusion every day. Every week, students have a sense of achievement - be it independently reading a book at a new reading level, improvements across the curriculum or being part of the school sports team, drama club or similar. If your child receives direct service, their Individual Educational Plan (IEP) needs to reflect progress with what priorities you and your child decide are important to you at that time. We promote the development of student voice and agency with their learning.

We are excited about the value that our new Deaf Studies curriuclum will add to your child's educational experience. It's essential that Deaf and hard of hearing students have access to Deaf knowledge, history, culture, community, language and identities to empower them on their journey towards Deaf adulthood.

All the best for a happy and safe holiday season. Enjoy your children while you have them at home!