Kia tau ngā manaakitanga, o te tau kua pahure, me te tau e tū mai nei. He mihi, he mihi, he mihi. Haumi e, hui e, tāiki e! | Let the blessings flow for the year that has passed and for the year ahead. With gratitude, with appreciation, with thanks. Joined together as one!

I have chosen to start my review of the year with this as for me, there is so much that has happened in 2024 that we can be thankful for and so much that we can look forward to in 2025.

As we wrap up the year, it's a perfect time to reflect on the significant progress and achievements we've made across Ko Taku Reo in 2024. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of each of you, we've reached important milestones that strengthen our ability to support students, whānau, and staff.

Congratulations to all students on your hard work and achievements this year! You have worked hard, and it has paid off; we are so proud of everything you've accomplished. Keep working towards your goals, and remember to celebrate your successes! Well done!

We know that we are a complex, nationwide school that requires hard work and dedication, coupled with passion, to improve the academic achievement for our Deaf and hard of hearing students.  As a school and staff, we have what it takes and are continuing this mahi. So, thank you to every one of you.

A few highlights from the year to reflect on include:

Launch of Deaf Studies Guidelines

One major achievement was the launch of the Deaf Studies Guidelines in term four. This valuable resource provides staff with tools to support Deaf Studies, marking an important step forward for our educational practices.

School's Implementation Plan

This year saw substantial progress on our School's Implementation Plan, aligning closely with our Strategic Plan to guide our initiatives and ensure we're moving forward in a unified direction.

ERO Evaluation Report

Working closely with the Education Review Office (ERO) on the first Ko Taku Reo evaluation report since our merger has been a collaborative milestone. The reports were released and shared with our staff and parent community. These reports play a pivotal role in guiding the work of a school by providing an external, independent evaluation of its strengths, areas for improvement, and overall performance. The school will be using the ERO reports to shape and guide its work, which will support us in creating a responsive, effective learning environment that meets the needs of students and prepares them for future success.

Enrolled School Philosophy Framework

Throughout the year, we've advanced the Enrolled School Philosophy Framework, incorporating valuable feedback from parents. This framework continues to evolve, shaping a shared understanding of our educational values and goals.

Executive Principal recruitment and establishment of a board

We have continued to work with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to shape the executive principal role. The complexities of this role, the breadth of our educational services, and our unique structure have meant that the process has taken time. We will be consulting widely with our stakeholders to ensure the role description and attributes align with the needs of our school. This will then lead to the establishment of a board.

Thank you to our hard-working students and staff, and I wish you all a happy and safe holiday period.

Enjoy reading this year's yearbook.

Noho ora mai,

Mike Rondel

Commissioner – Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand