Kia ora koutou,

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi -
With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.

I have started this final whānau newsletter for 2023 with this whakataukī as it refers to community, collaboration and a strengths-based approach. It acknowledges that everybody has something to offer, a piece of the puzzle, and we can all flourish by working together. So, with our school, we all have a part to play in ensuring our students and staff continue to excel.

As we come to the end of 2023, it is important to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students with the ongoing commitment and support from our staff, and this newsletter highlights these. Please take the time to read and enjoy the articles.

Reflecting on the term, I'm reminded how busy we have been setting Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand up for a positive start to 2024. With the departure of the Director of Teaching and Learning, we have created two fixed-term seconded roles that fill a project need to bring the school to a point of operational depth sufficient to support a new Executive leader. Ginny Neal accepted the fixed-term role of Director of Education Services (Teaching and Learning). Kelly Stanley will pick up Ginny's Head of Curriculum responsibilities during this time, and Sarah de Heer has been seconded to Senior Leader Planning and Engagement (Teaching and Learning). Krista Clifford will fulfil Sarah's Head of Early Years responsibilities, and Susan Swolfs will take up the Kelston Early Childhood Centre management role. Having such knowledgeable and experienced leaders assist and pick up the challenges of building a compliant and well-functioning school is a great pleasure.

This term has also seen us continue with the new reporting model alongside the Education Review Office (ERO). The shift to the new approach to evaluation, Te Ara Huarau, supports a school's improvement over time. The key changes include working with Ko Taku Reo in an ongoing way rather than as a one-off event and working in partnership with us to support equitable and excellent outcomes for all our Deaf and Hard of Hearing learners. All schools, including ours, will be on a three-year evaluation cycle.

Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand, like every school in Aotearoa, New Zealand, must refresh our strategic plan by March 2024 to meet new government regulations. As part of this process, we have begun consultation with our community. As a national school, we are uniquely positioned and need time to consult authentically and purposefully to ensure that all voices are heard. First, we asked representatives from various groups associated with our school to participate in focus groups. Our wider parent community, students and staff were invited to complete a short survey. This will allow us to create the initial version of our strategic plan (under the new requirements), guiding us in our work for the next two years. In 2024, we will consult more widely for the next iteration of the strategic plan, which will guide our work for the following three years. Consultation with and reporting back to our community will be ongoing. 

The prizegiving ceremonies for 2023 were a humbling experience. The technological magic that allowed the various campuses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to connect in real-time was top-notch. The student presenters in each area did themselves proud! It's never easy being a presenter, but the combination of NZSL, English and Te Reo Māori takes it to a whole new level! It was truly a heartwarming moment. The school leavers' presentations also demonstrated the difference that Ko Taku Reo has made, not just in their educational achievements but also in their identity and sense of who they are.

2024 will be an exciting and busy year for Ko Taku Reo, but for now, Noho ora mai - stay well, look after yourselves, and enjoy the holiday break.

Dr Denise Powell
Executive Principal (Acting)