Celebrating One Year as Ko Taku Reo

Tena koutou katoa

This month we celebrate one year since the merger of Kelston and Van Asch Deaf Education Centers into Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand.

In this merge, we have brought together two long standing organisations, their students, their staff, their cultures, systems, and infrastructure to create a new National School. Creating a new organisation takes time to grow and embed but also presents us with a unique opportunity for us to build, create and develop something very special for Deaf Education students and whanau in New Zealand.

To move to the place where we want to be will continue to take time take time and I thank you all for your patience.

Reflecting back now on our first year some of the highlights for me include the wonderful opening ceremony and the presentation of the Korowai of student goals and dreams, which are on display at both the northern and southern campuses. The opening of a new provision in Wellington at the beginning of 2021 and the promise of a new pathway in that region and the joy and excitement I saw in students at the newly opened hub in Invercargill was another highlight as well as a promise of things to come with the beginning of our Beacon School Project in Dunedin and the opportunity to do some things differently with this model.

A particular pointed highlight for me was at the recent Māori Immersion Hui where I had the opportunity to speak with several of our older Outreach students and shared in a discussion about their aspirations for the future and how they thought Ko Taku Reo might be able to help and support their pathway. I felt very excited that we could be part of a significant pathway with these young people in reaching their career goals.

So as we celebrate this milestone I want to thank all our students and families in both your excitement and expectations for change as well as your patience. I would also like to celebrate with and thank all our staff for their hard work and efforts throughout the year which has been a tough one for so many, as we look to continue our journey in the development of our school and services.

Ngā mihi nui