It sure has been lovely to be able to see everybody's smiling faces again in the last two weeks! Although mask wearing was not fun, I am extremely grateful for all of your support throughout the year of protocols to keep our staff and tamariki well.

Our Staff only Day last Monday was fantastic!  We were officially presented with the Cultural Narrative  "He Kāwai Kōrero" written for us by Ngati Kuia. This document shares the whakapapa (history and connections), tipuna (ancestors) and pūrākau (explanatory narratives) of Ngati Kuia and this rohe  (region) with our school. It gives us vital information for when we are developing a localised curriculum and we are so excited to be sharing this journey with Ngati Kuia.

Our FOMS team met last week and one of the items on the agenda was the major fundraising event planned for next term.  FOMS have agreed to coordinate a colour run, through which we have the capacity to make a significant amount of money to support the building of a new swimming pool.  We are close to sign off for base funding for this project to come through from the Ministry of Education but if we are to guarantee our ability to complete the project to the standard we want for our tamariki, it will require everyones support of fundraising. So - I thank FOMS and I thank you in advance for your support of the colour run and our tamariki will thank you by enjoying learning to swim in a brand new swimming pool! 

With two weeks to go until the end of Term 3, it can be a time of the year when everyone's wheels get a bit wobbly.  It is a time when we need to look after each other and the basics of this remain the same as they always are: take a breath before responding, understand there is always more than one perspective, remember we all share the common goal of happy, thriving children and be kind to each other. 

Take care everyone.

Ngā  mihi aroha

Sharon Prestidge

Principal

Māpua School