Generally Speaking

Here we are in Week Eleven of a twelve week term unlike any we have experienced before. During these twelve weeks, we have experienced varying levels of Covid lockdown, distance learning, partial return to school and now a full return to face to face teaching. All of this has had quite an impact on all of us as a community and we need to keep looking after each other.  When we work together our tamariki thrive.

Thank you for the support you have shown Māpua School in a variety of ways - FOMS (Friends of  Māpua School) morning tea for staff, supporting distance learning, contributing to information sharing through reports, coaching sports teams, being on the BOT, making leaves for the Matariki Thankfulness Tree etc etc. We are looking forward to more opportunities next term to work collaboratively with you. 

This week and next, Nikki Fitzgerald will be working with classes on developing personal relaxation techniques.  Our tamariki can't help but be aware of the stress in the world at the moment, and it is timely to help them develop skills to deal with this.  Thanks to FOMS funding this initiative.  Nikki will work with each class twice  during the end of this term and early next term.

Karaka are hosting our first school assembly for quite some time on Friday.  It will be great to have our parent community here at school to share in some of the learning that has been happening.  We have missed these opportunities to share with you. The assembly will start at 2pm.

Our leadership team and kahui ako teachers worked together this week with principals and leaders from across the kahui to decide on future foci for our work as a group.  Considerable work has been done on analysing all schools strategic plans and drawing together common themes.  Three themes were highlighted as being consistent across all 14 schools. They are:  Effective Teaching, Localised Curriculum and Cohesive Pathways.  We are excited to be working collaboratively with other schools on strengthening our strategic goals to benefit our tamariki.

Our Creatives in Schools project is looking amazing!  We are so lucky to be working with Gordon Toi on this.  You have probably noticed the garden at the front of the bus bay has been cleared. Sometime soon this space will be filled with the stunning pou whenua our tamariki are creating with Gordon.  A huge thanks to everyone who has jumped in and helped with this project - it is a true team effort.

Our "Matariki Thankfulness Tree" will be installed by the end of the term.  Classes have all created a disc to show what they are thankful for and many whānau have taken the opportunity to contribute by decorating a leaf for the tree. Thanks to Whaea, Bridget D and Amber for helping us find a way to celebrate Matariki.  

Take care, hold tight until the end of the term, keep being kind and enjoy the break when it comes!

Ngā mihi arohanui

Sharon Prestidge

Deputy Principal