End of Term 1

Kia ora Whānau

It has been a term packed with excitement and new developments around the school. We kicked off the term with a school almost in lockdown. Gates surrounded us with a lot of the areas off-limits. We’ve ended with an amazing new library space and a field that has one of the best bike tracks in Wellington on it. I am so proud of our little Kura, our vision Passion for Learning, Passion for Life, is not something that we try to instil in our students but also in the staff and community.

The 25th of March was an amazing day down at Maungaraki School. The Mayor and Mr Robinson did a fantastic job of opening the bike track and library. The day was so much fun. It was awesome seeing so many people down at school. We had 1500 people through the library. As for how this is operating in the school it is a case of where have all the kids gone. With students playing in all of the different areas and with inside access to the library at break times the students have so much space.

We have launch the next phase of the Hero App and this will be talked about during the learning conversations on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. You will notice that this term we have posted learning around reading, writing and maths. This will be done termly and will give you an idea of how your child is tracking. Over the next two terms, we will open up more of the app. We are excited about this way of sharing learning as it is more immediate rather than waiting for a mid-year report. We will continue to share how students are going in other curriculum areas in term 2 and 4.

We do have some bittersweet news. Trish Cherry has accepted a Deputy Principal role at Epuni School for term 3. Trish is ready for stepping up into this role and we be an amazing asset to Epuni School. We will miss her dearly. She will be stepping back into Room 6 next term as Shane Robinson is back from his sabbatical.

Please don’t forget that the 24th of April is a teacher-only day. Staff will be onsite to become more familiar with the new curriculum which will be launched in 2026. We hope you have an amazing extended holiday with Easter and ANZAC day extending the break at both ends.

I have thoroughly enjoyed looking after the school in Shane’s absence this term and can’t wait to have his smiling face back on deck for term 2.

Nga mihi nui.

Darian Schulz