Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

It’s hard to believe that we are almost at the end of 2020, and what an incredible year it has been. As mentioned in my prizegiving speeches, it has been a year like no other in my teaching career. Covid-19 will no doubt leave a lasting impression on all of our lives.

One of the few constants this year has been God’s faithfulness and our need to trust in Him. It has been a real blessing to be able to read God’s word and be reminded of his promises to us. As we read in Isaiah 12:2

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

Another blessing this year has been how the staff (teaching and support) at Middleton Grange have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support the learning and wellbeing of our students. It is a timely reminder of the Maori proverb:

He aha te mea nui o te ao
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people

Middleton Grange School is about people and community, but unlike the proverb above, we believe the most important thing in the world is to ‘glorify God, and to enjoy him forever’, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says.

In the last few weeks, we have been blessed with wonderful prizegiving’s and Final Assemblies, all of which have honoured your sons and daughters, and especially God.

As Principal, I am delighted with the quality of the new staff we have appointed for 2021 and we look forward to welcoming them in the New Year. It is also with some sadness that we farewell a number of staff who are leaving us at the end of this year due to retirement, maternity leave, gaining positions elsewhere, or because of the impact of Covid-19 on our school and the need to reduce our staffing.

Thank you to all our staff for their contribution to the life of our school and for your faithful service to our school community.

We look forward to 2021 and continue to trust in God’s faithful provision for Middleton Grange School. For those families who have children / young adults leaving this year, please keep in contact with the school, especially as we try to strengthen our Alumni association.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school; financially, practically and through your prayers.

May you have a safe and enjoyable holiday and Christmas/New Year season, but above all, may the Lord bless you and watch over you during this time.

Blessings in Christ

Mike Vannoort

Principal