Kia ora koutou katoa. This is the last newsletter of the year, and what a year it has been! While we could never have predicted the challenges that would come our way, we have coped well as a school and our students are happy and settled. I thank you all for your support and encouragement of all we do, and I look forward to seeing most of you return next year. To our Year 6 students, go well, go strong and be the best version of yourself as you go through to your next school.

The 2020 Yearbooks have arrived at school and look amazing! These were paid for in your activity fee and one will be given to the eldest child in each family on Monday. If you have not paid the activity fee, unfortunately, you won’t receive one. Looking through these, it is amazing to see how much we have done this year!

The Term 4 sports teams have concluded their seasons, with the Year 3/4 Flippaball team coming third in their grade. Well done to these players who were coached by Joel Frost and Robbie Tindall, and managed by Kendra Frost. The smiles on their faces in the photo later in this newsletter says it all! Also experiencing sporting success are the Year 5/6 Girls Touch Rugby Team, the Milford Flash. These girls won all their games this season and displayed great teamwork.

There was such a lovely buzz in the school this morning as the students visited their classrooms for next year. The excitement of meeting their new teacher and seeing who was in their class was really special. There are some who understandably are a bit nervous about moving to a new class, but we know from past years that they will settle quite quickly. You will notice a few teachers in different year levels within the school as some move to teach a different year level.

The Orchestra also performed for their parents this morning, and what a talented group they are. A huge thank you to the children for the hours of practice and their commitment to their music, and also to Mrs Eugenie Middleton who leads them. Music at Milford School is the high level it is because of her.

Over the school holidays, there will be some maintenance and improvement work completed in the school. As you already know, the school pool is undergoing some much-needed maintenance. There are also roofing and cladding works being undertaken in Block 1 and Block 2 (Rooms 1-7 and the Junior building), and a sunshade is going in over the junior playground, a huge thanks to the fair committee for this. The school buildings will be washed, and internally all carpet areas are to be thoroughly cleaned.

Please remember that school finishes on Tuesday at midday. Please ensure you collect your child at this time. School reopens for students on Thursday 4 February, with the office reopening on 2 February.

Please take care and have a happy, restful and safe holiday.

Ngā mihi nui

Sue Cattell

Principal