Kia ora parents and whānau. Today is the last day of term for the year, and what a great year it has been. We have finally had the first full year at school since 2019, and all our planned activities have gone ahead. Thank you to all of you for your support in so many ways whether it has been in-class support, trips, GTT, Waterwise, camps or EOTC. We couldn’t do it without you.

To our very supportive Board of Trustees and our FOMS group, thank you too for the many ways you ensure our students have the best possible opportunities. The playground is being installed as I write this - very exciting for our school.

To our amazing staff, thank you for the many hours spent planning, assessing and thinking about the students and how to meet the needs of each one. To Malcolm Aitken, Danelle Patching, Sue Tanner, Jo Bradburn and Colleen Polkinghorne, thank you for the service you have given to our school and we wish you the very best for whatever the future holds for each of you.

As I leave Milford School, I am so grateful for the gifts, the kindness, the warmth and the many messages that have been shared with me. I had an amazing farewell assembly last Friday, followed by a staff afternoon tea. It was humbling to see the lengths everyone went to to make the day so special for me. I really did feel valued and appreciated. To lead this school for 8.5 years is a long time, but the special nature of this community has made it a job that I look forward to every single day. And to be gifted the beautiful korowai cloak as a symbol of leadership, prestige and honour, was the best gift I could have been given. I will treasure this forever.

Enjoy the holiday season and please keep safe and well.

Arohanui

Sue xx