Welcoming new students

Kia ora e te whānau,

This week began with a warm Mihi Whakatau, extending a heartfelt welcome to 41 students and four teachers from Shanghai, China. It was a joyous occasion where we also celebrated the arrival of several students who recently joined Oxford Area School, both from overseas and within our own beautiful country. We wanted to make sure they felt acknowledged and embraced by our school community. We believe in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone. So, a big friendly hello to our new friends! We're excited to embark on this journey together and create many memories. Welcome to Oxford Area School!

Our kapa haka group, under the tutelage of Mr Richard Hines and Matua Rihari, performed traditional waiata and haka with mana, great honour and prestige. We are grateful for their wonderful performance.

In response to our warm welcome, the students absolutely blew us away with their incredible speeches, a heartfelt rendition of their school song, and a breathtaking solo performance by one of the talented 10-year-old students. We were truly impressed beyond words.

We are delighted to have one of the largest groups of international students, comprising of 41 students. This diverse gathering of students has spent the week immersed in classes ranging from Year 5 to 10, fostering a precious exchange of cultures. These experiences are invaluable as our students not only have the opportunity to learn about new cultures, but also share their own unique backgrounds. Through this process, they are able to embrace the concepts of language, identity, and culture in a truly enriching way.

Finally, this week we said goodbye to Miss Ella Wallace (teacher of Performing Arts) as she takes up a new role at Aidenfield Christian School, and we welcomed Mr Kieran Rae (Head of Physical Education and Health) to the team.

Kia pai te mutuka wiki | have a good weekend,

Mike Hart
Tumuaki | Principal
Te Kura o te Poho Rakahua
Oxford Area School