What a week! National Volunteers Week and Pride Week

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu - National Volunteers Week

Whiria Te Tangata – Weaving the people together

This week we honour the collective energies and mana of volunteers. Communities and schools function most effectively with volunteers. Sports coaches and managers, parent helps, fundraisers, the list goes on. These people give their time, open their hearts and make a difference. This week we acknowledged our parent-teacher association. A group of people committed to driving the goals of the PTA. Thanks to the President Mariska Oakes, Secretary Shara-Jane Sansom, Treasurer Carma Beer, Fundraising Coordinator Anita Stubbs and committee members Michael Matthews, Gemma Regan, Vanessa Burns, Emma McNatty, Rachel Campbell, Tanya Wells, and myself. This group is always looking for new members. The next meeting will be on Wednesday the 24th July at 7.30pm in the boardroom. Another group of people is our Observatory committee, running open evenings throughout the winter  months. In the cold of winter at night these brave volunteers guide people from near and afar through the wonders of the night sky. The committee comprises of the chair Raul, Susi, Annabel, Erik, Stu, Andrew and myself. This team is also supported by a number of volunteers including Essi, Sofia, Sasha, David, Donne, and Steve. It is also a time to remember the voluntary work of Bevon Dunlop who has been regularly spending time helping with our school library since 2008. Finally, I would like to acknowledge all the volunteers that help out at school including those who put their hands up to go on school camps and trips and those who take sports teams. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

Schools’ Pride Week Aotearoa

Celebrating Pride in every school | Whakanuia te uenuku ki ia kura

This week we also celebrate Pride Week. This is an important way for us to affirm that rainbow students, staff and whānau belong. This week takes a strengths-based approach to combating rainbow-focused school bullying and discrimination. Rainbow people are a normal part of society. That is why it is so important for rainbow tamariki and rangatahi (or those with rainbow parents and whānau) to see themselves reflected at school – so they know they are OK, and can thrive, shine and grow freely. In assembly this week we learnt that differences and diversity isn’t just important but it is essential. The kiwaha Poho Kererū is a figurative expression referring to the puffed up plumage of the kererū. The essentance of this is to be ‘full of pride’.

Mānawatia a Matariki - Celebrating Matariki

Next week we Nationally recognise Matariki with a public holiday on Friday the 28th of June. Matariki is a great time to come together in peace and celebration, to share stories. We encourage whānau | families if they can to help young people pick up the stories from their elders to keep them alive.

Finally, we have recently accepted the resignation of English and Social Sciences teacher Abbey Davison. Abbey finishes at the end of this term and we thank her for the time she has spent with us and her expertise in the English department. We have completed the recruitment process and can announce that we have appointed Dr Richard Viskovic, from Shirley Boys High School who will be starting early next term.

Noho ora mai rā, nā

Mike Hart

Tumuaki | Principal

Te Kura o Te Poho Rakahua
Oxford Area School.