I never imagined that when I arrived at Papanui Primary in 2002 that I'd be here 21 years later.

The school has been transformed over the past 21 years - PPS v.2023 it is very different from PPS v.2002.  This has been through the combined commitment and efforts of a lot of people over time - staff, trustees, PTA, whānau and tamariki - and I am proud to have been a part of that.

Change is a constant in education and I believe that the school is well placed to meet whatever lies ahead.  I wish the new principal and staff all the very best for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

To the children and their whānau - go well ... be kind and always do your personal best.

Papanui Primary will always hold special memories for me.

I'd like to acknowledge and thank Kathleen and my family for their aroha and support over the years.  We are looking forward to spending more time with our family and exploring New Zealand - there are quite a few places in the South Island we have yet to visit.

Kia kaha te menemene - keep smiling

Paul

P.S.

The next few paragraphs comes with a warning 🤪. These are my personal thoughts about schools in general so read at your peril.

I have been a teacher, deputy principal and principal. I started teaching in 1980 in Kaikohe, and subsequently worked in schools in Taupō, Ōtaki, Duvauchelle and Christchurch.  I am also a father and grandfather.  So with this experience and training I'm sharing my thoughts on education, especially as we head into another election cycle;

• Parents are children's first and most important teachers.
• Parents, families and whānau in partnership with school have the biggest influence and effect on children's learning.
• Society has changed hugely and those changes have had a massive influence on schools and schooling as well as families.
• Schools are under-resourced.  Smaller classes and a teacher aide in each class will have more impact than a re-write of the curriculum or changing an already full curriculum.
• Special Education support and funding is woefully inadequate.
• Politicians (all parties), and their populous policies created for catching votes in a 3 year election mean NZ lacks leadership and vision in education.
• We all need to think about - education, learning and schooling.  They're not the same thing and in the absence of leadership and vision there needs to be a national conversation led by the sector not the politicians and media.
• And finally ... schools are under-resourced!