The All Black loss over the weekend highlighted to me the critical element of team. The Wallabies were a better team and it really showed through. The All Blacks had strong individuals on the day, but as a team did not gel.

At Redwood School we have a quality team of Teachers and Support Staff. Individually they are very hard working, able and keen but together this is magnified many times. They work as a team, support one another as a team and have a clear focus to do the best they can as a team to support our tamariki. The results show in the work of the staff and the learning of our tamariki.

What I also enjoy seeing is that each Redwood School team member is continually aiming to improve and do better for our tamariki through their own learning. An example of this is the many staff who have undertaken sign language training. A number are doing, or have done, night school courses and our sign language Kaiawhina/Teacher Aide is running sign language learning groups. Dozens of tamariki are also learning sign. It certainly shows through that the Te Kura o te Rakau Whero team is a healthy one and aim to grow in their knowledge and learning.

Also a special thanks to the Board of Trustees as a critical part of the team: Emma Gee (Chairperson), Chris Bealing, Emma Norrish, Scott Fletcher, Sarah Parder, Sarah Caldwell and staff Board member Allyce Muir. Again a great group of people with a real heart for our tamariki and our kura.

Looking after our environment…

There has been much in the news about environment and global climate change. What should we teach our tamariki?

As I mentioned in assembly last Friday, none of us want wildlife to ingest plastics. The havoc that plastic waste causes to sea creatures in particular has been highlighted in the media. So what has that got to do with our community and tamariki? What can we do?

We can start by doing the right thing at home by teaching our tamariki. Plastic rubbish dropped on the ground, blown away by the wind, lands in the storm-water gutter or river, washed out to sea through the river, ingested by wildlife. What can we do? Not drop rubbish around. Model this at home and on trips out. Starting small creates a life-long attitude of consideration for our environment. Recycling is another simple way of showing our tamariki that dumping rubbish is not the best choice. If at all possible, “repurpose” items. Plastic recycled, organic food scraps composted, rubbish in the bin. Simple things making a difference. Simple things you and your tamariki can do.

School production coming up…

Have you ordered your tickets? If you haven’t, don’t miss out… contact the School Office asap!

Tamariki and Staff have been working hard on the latest school production, A Night at the Museum. I have again been impressed by the team effort going into this. Special thanks to Kate Norman and Laura Grant who are co-ordinating the production and Amberley Harding who wrote the original script. Many, many hours of work go into these productions, thanks to all tamariki, staff and parents involved. I’m really looking forward to it!

John Stackhouse

Tumuaki/Principal.