This is our last newsletter for the year.

We have come to the end of another successful year at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo. When the year started we did not expect to go into lockdown after a few short weeks into the year. We certainly didn't know what COVID, bubble school, team of 5 million and other terms were. We are quick learners though!!

I would like to thank and commend our staff over this time. Most of them had to balance family, their own children's schooling as well as planning and meeting on zoom each day. For us it was a team effort including learning support and the admin staff and we learned that there are a lot of hidden talents on our staff. The daily wellbeing checks meant that we were able to monitor in the background, lending support where and when it was needed. So thank you Somerfield Staff, our community is blessed to have you!

Amongst the new world order we still were able to refurbish eight spaces, move eight spaces and redevelop our playgrounds to our tamariki's vision! Go Somerfield!

Tomorrow is an important assembly where we celebrate our Term 4 SMART Somerfield Kids for each Space and we acknowledge all the children who help our school in some way. Service is an important attribute to celebrate because not everything we do is done for money. It's good to have our tamariki understand the importance of servicing their school and their community. We want to acknowledge their contributions and welcome you to join us in our celebration.

After the assembly your child will be giving you an envelope with a lot of End and Beginning of the Year information. Some children will also have written reports. These are only going to those who filled in the survey in the middle of the year. For the rest of you, your child's report will be on the school APP after 3pm. Some children will have a special principal's award. These children have been nominated as they have consistently tried throughout the year to show their SMARTs.

See a separate article for the 2021 teaching staff list.

Next week is a busy one for us with class trips and activities.

Monday - Mokihi Spencer Park and Kopapa Halswell Pool

Tuesday - Year 5 tent day at school and Year 6 Omaka Trip.

I'd like to thank the PTA for supplying our tamariki with treats for their trips/activities.

Wednesday next week is our Parent Helpers morning tea in the staffroom. If you have supported us in any shape or form please join us at 10:30am for a cuppa and a chat. We look forward to seeing you.

Next Thursday at 11am is our final assembly. This assembly acknowledges the overall SMART Kid for the year for each space. These tamariki are chosen by their teachers. The other awards are - The Hooft Academic Award, Citizenship Award, Joe Walker Resilience Award, Arts, Sport and Maori Leadership Awards. As part of this assembly we will farewell our Year 6's as well as Vicki Fahey. Please let us know if your child is not returning so we can farewell them as well.

SCHOOL CLOSES AT 12:30 on Thursday 17 December after the assembly

I'd like to thank you all for your support over this unusual year. We did learn a lot. Of all the take aways the biggest for me was the amazing independence of our tamariki during Alert Level 2.

I'd like to thank our Board of Trustees. Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo is supported by a board who put the tamariki at the centre of their work and work with our school community and staff to help provide the best we can with the resources we have. Thank you Stephanie Muller, Craig Weston, Marty Needham, Lucy Green, Nalini Meyer, Mark Callaghan and Rowan Lockton for your work this year. As governors they also had challenging times!

In the middle of the year, after returning to Alert Level 2 we were able to elect a new PTA. PTA's across NZ have not been able to do what they normally do and I have to thank Ben Kendrew and his team for taking a very sensible approach to their role, while we live in the COVID world and its impact on whanau.

A special thank you to our leadership team, two were new to their roles and it was a bit of a baptism by fire (or COVID). Thank you to Rowan Lockton, who with her team of learning support, Mana Ake and social workers did an outstanding job supporting tamariki and Whanau. Kellie Englefield who had a big job this year ensuring that our new reporting went smoothly. She has worked tirelessly with the developers, whanau focus group, whanau  and teachers to launch our new reporting via the APP. We have decided our providers should be paying Kellie as she has almost become a developer herself!! Also thanks to Gillian Cree and Dave Harrison who stepped into Acting Ropu Leaders roles. They had a busier year than anticipated!  Dave also took on the big role of sport.  Gillian will continue as Acting Ropu Leader in 2021 while Karen Haines goes to Oaklands School as acting DP for the year. Congratulations to Karen who received her Master in Education with Distinction - well done, a great achievement!

Once again a huge thank you to the fantastic staff at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo including teachers, learning support staff, office and  library staff. They work very hard to ensure that your tamariki are at the very centre of all of our decisions. A special thank you to Greg , our caretaker who worked hard with the playground developers while work was carried on the new playgrounds and has since continued to ensure we have a lovely physical environment.

Holiday Security

It is important that you encourage your children to play safely and appropriately at school during the holidays. If you see anything un-towards contact Triton 3666666 or contact the police.

Merry Christmas and Safe New Year. We look forward to seeing you back in February 2021 (please check starting date).