An end-of-year message to you, from Delys.

Kia ora e te whanau,

What a year it has been. Looking back over the past 12 months it feels that 2021 has been a “year of two halves”. As we count down to the final whistle and a well-deserved break, I am glad to have the opportunity to say thank you on behalf of the Board of Trustees to the wonderful people who make Prebbleton School the thriving and happy school that it is.

In February 2021 normal school life resumed in earnest. There were so many events, activities, successes and achievements held during Terms 1 and 2, in addition to all the successful results achieved by the students in the classroom. Students were involved in swimming sports, sailing, Top Team, school camps, EOTC activities, Life Education visits, PCT challenge, Cross Country, Kids Lit Quiz, assemblies, PTA sausage sizzles and Mother’s Day stall to name a few. Term 2 finished with a bang with an excellent senior school Production held in the James Hay theatre.

Term 3 started off with fantastic attendances at learning conferences and a successful PTA school disco. Then all of a sudden the second half commenced. Covid 19 resumed its control of the headlines and we suddenly had to become more responsive and agile, prepare with greater intensity, reorganise events and adapt to some new ways of operating. Such is the strength of our school and community that after a short lockdown our happy, engaged learners returned keen to resume school routines and spend time with their friends. Although some events had to be cancelled, our teachers, staff, parents and children went above and beyond to make events happen – cheering on the Jump Jam teams and Kapa Haka performers while wearing a mask; stand out as memorable moments. We pushed on through to still put points on the board.

To make each of these events happen (especially in the latter half of the year) required considerable effort. There is also a huge amount of mahi that quietly and efficiently gets done on a day to day basis by those involved in areas such as cultural responsiveness, well-being, structured literacy, environment and localised curriculum. The work of the Board of Trustees went on as usual – we studied reports from the principal, the finance, property and health and safety committees, student achievement targets, approved the 2021 charter and budget, continued planning for the new four classroom block, commenced the strategic plan review process and were so very pleased to see everyone enjoy the completed staffroom/administration building.

So thank you to our teaching and support staff, Kim and her leadership and management team, our parents, grandparents and caregivers and of course our students. Farewell to our Year 8 students, you have been an awesome group and you will be missed. To any other students moving to another school in 2022, go well and be very proud of what you have achieved at Prebbleton School.

We wish you, your families and friends a safe and happy Christmas. Let’s look forward with hope to an outstanding year in 2022.

Delys

PS: (Editor's note from Kim) I would like to thank all of our excellent board members for their work and support this year. We are lucky to have a board made up of 7 members who are fully committed to making our school a wonderful place for students and community. They think through all matters with care and stewardship, and are strategic and considerate when making decisions. My thanks to Katie Tullett, Delys Brough, Adam Gard'ner, Steph Broomhall, Simon Thompson and Hamish Crombie. On behalf of the whole school community I would like to thank them all, especially Delys for being an outstanding board chairperson this year.