Another warm welcome back to the 2021 year! 

We welcomed our new kaiako and new whānau with a pōwhiri last week at the marae in an auspicious occasion for our kura. 

I was so proud to see our tamariki, staff and whānau sitting in Mahaanui 2 as I bought the new whānau into the whare. A very humbling experience for me as this is the first time I remember our year starting at the marae together with our iwi kainga. Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou o Ngāi Tūāhuriri! 

Our new kaiako, Matua Toi and Whaea Carla have settled well and are loving their class and their new team of colleagues. Nannie Liz Crofts has also returned from her holiday in Mahia as a kaiāwhina in Whitireia supporting our tamariki and kaiako in Te Reo Māori. Tō mātou waimarie! 

You will have seen Nush and Bex here supporting in some of our classes working in their kaiāwhina roles. Tau kē korua! 

Our Year 5-8 tamariki have already been out of the kura at a Beach Safety Day organised by the lovely Crisanna. Hopefully our tamariki are able to get out and about lots this year. 

Its wonderful to see Te Reo Māori classes starting back this year both at the kura and at the marae depending on what class you can make. The marae classes start back on February 17th at 6pm. Go along e hoa mā and learn our beautiful language! 

A date and time for the classes at kura will be available within the next few days. Watch this space. 

We had our first Board of Trustees meeting of the year this week and Rebecca Stevenson has been elected again as our Chair. I have really enjoyed working alongside our board and look forward to another year of working with Rebecca and team. Please check our website for a list of our Board of Trustees members. 

It has been great catching up with many of you over the past few days. It's amazing how many of our tamariki have changed over the holiday break. Lots of taller young people around! 

Take care and have an awesome rest of the week. 

Mel x