From the tumuaki | principal 2023 Term 1, Week 10

Kia ora tātou (hello to all of us)

We had a great response to our surveys on cellphone use. We’ll consider the feedback over the Easter break and come up with a proposal early next term.

It was a real pleasure to congratulate our students who had earned Merit and Excellence endorsements in last year’s NCEA at a special Colours Assembly this week. The depth of learning these students have shown is a credit to them, their families and their teachers.

Our senior Drama students put on a special live-to-the-public performance at the Christchurch Museum during its renovation this week. I’m sure it was as dramatic as it sounds and thanks to Mr Steven Henderson for making it happen.

Our thanks to Steven too for his inspiring cover for our permanent Drama teacher, Mrs Andie Hanson, who returns from parental leave next term. Our new Deputy Principal, Mr Jared Peacock, can’t start with us until Term 3 so Mr Shawn Gough and Mr Nathan Sandes will support the senior leadership team next term. This is going to mean some temporary class changes and we are just waiting to confirm who will be teaching each class before contacting home. We have a very good base of teachers to draw from so I am confident that we can manage with minimal disruption.

Speaking of disruption, I want to thank DP Ms Nicola Turner for her hard mahi with relief this term. The ongoing PPTA strikes add to the usual challenges of sickness and staff leave for other reasons, so Nic has worked many extra hours to keep us running as smoothly as possible.

At this stage, the PPTA are increasing their strike action in Term 2 with the first full day being Tue 9 May (as well as blocking cover for colleagues and refusing to attend school functions after 4.30pm). We will keep you posted as we try our best to provide a stable education for our students.

On the first weekend back after the holiday, we’re holding a te reo and tikanga Māori wānanga (learning experience) for whānau Māori and anyone else who wants to learn and engage with te ao Māori in this way. Invitations went out by email but you can also register by clicking here.

We held an evening to recognise our wonderful students from Japan and Thailand who return home at the end of this term, and to thank their amazing host families.

Huge congratulations to our Dressage team for becoming the Canterbury Secondary Schools Dressage Champions. The girls were well supported by parents and Ms Megan Evans. We have a very young team and this is a remarkable success. 

Best wishes to our adventure racing teams who are heading to Kaikoūra in the holidays.

Have a relaxing and fulfilling break. Mauri ora ki a koutou (wishing you all get to “fill your cup”)

Andy England

Key dates:

See https://darfield.school.nz/calendar/

Monday 24 April: staff only day (school closed for instruction for staff learning)

Tuesday 25 April: ANZAC day

Wednesday 26 April: first day of term 2 for students