After 4 weeks of living and learning in our Kawharu spaces, I can honestly say that the staff and students are thoroughly enjoying them. No one has ever said “ I wish we were back in our prefabs”.

Teachers are becoming familiar with the space, power points, heat and light and layout of their place. They are focused on the learning and forming new relationships with their colleagues and new students. The learning stretch is ongoing and I am so very proud of our teachers and support staff. I could not be more thrilled about our progress as a team and the strong Grey Lynn Way; our culture of kindness which we are growing along the way. 

Recently our Year 5 students had a successful week of Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) based at school and around Auckland. Congratulations to the team in Totara; led by Kerry Kok for their organisation and passion.

Running alongside last week was the Year 6 EOTC Camp on Kawau Island. It was a wonderful week of creating learning and collaboration opportunities to lead and be challenged. It was a privilege to spend time with the Year 6 students and the fantastic group of parents who attended. It was a fabulous camp organised by Sandie Corlett with support from Shane and Otalani. Our thanks and congratulations on a successful week. These activities are a point of difference here at Grey Lynn School and ones which we should continue to support as the benefits to our students are significant in their lives.

Congratulations to the newly appointed BOT members in this election. We welcome new board members Philippa Anderson and Richard Yelash. My thanks go to Rachel Stotter and Mandy Rodger for the pivotal governance role they have contributed to our school in their role as BOT members.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” - Ryunosuke Satoro Looking forward to creating a new chapter of Grey Lynn School together.

Nga mihi
Alicia Whata
Principal

Project update for June 2019 from Frequency NZ

The school has been in their new building for the last 6 weeks. During this time Downer have arranged for staff training for the boiler system and there has been a further request for PENZL to train staff with the heating system which will be arranged.

The snag list for the interior has been addressed after hours by Downer and is nearing completion. The project team have reassessed the schools access requirements with several key locks added in to improve how teachers access the building from the carpark. For exterior works and finishes for the new building will be checked by PENZL for any remedial works which Downer will need to complete. We encourage the school to feed back any issues they may be experiencing in the new building, always easier to address now rather than later.

The schools inputs to develop manifestation films with themes reflective of the Grey Lynn area and school community is an on-going activity with PENZL working directly with the school.

We had hoped to gain feedback from the landscaping working party by now to incorporate ideas into the hard landscaping such as the fund raising brick initiative and plantings There are opportunities for the school to undertake planting to top soiled areas available now, to be agreed with the school, otherwise we will seed these areas.

The gym exterior RAB board wrap was complete this week and the gym roof will be going on next week weather permitting. PENZL are working with Downer to ensure the gym floor selection will give the performance and durability that suits the schools use and are currently visiting other schools to investigate various gym floor options. The Downer team are working towards a delivery for the multipurpose space towards the end of this year and are due to confirm this with the issue of a revised programme.

Portacom have been unable to remove the classrooms off the school field as the ground has been too soft for trucks to track over. Portacom are checking any improvements in the firmness of the ground and then will look to remove the 4 remaining classrooms. Expect that the reinstatement of the school field will again be affected by the weather and soft ground as we are in the winter works period. The lower 3 classrooms will be removed during the school holidays as we need to track the units out across the asphalt turning circle and up the driveway, this work is not possible during the school week.

Video Link for time lapse.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hkybavv8do6tu2o/Grey_Lynn%20update%202019%20May.mp4?dl=0