Term 3 - Welcome
Welcome back to all those returning to Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School and a warm welcome to whānau who are new to our school and community.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break and that you spent it with people who make you smile.

Whānau Conferences
We are looking forward to seeing you next week as part of our whānau conferences.
As a school we place important value on the partnership between home and school and these conferences provide opportunities to show your child that we are united in driving our vision of the 'best of you, as you'.

There is still time to book if you have not already done so through the link
I am available during whānau conferences, so please don't hesitate to make contact should you wish to talk further.

New Staff
We are delighted to welcome 5 new teachers who start this term.

Emma Bryce & Jana Munro (returning to LWG) are both working in the library space where they have already welcomed 15 new learners who started this week.

Melissa Aarsen is an experienced teacher who has joined our school from Whangarei Primary School and will work across the school as a release teacher.
Miko Franzmayr is also an experienced teacher who has joined our staff. He is familiar to many of our learners as he has been a regular reliever and will be working across the school as a release teacher.

We also welcomed back Chantelle Naitoro who started a new Year 4 class at the very end of last term as our new building opened earlier than expected.

Olympics
I'm a huge fan of the Olympics and I'm excited to see it start in Paris very soon. The wide range of sports, the dedication of athletes to be their best and the stories of sportsmanship I'm sure we will witness throughout the games are some of the reasons I enjoy the global spectacle.

I'm even more excited to see the Olympics being used as the vehicle for learning as part of our curriculum design in term 3.
Our school opening ceremony has taken place today and all learning areas have had a country assigned as part of the 'School Olympics'.
During the term there will be opportunity to display the Olympic Values of 'Excellence, Respect & Friendship' as learners participate in a range of fun activities. We are also looking forward to seeing our own G.R.I.T values on display during this time.

We are also looking forward to a New Zealand Olympian visiting school this term as part of the learning.

Rolleston South School
Over the holidays the Minister of Education confirmed the establishment of Rolleston South School which will be located in the new housing development 'Arbor Green'. This new school will sit between Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School and West Rolleston.
I am in support of this announcement as the education provision needs to be in place to cater for the continued population growth in Rolleston.
I will continue to advocate in the media and with the Ministry of Education to ensure that this is prioritised.

Build Update
New Prefab
We are also very close to having our final prefab completed and this will be used as a space for Busy Bumbles before & after school care. We have appreciated the understanding of both Busy Bumbles and staff who have had to share a space in recent times.

External Toilet Block
Over the holidays our new external toilet block has been completed and this is now open. This facility adds much needed toileting facilities for those who are working in our prefab areas.

COLA
Our covered outdoor learning area has also had navy blue pole pads attached to improve safety. We appreciate Hughes Development & Southbase Construction who assisted in purchasing these pads.

Staffing 2025
We currently have a deputy principal position advertised to start in 2025.
I'm really fortunate that both Troy Landrebe & Sarsha Wightman are both staying and this position will add an additional deputy principal to the senior leadership team.

Parent Feedback
If you wish to discuss any matters relating to the school then please feel free to send me an email or if you wish to meet with me, make contact with the office to set up a time.
If you have questions, queries, comments or compliments I am happy to listen.

Ngā mihi

Blair Dravitski
Tumuaki | Principal
Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School
principal@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz