Welcome
Welcome back to the 2023 school year. I hope you all had an enjoyable time over Christmas and New Year. 
We welcome a number of new staff due to growth across the school as well as new families that have arrived in our community.
The high temperatures have added challenges to the start of the year but with all our learning spaces having air conditioning it has made the start to the year a 'cool' experience. 

Mihi Whakatau
Our formal welcome to school was one of our biggest in my time with 108 new learners welcomed at our termly Mihi Whakatau. It was awesome to see so many family members in attendance. 
A big thank you to Tylor McIntyre (New Staff) for speaking on behalf of the manuhiri.

Onsite
With the rules and expectations changing so often in the last few years due to Covid I have had a few questions around coming on site. 
Before and after school you are more than welcome to come onsite to drop off or collect your child. 
If you are picking up your child during the day we ask that you come to the office. The office will call down and your child will arrive shortly after. 

Waitangi
In January I was fortunate to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands as part of my role on the New Zealand Principals' Federation. It was my first visit to Waitangi and a worthwhile experience listening to the history and better understanding Aotearoa's history. 

If you find an opportunity to visit I would highly recommend going. 

New Whānau
The senior leadership team have been busy with enrolment meetings as new families move into our community. They are from all over New Zealand and the world. 
With the school being one of the first buildings built in the community I enjoy telling new families that all of us were new relatively recently and therefore our community is incredibly understanding, welcoming and empathetic to the challenges of relocation. 
I truely appreciate how our community welcomes everyone with open arms. 

Home - School Partnership
As a school we want to work with you and your child to ensure they are reaching their potential. This communication is vital in the educational success of the learner and we encourage you to make contact with the teacher if you have any questions. 
We also appreciate that people work different hours, so please know that you can come into school, send an email or phone the office. 

Feedback
If you wish to make contact with myself as the principal please feel free to do so via the office or via email - principal@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz. 

Ngā Mihi

Blair Dravitski
Tumuaki | Principal
Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School