KERRY'S THOUGHTS

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend and were able to get outside and do fun things with your tamariki. I got to spend the weekend with my whānau riding bikes, swimming and just enjoying each other's company.

The term is really moving fast and we have so much to do before December. There are not a lot of newsletters left for the term and I am very aware my day for leaving is fast approaching. So I would like to start thanking some people at our school who do such amazing work for all of us.

In the time I have been at school I have had two PA's who have looked after me and the school and worked at a very high level to ensure that this big school is managed effectively and everyone is treated with KURA values. The first PA was Christine King and then Jodene Gooch both very effective managers of our school. I want to thank them both for the incredible work they have done for this school and for our community. The face of school to all new whānau and the positive calm way they work in the school office really does set the scene as you walk into our school.Jodene has so much energy in our school and never stops helping all our staff. So I thank Jodene for her work and dedication to all things KURA.  Sitting alongside Jodene is Lisa Campbell who also works at a high level to ensure that everything runs smoothly and our KURA kids are cared for and looked after. I thank Lisa for all the work she does in the school Library, front office and for everything I forget to say thank you for as she just does what is needed to be done. Our brilliant Teacher Aides who work hard to ensure all the tamariki they work with get the best deal and are supported in their learning. Thank you to the team Leah, Sally, Chantelle, Rachel, Shelly I appreciate all you have done for our school this year.

We have got so used to the changes that have to happen because of COVID and the alert levels over the last two years.  We are again seeing this with the Weetbix TRY cancelled and we are also planning for our Year 6 graduation to be filmed as we may not be able to bring whānau on site. These are really strange times but as a school we just do what we need to make sure everyone on this site is safe.

Year 6 students

At this time of the year our Year 6 KURA kids can get emotional about leaving and just knowing that they may be at different schools for 2022 and they are leaving where they have been for 6 years. Keep talking to them about their feelings and we will be doing this at school too. What I do know is within the first term of Intermediate they are settled and doing wonderful things.

If you haven't enrolled your tamariki you need to do so now as Titahi Bay Intermediate will be making classes and they need to know who will be there for 2022.  Pop into the Intermediate office or fill in the form I sent home with each KURA kid.

Trainee teachers from Victoria University
We have had 3 trainees in school and they will finish here next week.  In Room 12 Khaylen Huriwai, Room 13 Taylor Tuffery and in Room 14 Tracey Mills. They have learnt a lot about teaching from our school and we have learnt lots from then. They all leave this section at our school with teaching positions for 2022 and we are so proud of them. We also know they will take some KURA values to their new schools.

Please note my email address will now be principal@titahibay.school.nz, my old one will be closed very soon.

The countdown to my retirement starts today - 30 days of school and I walk into my office on Tuesday morning to this wonderful array of colour.  Love our staff, this is exactly my sort of celebration - KURA all the way.