Ramadan Mubarak! As we enter this special time of Ramadan, I’d like to acknowledge and extend warm wishes to our whānau observing this time of reflection, prayer, and community.

Kia ora parents and whānau,

What a week! Having been appointed Principal of our school, I would like to take a moment to thank our School Board, our community, and - most importantly - our staff and learners for the warmth, encouragement, and support I’ve received this week. It has been an exciting and humbling week, and I am incredibly grateful. We are so fortunate to have an amazing school, and incredible, talented and dedicated staff. I feel privileged to continue leading our community on this journey. The belief you have shown in our shared vision is both affirming and motivating.

As always, if you have questions, or want to chat about anything big, or small happening in our school, you are always welcome to email me, or pop into the office for a chat jwheaton@upperharbour.school.nz

Cultural Week, next week!

Next week, we are excited to launch our Cultural Week. Throughout the week, tamariki will explore and share aspects of different cultures, and we warmly invite families to send along artefacts or items from home that represent your culture (nothing too delicate or valuable, please!). We will wrap up the week with a Cultural Parade on Friday 21st, at 9am on the school courts - whānau are welcome to join us for this special celebration.

This special week has grown from the feedback and ideas shared at our whānau hui last year, alongside the wonderful work of our student cultural leadership team who wanted to ensure we had a chance to represent more of the cultures that make up our school whānau. We are fortunate to have such rich cultural diversity at UHPS, and we are proud to acknowledge and celebrate the many cultures that make up our community. By listening to the voices of our students and whānau, and embracing the diversity that strengthens our kura, we are creating opportunities for our learners to celebrate who they are, learn from one another, and build meaningful connections.

Finally, another reminder that as we navigate ongoing curriculum changes, we remain committed to supporting and upskilling our teachers so they can continue to be the best they can be for your children. Part of this professional learning includes our upcoming Teacher Only Day on Friday 11th April. Please note that school will be closed on this day.

I look forward to catching up with many of you around the school - whether it's at drop-off, pick-up, or during one of our upcoming events. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the school calendar for what’s coming up. Thank you once again for your ongoing support. Together, we will continue to grow our connected and creative community, inspiring courageous learners.