Kia ora whānau. It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the school year. Thinking back on the year so far I can reflect on the steep curve of new and challenging learning I have worked through in 2023. I appreciate how lucky I am to get the opportunity to do this mahi and work in such a stimulating environment. It is timely to think about the new and challenging learning that our ākonga have faced over the year and for us to be very proud of their achievements.

November has been a busy month for Athletics with both the North Zone and Otago Athletics Championships taking place.  Congratulations to everyone that qualified for the North Zone Athletics and also to those who qualified and competed at the Otago Athletics Champs. Special mention to those who were placed in their year group final at the champs. We even had a number of tamariki that won their event. Mason Fowler won the U11 shotput and discus, Charlotte Adamson won the U11 Shot put, Sloane Smith won the U10 Long Jump, Fleur Giudicelli won the U10 60m Sprint and the U10 girl's relay team were placed 2nd. Tino pai! To put the icing on the cake, Mason Fowler broke the Otago U11 shotput record. Wananei!  A fantastic effort by everyone who attended and tip top organising by Mrs Ollerenshaw! Special thanks to our learning assistant, Paula McGookin, and student teacher, Josh Chisholm, for training our incredible throwers and also to Moxie (Michael) Smith for his work training the relay teams.

A large contingent from our Kapa haka group performed at the Parihaka Community Service at the Flagstaff Church. It was a fabulous morning, enjoyed by all. There was a great turnout of whānau to support the tamariki and I had lots of positive feedback from the audience about how well the children performed. Big thanks to Whaea Sue, Mrs Bonney, Mr Waddell and Mrs Fitzgerald for organising the tamariki and also for giving up their Sunday to support the event.

Parking around schools, particularly around 3pm is an ongoing issue. It is no different at Wakari School. Please consider the safety of tamariki when you are parking. Are the few extra minutes that you may save really important when you consider that your actions may injure a child? Parking on yellow lines, across driveways,  or on grass verges where children could be walking behind your car as you are reversing, could cost the life of a child. I implore parents to think of the greater good and keep our tamariki safe.

We have a new teacher, Mrs Helen Spain, joining the middle syndicate for 2024. Mrs Spain has worked at Wakari School previously doing day relieving. We welcome Mrs Spain back to Wakari and look forward to working with her.

Once again, if I can be of assistance with any matter, feel free to contact me.

Ngā mihi

Stacey Gribben