A genuinely awesome start to 2021, Wakari School looks forward with excitement.

Welcome to a new year, one that brings plenty of enthusiasm from our Board, staff and students. We have had an excellent start with students returning noticeably calmer and well-rested after the break. Strong relationships between Home and School are vital for the success of our tamariki. Please actively encourage your child to communicate with you about their day, get them off devices and get them out and about enjoying what our lovely city has to offer. 

As a staff, we began our year with a fabulous session from Pip Dick around Digital Art. I could see many of our teachers inspired to alter pre-planned ideas and include what they had learnt into classroom activities. What great role models for our students. I thank the staff for the preparation to welcome back students last week and get into the beginning of the year activities with a vengeance. 

This year we continue with our Project Based Learning across the school. We have six of our staff undertaking professional learning on a 3-day Zoom conference in the last week of March. This is the PBL 201, all of our staff have completed the PBL 101 and we look forward to deepening our knowledge around this.

This year we have three final year University of Otago College of Education students. They are based in Rooms 4, 10 and 11. As well as this we also have four Occupational Therapy students that are completing the final component of their 3-year degree. These students will be with us for the majority of this term beginning on the 17th of February. They will be based in Rooms 2, 3, 12 and 13. 

This term we also will welcome back to school Sue Mepham. Some of you may already know Sue in her role as either a former parent of Wakari or as a music teacher at the local Intermediate. We have been lucky enough to have Sue come on board to lead the performance side of our kapahaka group and some Te Reo teaching. This is very exciting for us and we look forward to a long relationship with Sue.  

Your contributions, as parents or friends of the school, will continue to be very important to the success of Wakari. This week we have over 20 of our Year 6 cohort parents down at Camp Columba assisting with our camp. We will need your support across a range of excursions, sports teams and hands-on activities at school. Feel free to see your child's teacher on how you can provide such support. Thanks in advance for your time and commitment. 

The is a learning place full of opportunities for children, we want your child to be challenged, to give things a go and to make the most of everything that comes across their desks. 

I look forward to working with you and your whanau across the upcoming academic year. If I can be of assistance, please do pop in to see me.

Kind regards

Chris