Last night we had several finalists in the local Digi Awards. The photo above shows some of our learners who made the final three out of four hundred entries. We also have some finalists in the MADE awards in Tauranga on Friday. Congratulations to everyone on their amazing digital learning.

This week you will receive a link to our BoT's annual school survey. The first five questions relate to our strategic areas of well-being/hauora, learning, culture and diversity, environments and partnerships. Below is a brief summary of some of the things we have achieved under each strategic area this year:

Well-being/hauora - development of our well-being model, consultation with the community around our health long-term planning, life education programme with a visit from Harold, provision of two new hard-courts and a parent constructed 'old-fashioned play area' and access to Mana Ake support.

Learning - provision of a range of innovative teaching and learning programmes across the curriculum, BoT funded TA time for learning support with lots of small intervention programmes in literacy and maths, extension programmes in STEM and writing, CODE club, visual arts club, waiata group, access to music teachers to learn an instrument, Science roadshow, swimming lessons, a range of sporting opportunities, goal setting and learning conferences.

Culture and Diversity - a school-wide celebration in Term One where children and families dressed up and brought food from their own cultures, extension Mandarin classes, ako Te Reo Māori days, Pasifika group, Kapahaka, ESOL support and trips, a new welcoming cultural display as you enter the school via the scooter and bike area.

Environments - studio systems for recycling and waste, collection of food scraps for Pepper and Duncan, a senior enviro group who are planning a native garden in our grounds, continued focus on our safe travel management plan, a health and safety committee who review our site, provision of two new hard-courts and a parent constructed 'old-fashioned play area', improved access and widening of our scooter and bike area.

Partnerships - active staff participation in our cluster/kāhui ako of local schools and learning centres working towards common achievement goals for learners in Selwyn, a range of platforms to communicate with families and whānau including our Hail newsletter [will be fortnightly in 2020], studio updates, our new app, facebook, continuing a strong relationship with our PTA GROW WRPS, active involvement with our local Runanga Te Taumutu, new parent coffee mornings.

We look forward to receiving your feedback.

Have a lovely long weekend

Ngā mihi nui

Sylvia