This week I returned from leave in which Tony and I travelled to England to see his parents. We enjoyed touring around his home town of Chichester, West Sussex and even managed to get up to Liverpool for the Liverpool v Tottenham game. Thanks to Mrs Amanda Clarkson who was Acting Principal and to Mrs Megan Murray and Miss Anna van der Voort who supported her in my absence, along with all of our amazing team.

This week we have farewelled our eight Year 5/6 whānau groups off to Woodend Camp. It has been so lovely for them to have this experience which was cancelled in 2022 due to covid. Massive thanks to Miss Laura Finn {Team Leader} for her organisation and to all of the staff for their efforts. Big thanks also to our amazing parent helpers whom we could not do these events without: Daryl Savea, Megan Hensley, Suzi O'Donohue, Emily Breakwell, Rachael Woodward, Steve Dawson, Kane Tamou, Blair Croucher, Andy Hill, Alan Whitmore, Rob Henderson, Nicola Thurston, Kerry Barrow, Brad Hunter, Monique Gordon, Pip Chapman, Natasha Muff, Anneke Goodman, Dale Clark, Marijke Etwell [Camp 1], and Dan Sullivan, Tim Spencer, Rachel Ruesink, Mark Walcot-Wood, Paul Hadley, Hayley Seddon, Phil Donnelly, Jamee White, Adel Pheasant, Donna Taylor, Jade Pearce, Nicholas Ching, Jamie Murray, Rob Hunt, Lawrence Harvey and Willie Watters [Camp 2]. The feedback received from our children has been really positive about camp. We really hope they continue to enjoy the kind of experiences they have on camp when they return home.... e.g playing outside instead of jumping onto devices.

Each term our whare leaders organise mufti days in which we support different charities through gold coin donations. Check out the wall in our library to see some of the many causes we have supported over the past seven years. We usually choose two per term but this term we have three! Tomorrow we are supporting the Salvation Army who do a great job locally and nationally of supporting people in need, next week we will be supporting pink shirt day and mental health awareness and later in the term we will host a leukaemia and blood fundraiser in support of one of our junior learners - more details to come. Thank you for your support with these important manaakitanga fundraisers which teach our learners to be grateful for what we have and to give back to others in need.

Thank you to the parents who were able to attend the GROW [PTA] meeting on Monday night. Thanks also to Sara Mitchell for chairing and leading this group, and even making the meetings accessible on-line. At the next meeting we will hold, the AGM and the School Board will fund wine and cheese. All are welcome.

Ngā mihi

Sylvia