This is our final newsletter for this year and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of our school and the well-being of our 687 learners and 54 staff.

Nahau te rourou

naku te rourou 

ka ora ai te manuhiri 

is a beautiful whakatauki that says 'With your basket of knowledge and my basket of knowledge the people will prosper,' similar to this is 'it takes a village to raise a child.' Please feel welcome to come along to our BoT funded morning tea on Wednesday from 1015am in the office area, to thank all of the wonderful people and whānau who have supported our school this year.

Thanks to everyone who has supported our junior eco market today and we have our senior one in the morning at 9:05am. The children have learnt alot through this technology problem based learning unit. The money they have raised will be given to the local Salvation Army who have been generously funding lunches and food items in Selwyn for families in need.

We have also been celebrating our fifth birthday today and celebrations will continue tomorrow. We will conclude this with a special assembly at 2pm in the gym. After the assembly each family [oldest child] will receive the fifth birthday magazine. Thanks to Miss Laura Finn and her team of reporters who have curated all of our memories from the past five years for this.

Trish has sent out the final accounts for the year. Thank you so much to the parents who have paid or are paying off the activity costs for events like swimming lessons and camps this year. We still have costs outstanding, just a couple of families not paying activity expenses means that the BoT and staff will have to consider whether we can continue to provide these next year. We have had to use some of our staffing budget to pay for children whose parents have not paid. 

We have also been busy preparing for 2021. Tomorrow your child will receive information on their whanau group teacher for next year so please check school bags for this. Our organisation is as follows:

Please note Mrs Caitlyn Tinnelly will be on maternity leave and Mrs Sarah Kerkhofs will be a release teacher for Term One before going on maternity leave.

Next Tuesday we have our optional Year 8 Leavers events which includes sailing, swimming and a BoT funded dinner at the Quartz Restaurant [thanks to a great discounted price for us]. Then on Wednesday we have our final assemblies and prizegivings. Thanks to the staff who have helped with the organisation of these important events. At the conclusion of the Senior Prizegiving and Assembly the school will form a farewell archway for our 48 Year 8 Leavers plus 2 learners in Te Pa Harakeke who leave us to continue their education at a secondary level. We wish them all the best.

Have a safe and happy Christmas.

Ngā mihi nui

Sylvia