Last week our Year 7/8 team finally got to have their covid disrupted camp which was supposed to be held earlier in the year. They had such an awesome time in Hanmer Springs.

Special thanks to Mrs Megan Murray who organised the camp and to our staff who attended: Miss Katie Talbot, Mr Fraser Malins, Mrs Amanda Skinner and Mr George Harnett. We could not run these camps without our amazing parent helpers so big thanks also to Steph Hautler, Hemi Paniora, Sam Rosewall, Michael Young, Craig Greene, Sarah Booth, Linda Currie, Chris Briggs, David Loach, Arjun Kharkrang, Elaine Herlihy and Cary Lilley. 

Thank you to all of the parents who have paid for or are paying off camp. We could not run these activities without parental support of payments. Thanks also to GROW for reducing the cost of camp by $70 for each learner and family. 

We are keenly waiting for the Certificate of Public Use to be issued so that Te Ara Tupu can move back to their reconfigured studio, Te Ara Maia can move home and our office staff can move into their newly renovated space. Thank you for your patience as we keep postponing our assembly!

The end of the year is fast approaching and we have lots of things planned. It is our special fifth birthday party and we have planned some lovely wee treats for the children to coincide with their technology markets. They are very excited about how they have used the design process to plan and create items to sell at the junior and senior market. We will also have a special fifth birthday assembly to celebrate the occasion. This will be held in the gym  [fingers crossed!] at 2pm on Friday 11th December. All are welcome.

It is that sad time of the year when we sometimes have to farewell staff. I am sad to say that our foundation teacher Miss Emma Woods is returning home to the sunny Hawkes Bay and will be taking up a new position as Team Leader at Frimley School. Emma has been an absolute pleasure to have on our staff and was quickly promoted to a Team Leader role at our school due to her abilities as a teacher and a leader. We will really miss Emma. Congratulations to Miss Laura Finn who will be the Team Leader in Te Ara Tupu and we know will be amazing in this role. Sadly, we are also farewelling Mr Fraser Malins who is going to Avonhead School. Fraser has taught at our school for the past three years and has also been awesome to work with. His contributions to sport and in particular basketball will be really missed. Mrs Caitlyn Tinnelly is also taking maternity leave at the beginning of the year. We are excited to welcome the following new staff to our school Miss Jessica Cooper, Miss Kendra Ward and Mr Otis Sole. 

Finally, please don't forget our mufti day/casual clothes fundraiser tomorrow - we are supporting Te Pa Harakeke to raise money for the Neurological Foundation so please bring a gold coin.

Ngā mihi nui

Sylvia