Message of Support to Our Community

Tena koutou,

This is our last newsletter for 2019 and with the end of the year upon us and festive season just around the corner normally we would all be talking about Christmas preparations and excitement.

However just at the moment with the flooding around that’s affected several of our school families and many others who live in our school community, it feels almost rude to talk about Christmas cheer.

We are all hoping (against the odds according to the weather reports) for a dry weekend and last week ahead, so that water levels can recede and all these folks can get started on the big clean and fix up. Thanks to all our families who have rallied round and despite the mess around them and roads closed, have still seen it as important to bring their children into school for the fun activities of the last week or so. Also we are very grateful to all our bus families for their patience with the changes to the bus runs over this period.

Wrap Up For the Year

Now that reports are out, our next main events will be prize givings and awards to be presented. In all of these we reflect on what your children have achieved and how they got there. One thing we know for certain is that without you behind us supporting our every effort and lending hands in so many ways we could not achieve the success that we have.

So a massive thank you, thank you, thank you from all the Winch Team for all the support and behind the scenes work you’ve put in, at home with your children encouraging their learning and here at school as parent helper in classrooms and on trips.

Thanks also go to all our wonderful teachers and support staff who work tirelessly throughout the year to make things happen for our children and the community. This thanks goes out to our cleaners (Catherine Bennett and Helen Black), caretaker (Clive Scott) bus drivers (Clive, Richard Lester and sometimes Carla), Carla Pinn in the office, our librarian (Karen Woodley) and our supportive teacher aides (Brenda Van Buuren, Anna Miller, Bron Turner, Maria Hartford Bennett and Lisa Pierce).

A special thanks to our stalwart PTA crew who have worked hard to add extra money to our school coffers through their wonderful fundraising schemes. Also we are grateful to our new group of folks on the Board of Trustees for their professional dealings with governance business and ensuring the smooth running of the school.

A massive farewell goes to Mrs Sam Johnson who leaves us at the end of term to start a new position at St Andrews. We wish you all the best in your new position nearer to your home.

We also farewell 18 of our Year 6 children who are moving through to several different secondary school options. Some to Geraldine High, others to Opihi College and some going through to Timaru to Craighead Diocesan School. An exciting change for these children as they continue their learning journeys. We wish them well and hope to hear about their successes in years to come.

With these children we also farewell several of their families who have been associated with our school and taken an active part in our community over the years. In particular special mention goes to Simon, Clare and Shona Connolly, Toni Morrison and Nathan Hole, and Tracey and John Sims.

New Teachers

With transitions to new classes happening on Friday and Monday for an hour in the mornings (9.30-10.30am) I’m delighted to let you know we have two new teachers on our team next year:

Mrs Karen Liddy - who is currently teaching in Timaru - is stepping in as Mrs Clarke’s job share partner. She will work one day a week in Kowhai class and cover Jane’s release days. She will be in on Friday, with Jane to meet her new class.

Mrs Sarah Young - who is currently teaching at Temuka Primary - comes across to our team as our new Year 3 and 4 class teacher for Nikau. She is hoping to be in for one of the transition times to say hello to her new class too.

Another change happening because of this new teacher appointment is that Mary Orsler, who is syndicate leader for Ako Nui, will move through to Karaka, the Year 5 and 6 class.

We are excited about these changes and looking forward to forming our new team with these teachers on board.

Wishing you, your families and whanau an enjoyable, social Christmas and summer break. Keep yourselves safe, relax and recharge and we’ll do it all again next year!

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa

Best Wishes

Tre