Tēnā koutou katoa. Tēnei te mihi atu ki a koutou.
An extra special Haere Mai to Mabel E who joined us last week.
Term 1 is now in full swing and it is fantastic to see children engaged and enjoying learning programmes across the school. Last Friday we formally welcomed the new members of our school whānau with our Mihi Whakatau. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate the start of the new school year in this way for the first time since 2021 and I was yet again blown away by our Awaroa ākonga (learners) who led our Haka Powhiri (welcome haka) with mana.
In addition to our Mihi Whakatau, our tamariki (children) have been involved in a huge range of learning activities over the past two weeks including; Rapanui Aquagym, Tuawera and Te Onepoto Beach Education, Awaroa Technology at Christchurch East, Te Onepoto Korfball, Kapa Haka practice and choir rehearsals.
I encourage you to have a look at our Sneak Peek with the Media Team below where you can see a little more of what has been going on.
On Monday our Years 5-8 students will be involved in the School Triathlon. Many thanks to our Sports Coordinator Gwen Vine for her organisation of this and to the parents who have volunteered their time to support us to ensure this event runs safely. I am looking forward to seeing our Years 5-8 ākonga showing their Character Strengths of Perseverance, Bravery and Teamwork as they take to the course. Karawhiua! Give it your best!
While we have had a smooth start to 2023, I am very aware that there are many schools, families and communities in the North Island who have not. As a school our thoughts and well wishes are with everyone impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle this week. We know too well the impacts that disasters like this have on a community and are sending love and best wishes to everyone affected.
Spotlight on the Big Book Buy Up...Huge thanks to those of you who bought a book to donate to our library during the Big Book Buy Up this year. As a result we have 88 new books to add to our collection, which is incredible. If donating a book is still on your ‘to do list’ then rest assured there are books still available for viewing and donation in the School Office until next Friday. A massive thank you to Yvonne Hall our incredible Librarian and our amazing PTA for all their support in this event.
Spotlight on Paid Union Meetings… Sumner School Board has been notified that the teachers in our school will be attending a Paid Union Meeting on the afternoon of Thursday 2 March to discuss the progress of negotiations for their collective employment agreements. This is an entitlement as part of their Collective Agreement.
The proposed unified public service pay offer and their Wāwāhi Tahā | Time 4 Tamariki campaign aims to win smaller class sizes, more support for high needs students, better recognition of cultural skills, greater job security for our essential relievers and to fairly value and recognise the work of teachers.
In order for teachers to attend this meeting school will be closed from 12.30pm on Thursday 2 March. We understand the inconvenience that this may cause some families, but as all our teachers will be attending the Union Meeting for health and safety reasons we are unable to keep the school open. Please organise for your child to be collected at this time. Mash will be available for supervision from 12.30pm. Please book supervision directly with Mash. Phone: 0800 420 520
Finally, I would like to thank you all for your support in keeping sick children away from school as we have worked through a wave of germs this week. We still have a significant number of children away, but are hopefully (she says with fingers crossed) over the peak in this Covid wave.
Take care and have a wonderful weekend in the sunshine!
Ngā mihi,
Anna Granger
