Kia Ora Koutou,

It is my final week at Patumahoe School and what a journey it has been. As I reflect on the last 10 years I think back to the connections I have made with the tamariki, their whanau, the staff and community.

This Patumahoe community is special. They rally behind the children and school. They champion them and us to succeed. There are always willing community members to help out and sponsor, guide and support. This is a precious way of life and I believe is quite unique to Patumahoe.

The staff at Patumahoe are exceptional and have been a pleasure to work with. Through good times and tough times, this staff show up, work hard and give their all. I am not exaggerating when I say that our community is very lucky with the high calibre of staff at Patumahoe. I'd also like to acknowledge Mr Tawhiti and Ms Phillips. I am at a loss for words for them but feel such gratitude and thankfulness for all they have done for me.

But teaching is all about the students and what great students we have. Your tamariki are beautiful, joyful, excited learners. What a pleasure it has been to have been a small part of their journey. Patty kids are special. I have loved every second of getting to know them and their families. Helping them when it's hard and cheering them on when it's good. It is with pride I have seen them move through the school and I know they will go on to do great things.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I have felt welcomed, loved and accepted from the moment I walked through the gates to the moment I left. It is bittersweet to go but I do so with the grounding Patumahoe has given me over the years.

“How lucky am I to have been part of something that makes it hard to say goodbye”

Aroha nui

Louise Tupai

Kia ora parents, caregivers, and extended whanau

Well, to be fair, that term panned out a bit different than I thought it was going to. A fair amount of pressure has been placed on households, businesses, workplaces and obviously school over the last few months and the term break has come at the right time.

We wish Ms Tupai all the best at her new job. I did ask her to go easy on our school at Franklin Zone Cross Country later in the year, as Pukekohe East School have a funny knack of pipping us at that particular event. I was a little startled by Ms Tupai's immediate response, "We will be starting cross country practice at Puke East day 1 next term". Yikes!

Thank you all for your support and general positivity this term, despite the circumstances you would have faced. I do hope you manage to get a break.

Noho ora mai

Mr Tawhiti and the Patumahoe School team

We will be holding our Kotahitanga meetings on 10th May from 2.30pm to 6.21pm in the hall. This is an opportunity for you to discuss your child’s learning pathway with their teacher.

Please go to the following website www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter in the code xuku7 and follow the online instructions to set up an interview time with your child’s class teacher (ONE SLOT PER CHILD ONLY). If you do not have access to the internet please phone the office and we will book for you.

If you are unable to attend due to COVID-19, please notify the office and we will make other arrangements for you to discuss your child’s goals as soon as you are available.

Please ensure you wear a face mask.

Nga mihi

• 14th April - Last day Term 1
• 02nd May - First day Term 2
• 10th May- Kotahitanga meetings (parent teacher learning interviews)