Kia ora e te whānau

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa

And here we are; the last day of school. Thursday 15 December 2022 is one of those contradictory days. On the one hand, we are happy the summer holidays are here and we cannot wait to lock the classrooms and get out in the sun. But it is also a day of mixed feelings as we say farewell to half our whanau as they move on to college life.

Personally, I think we have closed the year on a very positive note. It started with the Pool Party last week. I was astonished by the amazing behaviour displayed by our ākonga (students). And then I almost do not have words to describe my pride as tumuaki (principal) yesterday at the Prize-giving. Congratulations to all ākonga who received certificates or awards to celebrate their mahi (work) this year. As I am writing this, I can hear the kaimahi (staff) doing the last preparations for the Year 8 Social. We will take lots of photos to share the event with you.

As the year draws to a close, I would like to thank some people at Maidstone Intermediate.

Board of Trustees (BOT)

At the start of Term 4 we got a new board. It is great to be part of this group who has the wellbeing of the ākonga as their first priority. I thoroughly enjoy working with them. The governance decisions that our BOT make are evident in all aspects of school life. Thank you for the time you have given our school.

Kaimahi (Staff)

This was not an easy year, but our kaimahi have, under very tough conditions this year, spent vast amounts of their own time planning and preparing lessons both face-to-face and online. Their enthusiasm for teaching is remarkable. I want to thank each of them for their commitment and dedication.

Ākonga (Students)

A year in which they had to learn perseverance. I think they can look back and be proud of themselves and their achievements. We will miss the Year 8 group, but we know it will not be long before they come back to say hello. I am also looking forward to working with the Year 7 group next year when they step up to be the leaders of a Maidstone that is going to look and feel differently from the one we have known so far.

Parent Helpers

We appreciate the help of parents on trips, school activities, cultural happenings, sports events, and the fantastic array of activities we have at Maidstone. These special events wouldn’t be able to take place without you.

Ngā mihi nui

At the end of my first full year I would like to thank all whanau for their support. A huge thank you to the people who completed the ‘End of Year’ surveys. We will definitely use the data in our planning for 2023. It was not always easy this year, but I can honestly say that overall I think we had the support of most of our whanau.

Staffing news

At the end of this academic year, we farewell a few staff members.

Kerry Baines (Deputy Principal) is retiring after 25 years at Maidstone. She is, and will always be, a Maidstone legend and we will greatly miss her dedication to the kura.

Rebecca Betteridge joined us earlier in the year from Australia. She is moving to Trentham School.

Nicky Hurle, who spent the last term looking after sport and some STEAM classes won a position at Manawatu College.

Brenna Wood, our youth worker, has decided to go into full-time study next year.

Hannah Hageraats, Akatarawa kaiako, is going on maternity leave.

In 2023 we will welcome the following people:

Isaac Hayes as the new Deputy Principal. He is from Wainuiomata Intermediate.

Kate Bayliss, new classroom kaiako, is from Christchurch

Gemma Doran is also a new classroom kaiako

Brianna Pratt, this year a Masters student at Maidstone, in 2023 joining us as a classroom kaiako.

Alun March is a first-year kaiako who will be a classroom kaiako

We are also very excited to welcome Shannon Dean as the music kaiako. She is an ex-Maidstone kaiako loved by all.

My wish for each whanau is an adventurous summer holiday with lots of sun and laughter. See you all in 2023!!

Ngā mihi

Wikus Swanepoel

Principal/Tumuaki

The first day of school for 2023 is Wednesday 1st February for Year 8s, Thursday 2nd February - whole school - pōwhiri at 9:15am.

Term 1: Wednesday 1st February (Year 8s)

Thursday 2nd February – Thursday 6th April

Term 2: Wednesday 26th April – Friday 30th June

Term 3: Monday 17th July – Friday 20th September

Term 4: Monday 9th October – Thursday 15th December at 1pm

Teacher Only Days:

Monday 24 April

Monday 21 August

Friday 20 October

Public Holidays

Monday 6 February - Waitangi Day

Tuesday 25 April - ANZAC Day

Monday 5 June - King's Birthday

Monday 23 October - Labour Day

School Office Dates

The School Office will be closed from Thursday 15 December until Monday 23 January.

The School Office will reopen on Tuesday 24 January, 2023 at 9am to 1pm

On Friday 9th of September, a number of creative students who entered into the 2023 Upper Hutt Community Calendar Art Competition, were invited to a celebratory morning tea with Upper Hutt’s Mayor Wayne Guppy. We are proud to announce that Summer H of Room 11 was selected as the winner for this year’s competition.

She was presented with her art work framed with a certificate signed by the Mayor himself. Maidstone Art area received $750 prize money.

Congratulations to all contributing ākonga, and especially to Summer for being the grand winner.