E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangaranga maha - tēnā rā koutou Tō tātou whare e tū nei, tō tātou papa e takoto nei, te Mangati e rere mai nei tēnā koutou Ngā mana, ngā hapū, Puketapu tēnā rā koutou katoa. Ko Paora Rauputu taku ingoa, no Ngāti Maniapoto ahau.
The end of the school year upon us, and I am sure you are all looking forward to a welldeserved break over Christmas. I have been fortunate this year to pick up the reigns after previous board chair Mike Warring and whanau left for the Kapiti Coast. I am supported by a passionate and dedicated board and I would like to acknowledge Marnie Reinfelds, Hayley Adams, Shannon Robinson and newly co-opted Steph Julian for their dedication this year.
2020 has been a challenging year for all with the advent of COVID and lockdown and the upheaval it caused in our communities. It was however heartening to see the resilience displayed by our kids and teachers alike as we transitioned into a new way of schooling. I must commend our staff and the leadership team for their communication over this time and the gusto in which they all embraced the various online learning platforms, thank you all.
We have been working hard as a board and a school to enhance quality teaching and learning. Covid forced us to take a good hard look at exactly what that meant – how were we teaching, interacting, connecting with our students and whānau and what impact did that have on learning. We recognise the need for a balanced focus on wellbeing and achievement and thus creating systems and initiatives to support both, even more crucial than ever for our success.
I was fortunate enough to attend the Y8 graduation dinner last night, what a wonderful night of celebrating success and being together. My thanks to all the helpers who made that night special. We bid farewell to a fantastic group of Y8 senior students who are leaving us to continue their education at high school. Take with you our best wishes for your future and always remember our school values - kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui….and in the words of Six60 Kia mau ki tō ūkaipō – Don’t forget your roots!
We also say goodbye to Peggy Schwieters who after more than 20 years of teaching at Puketapu will retire this year. Her effort and dedication to our school has been immense and I am sure the community will join me in wishing her a well-earned break.
My thanks to you Matua Ngatai for your continued and valuable leadership, our staff also for their professionalism, for caring about ākonga and their whānau, and for their seemingly unlimited energy. Much is expected from our workforce and, as always, much has been delivered.
Be good to each other over the holidays and stay safe.
No reira, kei raro i te maru o tō tātou maunga tapu tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
