Kia ora koutou,

Last week, our Roopuu Puaawai students wowed us with their productions. This event involved all our Roopuu Puaawai students and was an awesome showcase of their talents. The Year 6 students performed "A Journey Through Time," while the Year 7 and 8 students presented "A Journey to the 4th Dimension." What makes these productions special is that students are engaged right from the beginning, contributing to plot design, scene selection, and character development, and the Year 7 and 8 students are also responsible for drafting the scripts. The result is a production centred around the children, with their unique humour shining through. On stage, the students impressed us all by confidently delivering their lines, fully embodying their characters and making us laugh. It was evident that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Thank you again to our teachers for the extra time and energy put into these productions and for creating rich learning opportunities for our students.

Another celebration, we are happy to announce the accomplishment of one of our Year 8 students. Jade Hurst's writing was selected for the Toi Toi Young Writer's competition, and her short story, titled "The Brave Leap," has been published in the Toi Toi School Journal. We commend Jade for her writing talents and are proud to see her work acknowledged and published.

Many of you might already be aware that Quinn Thorby, another member of our Roopuu Puaawai, has been chosen as one of the four Young Defenders of New Zealand. Quinn will proudly represent New Zealand as the Kiwi Kid Mascot for the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup in Paris. Be sure to catch Quinn's appearance on Seven Sharp this coming Friday.

Lastly, we congratulate Karen Matthews, one of our Roopuu Puaawai teachers, for being selected to play for the Waikato Womans Hockey A team. Karen serves as an excellent role model for our students by showcasing her passion for sports.

On another note, the Board of Trustees are starting the process of planning our 2024- 2026 Strategic Direction. A Strategic Direction is a three-year plan designed to enact the School’s Vision. The Strategic Goals inform annual implementation plans, targets and actions. 

The Strategic Plan must also…

• Fulfill board objectives mandated by legislation.
• Align with National Education and Learning Priorities.
• Work towards giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and make sure New Zealand’s bicultural foundations are evident.
• Adhere to New Zealand Curriculum requirements. 
• Gather and consider community and staff voice.
• Be responsive to learners' needs.

We are actively seeking input from our school community, and a survey was recently emailed to gather your insights on potential strategic goals and focal points for the coming years. Your contributions are highly valued, and as a token of appreciation, survey participants have a chance to win a $100 New World Voucher or a double pass to The Cat in the Hat show at Clarence Street Theatre. Here is the link for the survey, and more than one adult per family is welcome to fill it out. 

https://forms.office.com/r/zjmN4QJHcq

Thanks for your support. 

Take care,

Nyree Olliver