Kia ora,

Talofa—This week was Samoan Language Week.   The theme for this year is "Fa'aauau le Folauga i le Va'a o Tautai" which means "Continue the Voyage with Competent Wayfinders of the Ocean". Our Komiti Pasifika worked very hard to prepare and provide a range of activities for the week, this included such things as: a daily video with how to pronounce the ‘Word of the Day’, a display in the foyer, and a video challenge.  The week finished with the Sport and Health Council running a staff vs student game of ‘Lape’ on Thursday.  Lape is similar to softball but using your hand instead of a bat. 

On Friday staff from the Tōtaranui Kāhui Ako (Community of Learning) took part in a staff only day.  There was a choice from seven different workshops which were facilitated in a number of schools.  Themes included the Pasifika Education Action Plan, Hikairo - Cultural Responsive Pedagogy, Structured Literacy, Digital Engagement for Learning, the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum, Wellbeing and Engagement, and Positive Behaviour for Learning. These workshops provide a forum for staff across our local primary, intermediate and our school to collaborate and support the learners’ journey in the various education settings. These sessions ran in the morning , and in the afternoon guest speaker Jay Geldard and (ex-staff) member Christy Greenall introduced to the wider school staff E Tū Tāngata (Stand together Aotearoa). 

Aimed at deconstructing "tall poppy syndrome" and designed to encourage conversations throughout classrooms, workplaces, families and wider communities, E Tū Tāngata helps to develop a personal understanding of how we can value one another and how an individual’s value can contribute to the success of those around them. 

Included in our strategic goals around Wellbeing and School Culture, and closely aligned with our schools own PRIDE values E Tū Tāngata promotes the values of ME (you have value), WE (succeed together) and OTHERS (matter). We are excited to introduce its resources into the work we are doing in the Junior school.

Information on E Tū Tangata can be found here: https://www.etutangata.nz/info 

Earlier in the week I attended the Secondary Schools’ Principals’ Conference.  Although COVID still holds some attention in our discussions, it was refreshing to be in an environment where teaching and learning was once again a primary focus.  A key area remains the NCEA change process, which we are all currently working through and preparing for its implementation, starting with Level 1 in 2024. 

COVID Update      

We will maintain a watching brief in this space and continue to keep all of the required health measures in place at school. This includes ventilating all of our learning spaces, so students are advised to wear all of the layers of uniform the keep themselves warm.  We would continue to appreciate families/whānau notifying us of new cases via the email: [email protected]   [email protected]  

I hope everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy the long weekend.

Ngā mihi nui

Jeff Smith

Principal