Principal's Weekly Review 9 April 2021
Kia ora,
I am sure everyone appreciated the opportunity to have an Easter break with stunning weather. I am hopeful that this will have re-energized the staff and students to get them through the last week and a half, in what has been a long and busy term.
On Thursday evening we held our Junior Parent Teacher night, and I would like to thank the large number of whānau/caregivers for attending. We hope you found this evening supportive as part of our on-going attempts to provide information and an ongoing opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the progress your child is making by talking with their subject teachers. The Senior Parent Teacher night will be held on the 11th May in Week 2, of Term 2. More information on booking appointments will be emailed out towards the end of next week.
Today I had the pleasure of taking our Head Students, Owen Dabkowski and Georgia Perriam, to 'mix and mingle' with local MPs and the Hon Jan Tennetti, Associate Minister of Education, Minister for Women, and Minister of Internal Affairs. The students were able to ask the MPs questions about issues that are important to them in an informal setting as well as network with other Head Students from across the city.
Over the Easter weekend we were saddened by the sudden passing away of Lesley Alexandre, a parent volunteer worker in the Library. Lesley gave over 30 years of voluntary service to Papanui High School, starting when her two children attended. Through the years she often came in several times a week as a reader/writer and every Thursday to do library processing work. Lesley was a very patient and understanding person who was able to manage the demands of staff and student needs with absolute professionalism. She was a highly respected colleague and valued friend to many of our staff, and a trusted support person to a number of our students. She will be dearly missed.
The Relay for Life team of 56 students and staff are walking around the track at Dudley Park tomorrow from 10.00am till 10.00pm to raise funds for the Cancer Society. Feel free to join the students for an hour if you can make it.
Ngā mihi nui
Jo Hunnikin
Associate Principal