The last 12 months have seen many positive developments. At the start of Term 3 in 2016, the two new Upper School classrooms were opened to students, relieving pressure on the rest of the school and opening a new area of the site to Waldorf classes. This provided a great end to school life for the second ever graduating Class 12, who then embarked in January on a trip to Thailand, taking in a refugee camp and an elephant rescue centre in the jungle. Class 12 students won a national prize in the Young Enterprise Scheme, showing the entrepreneurial spirit has been kindled.
Early Childhood continues to expand and 2017 has seen the start of the Ngahere Group. This is a bush kindergarten group – six year olds go out every day, rain or shine, and experience a rich curriculum with two enthusiastic (and well wrapped-up kindergarteners!). We expect the number of licensed spaces to rise from 70 to 81 very shortly too.
The Lower and Middle School are delighted to have found three excellent new teachers, mixing experience with youthful enthusiasm to the whole school’s benefit.
Behind the scenes, much work has been done by Trust and College of Teachers in meeting new regulatory requirements such as the Vulnerable Children’s Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act as well as revitalising the family contributions policy in light of new legislative requirements.
The parent community continues to be lively with working bees well attended and achieving much, while new working groups have sprung up to make the school a richer place for children and adults alike.