From the Principal

Kia ora koutou 

We have had an excellent start to Term Three.  The sun has been shining and we are enjoying a little more warmth during the day!

Our programmes are now in full swing. Term Three is an interesting time for Year 7 classes as they learn about body systems including pubertal change.  It is a fun and relevant programme which incorporates plenty of new and interesting content. The Year 8 Impact theme deals with many topical global issues as we seek to make our world more sustainable and clean.

It's also great to watch a large and talented group of students come together for our school production. No spoilers here but suffice to say it will be another fantastic display of talent!

We are in "enrolment season" and our Year 8's have had a number of visits to help them learn more about their high school options next year.   Likewise we have welcomed Year 6 students to Balmacewen to give them a taste of Intermediate life. 

It's always interesting talking to parents as they consider schooling options and whilst there are a variety of views, three main themes come through in discussion. Parents want their child to be happy; get along with others; and do the best that they can.  When it comes to decision making in our busy and sometimes overcrowded lives, it's always good to find simple philosophies that keep us focussed on the health and well-being of ourselves and our families.

These are challenging times in education and as  you'll be aware, NZEI, the Primary Teachers Union has called a strike this Wednesday 15 August.  This action is rare and it highlights a number of  concerning issues in Primary education.  Teacher recruitment and retention, conditions and pay are all being discussed  in contract negotiations. Hopefully they will be able to resolve their differences quickly.

As always, please contact me if I can help in any way.

Kind Regards

Andrew Hunter