As we come to the end of term 3, we would like to thank parents and whānau for your unending support and involvement in our school activities and programmes. We are grateful for the dedication and interest that you have in your child’s academic pursuits and welfare. Their well-being ensures our school runs in the most conducive environment; your ideas and support continue to help us create an even better school for our students.
When we reflect on this term it has been a busy hive of activity with lots of fun and learning, and it is with great pleasure that we reflect on the journey, growth and achievement we have together. The hard work of our educators and the enthusiasm of our students ensures that progress is made. At Coastal we celebrate the love for learning and the values at Coastal go beyond academics to focus on character and leadership development. Our students are encouraged to demonstrate resilience, compassion and a sense of responsibility that will serve them well in their future endeavours.
As we look back on the term, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our incredible teaching and administrative staff, whose hard work and passion make the CTS vibrant and nurturing learning community it is. I look forward to the continued success and growth of our school in the coming term.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank parents/whānau who have given their time to coach, assist in breakfast club, lead gardening bees and support of our students on cross-country and educational and sporting trips. Without your deduction to the school, we would not be the community school that we are. On that note, there are lots of ways that parents can get involved in the life of the school, please reach out if you can volunteer your time to our school. Coming along to our whole school kapa haka sessions is uplifting and a vitally important part of CTS. Parents and whānau are welcome to join us.
Over the term we have continued to take steps towards advancing the provision of an individualised education programme and small group support pullouts for many of our secondary students in our AKO space. This space offers reflection, extension learning, Te Kura lines and a place to complete assessments and be mentored. We welcome members of our community who can share their passions and pathways to education and work with our tamariki. Coming into our school and giving talks and workshops would be a great extension to our core learning. If you can offer a workshop, please get in touch. We look forward to the implementation of ideas and programmes that further prepare our learners for the dynamic and evolving landscape that is the job market.
Please remember that for our seniors we have a small amount of time to ensure that senior programs are completed before examination study leave next term. This school holiday is an important time to refresh. For those who are completing work, some students will take time in the holidays to advance their knowledge, time management skills and application of their understanding, in preparation for their external examinations. We encourage our learners to be responsible for their own learning journey. Only when we work collaboratively can progress be achieved.
For our students behaviour for learning is imperative as it helps to establish a positive, safe and supportive learning culture in our school. When positive relationships between self, others and the curriculum are attained and nurtured in unison in a classroom, a culture of positive learning behaviour is embraced, enabling our learners to develop emotionally and intellectually. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that our rangatahi advance their behaviour for learning by encouraging them to come to school with the correct attitude, equipment, uniform and behaviour.
I know that the following news is going to disappoint our year 7 and 8 students, and disappointing young people is not our intention, but circumstances dictate that we will not be taking a trip to Goat Island. As an alternative students will have a range of day activities, snorkeling and camp experiences.
It was wonderful to see all of the hard work and efforts by the performing arts and music students come to fruition this week. Performance Cāfe is a wonderful expression of joy and showcasing our students through dance and performance. For our seniors it is an important component to their NCEA assessment and we thank our music teacher Justine and Ian, Al, Kelly and all of those involved in making this performance happen.
On the property front we have seen the installation of new gym lighting and we look forward to the future refurbishment of room 20.
Finally and most importantly we would like to thank Catrin Noack for all of her dedicated work with our children and school over the past year. Catrin has resigned from her position as a year one teacher, and we wish her every success in her future pathway. We will keep in touch with Catrin and we will watch with interest where life takes her.
For parents and children in room 15, it can be an unsettling time when a teacher leaves and new ones enter the classroom. Transitions and kōrero are important in ensuring wrap-around care for our children.
We are fortunate to have a very beautiful primary school with a consistent, professional and relational team. We have excellent retention of primary staff and many applicants when positions are advertised. In term 4 we welcome Penny Cullen and Annie Harris, who both know our school, our team and most importantly our children. Both Annie and Penny are introduced below.
We welcome our room 15 parents to a whānau hui in the new term.
As I close my address, all that is left to say is have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to seeing all of our tamariki and rangatahi back safely and refreshed for the last term of the school year.
Ngā mihi nui,
Stephanie Clifton
Principal
