Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te whānau o te Ōrātia. Malo e lelei. Zdravo. Talofa lava. Kia orana. Ni hao. Namaste. Kamusta. Greetings Ōrātia whānau.
This week our Tuakana students and teachers are away at Camp Bentzon on Kawau Island. They travelled by bus up to Sandspit and then took the ferry across to the island. This Monday they left in fine rain so I am very thankful that the weather has dried up a bit since then. Three of our classes go Monday to Wednesday and the other three classes go Wednesday to Friday. Our two deputy principals Mrs Goldsmith and Mr Moncur have shared their time at camp, and I took a trip up there on Thursday to visit.
I have fond memories of boating and fishing around Kawau as a teenager, as friends of ours owned a yacht and took me sailing with them. So I just love getting out on the harbour and enjoying the sea air. Camp Bentzon is such a magical place, and our students get the opportunity to do all sorts of exciting activities that many would not be able to experience otherwise. There is a lot of care and thoughtful planning that goes into making camp work, and I thank the parents who have taken time out from their regular lives to attend each camp. I know that there were many other parents who would have liked to have gone too, and apologise if you missed out.
Mrs Goldsmith and Mrs Lewis have worked very hard for many months to plan this camp, and I thank them and the other teachers too for all their mahi. Although the cost of camp keeps rising, it is such a worthwhile experience for our students, and we do make the provision on Kindo of parents being able to pay the costs off over the course of the year. Please talk to Michelle in the office if this is something that would help your family budget out.
While the senior students were away, the rest of the school took advantage of the senior courts being more free, and had a Wheels Day on Tuesday. It is always great to see the fun our students have wheeling around on their bikes, scooters, roller blades and skateboards etc.
An update from the Ministry of Education on the hall refurbishment means that our original timeframe of a July start for the hall project has been pushed back to the October holidays. While the delay is frustrating, it is also fortunate that we will continue to have the use of our school hall during the colder, wetter months of winter. As the hall will now be available throughout Term 2 and Term 3 we have decided that the Talent Show will now go ahead in Term 3. Please see below for further information around this.
Take care and stay safe.
Kia kaha, kia atawhai.
Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda
