Kia ora
I have had a wonderful time over the past couple of weeks getting to know your children and their teachers. The overwhelming sense I have is of a welcoming and nurturing community who care for each other and are proud of their learning. What an amazing place to be chosen to lead!
I am excited about the path we have ahead and am using the first few weeks as principal to gather information that will help us all to develop our next phase of development. I am talking to students and teachers at school and need information from parents too! Please can I ask you to initially let me know the top three things you love about our school on this form: https://forms.gle/YhKnx9XBktWBjYYA8. I have also provided a space for any questions to me so please feel free to ask and provide an email for a response.
I plan to gather information through a range of online and face to face means and I am looking forward to the opportunities the staff here have organised that will enable me to meet some of you face to face over the final few weeks of this year.
Thank you for your welcome and your support of your children and their teachers at Student Led Conferences this week.
Ngā mihi nui

Some questions your children have asked me:

Have you been a principal before?

Yes, I was principal at my last school for 10 years

How old are you?

51 – I have also advised that the correct response to this is ‘oh my goodness you don’t look that old” 😉

Do you have any pets?

Yes – two dogs and two cats although our dogs generally live with my parents which gives them all company during the day.

What do you like to do at weekends?

Sailing, shopping and socialising

What is your favourite book?

My favourite children’s books are the Gruffalo books, Hairy Maclary or Roald Dahl books

What flowers do you like?

Roses, orchids and lilies – white is my favourite

Where did you come from and when?

I came from Scotland in 1996 – for one year! I loved NZ and decided to stay and now my parents also live in NZ

Where is your favourite place in NZ?
Taupō

Why did you choose our school?

When I visited before applying for the position I was wowed by the environment, the people and the warmth I felt in the school.

We would like to acknowledge Katherine Winstone, our lovely parent who for some time has looked after sorting through the lost property. It is an unpleasant job which she does for us, always with a smile. A huge THANK YOU Katherine!

Katherine has identified named uniform, the names not being of current pupils of the school. If these items belong to you, please collect them from the office. If they are not collected by the end of the year, they will go to the uniform shop for sale as second hand uniform. The items are: