Dear Parents, Caregivers and Children,

Welcome back to Term 3. Over the break Amy, the boys and I were lucky enough to sneak down to Wanaka for a 4 day skiing trip and enjoy the sights and experiences that that part of our country has on offer. It really is spectacular. One day it was pretty wet and we decided to have a very local day, bit of shopping in and out of the 462 ski and snowboard shops that exist and then back to our accommodation. On this day we spent over half of it just relaxing around and playing 'Monoply Deal' (an outstanding game). It was a really fun day, partly because I kept winning, but also that when you are away from your own home you don't see the many jobs that need to be done and can simply pause. A lesson in this and I feel it would be a lesson for many of us, is that sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to relax and enjoy our own space rather than racing from one job to the next. Skiing and Snowboarding (having Harry in my ear reminding me it is not just a Skiing Trip), was also an obvious highlight. While down there I entered a new phase and what in no doubt will be an increasing familiar phase in my parenting. I had to succumb to the idea that both boys a more confident and skilled on the snow than myself and while obviously proud of them, there was a little moment that you think to yourself how is this happened? So you push yourself a bit more, inevitably to fall, crash and damage your ego even more... A holiday full of good times and life lessons. 

This term we welcome our International Students from China. I am delighted with how well they have settled into our school. Our children have been very supportive and you would all be proud with how they have welcomed them into our school and their learning environments. It has been wonderful to see the sharing of cultures and interest this has created. So far the experience has been a positive one for all. We look forward to the next 6 weeks of culture sharing and relationship building. 

Finally, on a very different note as a teaching team we have recently had some robust discussion around our Powerful Learner Assembly and the kind of impact these have on students in regards to motivation and most importantly confidence with and towards learning. An email will be sent home this afternoon to further explain our thinking and changes to these assemblies. 

Regards Geoff