On Monday we welcomed our new tamariki, their whānau and our new staff members to Hillcrest Normal School through a whole school whakatau. We had approximately 50 new students who we welcomed, along with teachers Sophie Stretch and Anna Stevenson.

The whakatau was a wonderful way to bring the whole school together on our first day. Our new tamariki and their whānau were welcomed by Leigh Mason and Mrs Bramley, followed by our existing students welcoming our manuhiri (visitors) with waiata (song). It was a special way to come together to acknowledge our new whānau to our kura, but also connect again as a whole school before our learning year begins.