The school is humming, with happy tamariki engaged in their learning, both in and out of the classroom. The pool is being well used for the students in Years 2-6 class lessons with a focus on water confidence and safety.  Our overarching theme for the year is our school vision Kia puāwau te ngākau - Growing Creative Learners from Within.  Classes are currently exploring this, along with our SHINE values of Succeed, Honour, Imagine, Nurture and Explore as part of their class treaties.

Our building project which includes the revamp of the library and three learning spaces is making good progress and is on track to be completed later this term.  This will be exciting for three of our senior classes who are in their temporary work spaces.

There has been a lot of media attention to the new mathematics and English curriculum being rolled out by the Ministry of Education. At HNS we are focusing on implementing the updated mathematics curriculum this first half of the year and have already held teacher only days in January unpacking and planning this. For the past three years our staff have been engaged in mathematics professional learning practices that align well with this. We will be moving to unpack the English curriculum later in the year, with our school already having moved to the inclusion of Structured Literacy in literacy programmes for a number of years.

We look forward to seeing you at our Meet the teacher / Family picnic this evening.  The first part is in the classrooms at 6.00pm, followed by a family picnic at 6.30pm if weather permits.  You will need to bring your own blanket and food.  Please note that there will not be food trucks at this event, but the senior students are selling ice blocks and drinks as a fundraiser for their class trips.

Marie Bramley

Principal