Looking Back

The past 18 months have been a wonderful privilege and adventure for me as Principal in our school. There are many highlights:

• skilled and enthusiastic teachers willing to live our motto of Attitude, Adventure, and Achievement. It is such a joy to have a group of teachers so willing to take risks in new learning always with the children's interests at the heart of the learning. They challenge me to keep growing and learning
• a positive and affirming ERO report in Nov 2009
• evidence of student successes
• wonderful support staff who make our school family complete
• many school and family fun and adventure days
• the school pool being revived and used because of a committed group of parents who are working hands on to raise money and do the work.
• Our Board of Trustees training focussed us on the future of our school and new strategic goals developed to progress our school. I consider myself very privileged to have the support of such a professional and capable board who enable me to do my job.
• ICT contract and the ways in which we have utilised technology in our teaching to make a difference for our students. We have the hardware and we know how to use it!

West Spreydon School has huge community input from mentors and counsellors, Adventure Programme Youth Workers to dance and drama tutors. We employ a skilled kapahaka and te reo teacher and our hall is used for martial arts groups after school.
This year the One Day School for gifted and Talented students will set up base two days a week in one of our classrooms. This is a new partnership for us and very exciting.