Principal's Blog

Welcome back to the New Year.  2012 is going to look very different for us at Turaki School.  Mrs Simpson will be Acting Principal, Mrs Summers will be the Deputy Principal and Miss Gilbert will be the Assistant Principal.  This is because Mr Sheterline nis on study leave – he will complete his Masters of Educational Leadership at Waikato University this year.

Other changes see Mrs Edhouse leading the Middle Syndicate and Mrs McGeachy leading the Junior Syndicate.  We welcome Miss Thomsen and Miss Goodwin to the team and look forward to their contributions.

We also look forward to our school-wide inquiry learning focus, an exciting way for children to learn.

What an exciting year ahead – I am sure we will all hit the ground running.  I look forward to your involvement and mine too! (Rikki)

Term 4 is rushing by and it makes me think back to the three term years we used to have.  In theory, we are in school for 40 weeks per year.  When it was three terms each year, it would be, on average, a 14-week first term, a 12-week second term (with a week’s break in the middle) and a 14-week final term.  I know that people’s thinking on the suitability of this is wide and varied.  Some believe that the less number of breaks, the less re-teaching has to happen.  Others believe the terms were far too long and that the last weeks of each term were people ‘marking time.’

Yet, now we have only 8-weeks and it has made a significant impact across leqarning for our children.  Seniors at High school have finished ‘formal’ schooling and are on exam study leave.  Is this length of time for Term 4 any better?  I think not, but would be keen to know what you think.  Cheers.  Rikki.

Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihinui kia koutou.

It is my pleasure, privilege and responsibility to be the Principal of Turaki School.  It is a wonderful place to work and teach.  Like all schools that I know of, our staff, Board of Trustees and whanau work hard for all the children on our roll.  School is a very busy place and this makes it even more exciting to be involved with.

We believe that we offer a well-rounded education for all children and would love the opportunity to talk to you about what we do.

Feel free to use the contact us link to find out more.

In case you haven’t guessed, I love my ‘job’ and it is simply because of the wonderful people involved – the whanau, the Board, the staff and most of all, our children! When the day is looking gloomy and paperwork driven, a walk through the classrooms is both grounding and refreshing.

Thanks for reading, I will change my blog regularly to put ideas out into the ether to celebrate success, challenge thinking and seek advice and guidance.  Don’t be a stranger.

Rikki Sheterline

Principal