Talofa Lava, Malo e lelei, Tena Koutou Katoa

My first year at our great school continues to fly. A half a year, two terms which ever way you say it has been an amazing journey for me. I continue to enjoy the community and how engaged they are in what we do.

Term 3 we plan to use this energy and commitment to have our first educators come into school this term and take something home with them. This was an area that was identified by Ero to enhance the relationship between school and parents/whanau to support learning.

• Student led conferences
• Maori language week
• Maths week
• Literacy Week

These celebrations will be a chance for us to work together to share ways to enhance learning for our students. Having a strong relationship between home school and school that is focused on learning is key to being successful.

This the concept of Ako which describes a teaching and learning relationship. Ako is grounded in the principle of reciprocity and also recognises that the learner and whānau cannot be separated.

Finally on September 13 we will be having a school mass on Sunday at St Therese parish. As a school we will come together  an celebrate mass where we can all attend. It is our chance to celebrate mass as a member of our Mangere Catholic community. I believe it is important that we unite for our special Sunday and come together.

I will continue to add more to this later this term on how my journey at St Mary Mackillop is going,

Aroha mai, aroha atu

Michael Piper

19/7/2015