Kia ora koutou
As I walked around the school this morning the excitement was tangible. Happy kids and happy staff preparing for a well-deserved Summer break. Last day of term for 2022 has not come soon enough for many of us as we have grappled with mask-wearing, sickness, new strains of COVID and a myriad of other challenges for students and staff at QPS. However, the highlights of 2022 most definitely outweigh the challenges. Thank you everyone for your continued loyalty and support of QPS. Thank you also for the many cards and gifts we have received today acknowledging our mahi.
Some of our staff will not be returning in 2023;
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Bailey Saville has a year’s leave to travel the world.
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Mikael Bergfors has a year’s leave to spend time with his family and travel.
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Robyn Metcalfe has resigned to travel and have family time.
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Lara Taylor is leaving teaching to try another role in Queenstown.
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Luke Whitley is off to teach at Tauranga Intermediate in the Bay of Plenty.
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Jess Coombes is not returning from her year’s leave as she continues to travel the world.
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Julia Morum, our wonderful Librarian, leaves us to take up a position at the QLDC Frankton Library.
We wish all these wonderful people happiness and success in 2023 and look forward to Bailey and Mikael returning in 2024.
As part of QPS roll growth and redevelopment works, we are working with the Ministry of Education and their contractor, Southbase Construction, to provide 10 new teaching spaces for ākonga. To make room for these new teaching spaces, the contractor will be organising to demolish eight teaching spaces at the end of Term 1, 2023. We anticipate that the redevelopment works will commence at the end of Term 1, 2023 and as we get closer to the time, we will be in contact with our school community about a sod turning ceremony to mark the occasion.
We are also envisaging to work with the Ministry of Education and landscape architects to develop a new landscape plan earlier in the year. We will also be working with our school community to encompass their feedback to ensure this includes a junior playground replacement that is fit for purpose and fun for our ākonga.
The existing Rooms 25 and 26 will be refurbished to accommodate Queenstown Playcentre. We anticipate the building and relevant consent will mean they will move in closer to the end of Term 1, 2023. As we progress further through the project and relevant milestones, we will update our school community. To avoid confusion, this is a later programme of works since the last Board update.
My daughter, her husband and my grandies are moving to Wanaka in January, so one very excited Nanny Fi at the moment. I suspect I will be number one babysitter in 2023. Cannot wait!
Meri kirihimete Merry Christmas
Kia rawe ngā harerei Have a good holiday
Fi Cavanagh
Principal
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