Kia ora koutou parents and whānau,
It has felt a bit weird at home in the evenings without a daily dose of the Olympics. Reflecting on how well our kiwi athletes performed, I started thinking about how the Olympics offer many valuable lessons that go beyond sports - even into the space of learning.
Here are a few lessons we could learn from the athletes:
Perseverance and dedication. Athletes train for years, often overcoming obstacles, setbacks, and injuries to reach the Olympic stage. This teaches the importance of resilience and dedication to achieving one's goals, no matter how tough the journey might be or what adversity they might face.
Teamwork and sportsmanship. Even in individual sports, athletes often rely on coaches, trainers, and support staff. The Olympics highlight the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and respectful relationships, both within teams and between competitors. Good sportsmanship, whether winning or losing, is a core value.
Inclusion. The Olympics bring together people from around the world, fostering a spirit of unity and mutual respect despite differences in culture, politics, or beliefs.
Healthy competition. The games show that competition, when approached positively, can bring out the best in people. It’s not just about winning but about pushing oneself to do better and respecting the efforts of others.
Cultural appreciation. The Olympics offer a platform for celebrating diversity, as athletes from different countries showcase their unique cultures, traditions, and values.
Goal setting and discipline. Olympic athletes set clear goals, work tirelessly to achieve them and understand that success requires long-term commitment.
I can see strong connections between these attributes with what it means to be an active learner. Children who are active in the learning progress, are more likely to have higher levels of achievement. Maybe something worth sharing around the dinner table one night…
Mā te wā! See you later!
Ryves
Congratulations to the following tamariki who received a principal's award at our school assembly today:
Max Gatenby, Waiora Neho, Rakibul Alam, Frankie Benton, Aria Allen, Tessa O'Donovan, Lily Bromley, Mikaela Herbert, Ryder McIntyre, Rosie Bird, Mason Lowl, Cormac Julian, Freyja Hedley, Curtis McDonald, Ruby Lett, Siena Duckett, Sharlin Victor, Mason Brough, Liam Christensen, Anika Cowley, Jackson Pretty, Emily Bush, Caleb Francis, Luke Yukich, Zayne Fabish, Emerson Atkins, Ava-Lee Te Maire, Lucy Lett, Carter Cross, Thomas Van Den Berg, Clara Cockle, Milla Scott.
Kei runga noa atu koe!
Later this term, we will be holding our school cross-country event, followed by the interschool competition for those who qualify. We encourage all children to actively participate.
Our focus is on personal achievement. We want each child to challenge themselves and do their personal best. It’s not about being the best but about each person pushing themselves to do their best. This is what matters most.
It is important that we know if you have a child starting school sometime in the remainder of this year or next year. This will allow us to put organisation in place for new students - especially those starting school, and to understand our predicted roll throughout the year.
You can do this by contacting the office to confirm that we have your child on our records, or by completing an enrolment form (which can be collected from the school or downloaded off our website).
If you know of anyone else living in zone that may be looking to enrol then please share this message with them.
