By Simon Clarke | Posted: Monday August 26, 2019
Remember the times...
The school is a buzz with excitement as we prepare for two big events. The biennial school production and the Kaikorai Primary 150th reunion.
It has been wonderful seeing the children so engaged with learning about the schools and the wider worlds history. It was indeed a very different time for children at Kaikorai School in the first half of last century but after interviewing some former students in their 80s and 90s for the commemorative book, I realised that many things are very similar.
Despite discipline being a major part of their school days, I was surprised that they have spoken with such fondness of their teachers due to the relationships they had with them. They knew that their teachers were only trying to do the best for them and they respected them for this. This is something that we do talk about repeatedly as a staff as I believe you can be a great technical teacher but the fantastic teachers are those who also have great interpersonal skills with their students. I hope that our students will speak as fondly of their teachers today when they are interviewed for the 200th anniversary!
The reunion will be a great chance to learn more about the history of the school and for former students of the school, of which their are many, a great chance to catch up with old friends. Please encourage any former students or staff of Kaikorai School to go to www.kaikorai150.co.nz
History will once again be repeating itself as much like the 1919 reunion which was held to raise money for the creation of the War Memorial steps, the money raised at the 2019 reunion will go towards bring them back to their former glory.
I have noticed that after school parking has improved significantly since my plea in the last newsletter and my thanks goes to everyone for your support. I have been working with the DCC to remove the P5 and turn the south side of Wright St parking into a "kiss and run" section which will improve traffic flow and make it easier for people who just want to pick up their child rather than get out of their car.
Finally, the Otago Community Trust have once again been very generous to Kaikorai Primary School and have granted a $30,000 donation towards the playground project. We are almost at our target and design work will begin in earnest now.
I look forward to seeing you all at the upcoming production!