Principal's Page

Kia Ora Friends

First a lovely email from parents:

Kia Ora Western Heights

I just wanted to say thank you for looking after our three children yesterday! It was such a relief knowing that they were safe and having fun.

It is a comfort and brings us great joy that all three of our children wake up every day excited for their school day. This is shown in the way they speak to others with pride about where they go to school or come home with stories of the sport they tried out that day, or the adventures they went on during bush school, or the dance battle they had at break, or the kindness of a teacher aide who stops for a chat, or when they bring home the artwork they did, or the love and patience they are shown at the reception when they are hurt or ill.

Nothing makes me happier, knowing that my children are in a school that fosters kindness, love, respect, self-discipline and builds a foundation of lifelong learning.

Western Heights is a special school with special character and that is because of the extraordinary people who work at Western Heights.

Mau tonu te mihi,

Stacey and Wayne 

Challenges and School Photos:

We have faced a number of pretty big challenges over the past two or three years. Covid-19 has hit and hurt our community quite hard and in quite obvious ways. I think it has also hit us hard in some less obvious ways. This year we have had more staff illnesses than in any year I can remember in my 31 years as a principal. The obvious one is Covid-19 - with some staff having caught it twice this year. The less obvious aspect, I believe, is that Covid-19 has reduced our general immunity in two ways. 

I think at least some of those who have had Covid-19 have had their general immunity reduced and are thus more likely to get sick, and perhaps, suffer worse symptoms.

The second factor, I think, is that our long time in Lockdown, confined in our small personal bubbles, has also reduced our immunity. Aucklanders spent more time in Lockdown than anywhere else in New Zealand. Thus I think we are more susceptible than the rest of the country.

Covering for such levels of teacher illness - right across Auckland - has been hugely challenging, and stressful. At times we have had to split classes - which adds stress. And stress makes us more susceptible to illness - a bit of a vicious cycle, as they say.

You may remember I was interviewed for TV3 News last term about this very challenge. Our school - along with many others - is facing a considerable financial challenge due to that level of illness. One idea we had to help with this was to do our own school photos this year. It has proved a very big task but we are almost there. The beauty of this project is it is not asking families to provide money for something additional or extra. It is something families always spend money on, only this time any profits come back to our school rather than an outside company.

I understand some families were hoping to have their photos earlier. My sincere apologies for the delays, we truly are doing all we can to get the best quality product to you as expeditiously as we can. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.

As always - if you have questions or concerns about anything school-related - email me at macash@mac.com, and I will get back to you asap.

My very best regards to you all,

Ash Maindonald

Principal.