Kia Ora from Mr D

Kia Ora from Queenstown!

After three wonderful years at Elsternwick Primary School, I wanted to officially let everyone know that I have now moved on from EPS and have begun an exciting new chapter across the Tasman in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Although it was difficult saying goodbye to such an amazing school community, I will always be grateful for the memories, friendships, and experiences I shared with the incredible staff, students, and families at EPS. I really do miss everyone at EPS and often think back to all the fun we had together in PE, at sports carnivals, camps and the many other activities throughout the year.

Life in Queenstown has certainly been an adventure! It is stunning over here, with snow-capped mountains and a huge lake. I have included photos of the view from my school. Winter here is really cold and we've even had snow on several days. It has taken some getting used to, but waking up to snow-covered mountains is something pretty special.

I'm now teaching at a local primary school and have really enjoyed the challenge of getting to know a whole new group of students. It's been a fantastic opportunity to experience a different education system and embrace New Zealand culture. One of my biggest learning curves has been sport. Rugby is absolutely everywhere over here, so I've been doing my best to learn the game and teach it with confidence! Of course, I've also tried introducing the students to AFL, but despite my best efforts, they don't seem quite as enthusiastic as I'd hoped. I'll keep working on converting them one mark and handball at a time!

I've also been hearing great things about PE back at EPS. From what I've been told, Mr Crosby has been doing a fantastic job and everyone has been really enjoying his lessons. It's wonderful to know that PE is in such good hands.

I hope everyone at EPS is having a fantastic year. I wish all the students, staff and families the very best for the rest of the year, and I look forward to seeing many familiar faces again soon. I'll be popping back to visit before the end of the year, so keep an eye out. I can't wait to catch up with everyone and see how much you've all grown!

All the Best,

Ben De Nardis