Thank you and goodbye for 2024

As we head into the final throes of the school year, and then shortly after the calendar year, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. As usual, this year seems to have blown by much to quickly, and I’m sure everyone is looking forward to a well-earned rest.

Read the latest print edition of School News online HERE.

This is always a bitter-sweet time of year — the holidays tantalisingly close, but what can seem like a mountain of work to churn through before you get there. Saying goodbye to students as they transition to new year levels or schools, or move out of the schooling system altogether, can also be difficult. Some of you or your colleagues may also be changing schools or professions, and will need to farewell friends. With all of this in mind, make sure you go gently with yourself and your colleagues as you navigate this final stage of the school year.

It’s been a year of change in the Aotearoa New Zealand education sector, and this will continue in 2025. Through both our quarterly print magazine and our weekly newsletter, we try to keep you up to date on the things that might impact your school, the teaching profession, or the way you teach and your students learn.

There’s also continual innovation in the education space, and we have enjoyed sharing tips, tricks and new things for all areas of your school including classroom furniture and storage, sports surfaces, EOTC activities, wellbeing programmes, professional learning development, property maintenance, technological developments, and much, much more.

Thank you to the fabulous School News team — Naomii Seah, who works hard to bring you the breaking education news each week in our newsletter, and who has connected with many of you for profiles and Tumuaki Principal Speaks columns this year; and Dee Dawson, who I know many of you have built strong relationships with over the past several years. Thank you as well to Mandy Clarke, Sarah Davison and Shannon Meyerkort for their writing and proofreading skills.

On behalf of all of us at School News, thank you for your support throughout the year. It is truly a privilege to be able to work with you all, and one that we don’t take lightly. As you finish cleaning out desks, and load all of your teacher gifts into your boot, I hope you take some time to reflect on the year, the memories you’ve made and the things you’ve learned.

Whatever your summer break plans are, I hope you find time to rest and recharge, and connect with loved ones. We will be back in 2025, and are looking forward to sharing more stories with you then!