Welcome to Term 2
The first major event for toko School this term is the JONES CUP. It is Jones Cup time again!
This year we will have two senior netball teams, and one team each in the intermediate and junior school competitions.

In the rugby we will have one junior, two intermediate and one senior!
Fantastic support again from the coaches. Thank you coaches!!!
Each class has started with their own theme this term, which is a break from the norm. But with the short term in term 1, a few things didn't get finished, namely the Feast and Famine unit.

Richard has been working away in Room 5, pretty much full time! What a timely reminder abut the realities of the full time teacher!
My plans are to be the teacher until the new DP, Shannon O'Brien arrives at our fine school in about week 6.
Reasons?
Well one reason is: At least I will create my own problems! What I mean is, it doesn't matter how good any reliever is, they re still relievers and I was unable to get just one! So I felt that problems would start to surface pretty quickly and gaps appear equally quickly between the various relievers available. SO I AM DOING IT INSTEAD. So far so good. No actually I am really enjoying the kids. Room 5 is a great class of willing students. Great personalities!!!!

May10th
WOW we won the Jones Cup in 2010! There is a million photos in the school gallery for parents if they want to pop in and have a look!
WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY! I MEAN IT. WEATHER WAS STUNNING AND THIS JUST PUT A SMILE ON EVERYONES FACE !! Big thank you to St Mary's and Stratford High School. Must get those "thank you grams" done this week! Also a big thank you to our own wonderful PTA! Plus our own parents that just help us! Fantastic! Bring on Jones Cup 2011!

Tuesday the 18th
Today I handed in my resignation to the Toko School BOT, effective at the end of Term2 2010. I have been appointed Principal of Turuturu School. This is a very positive step for me... and after 13 years at Toko School I am looking for further challenge.
Please read the more formal correspondence with the community!
Here I would just like to add that it has been an honour being the Principal of this school. There is an enormous amount of Richard invested in Toko, but change will be great for the school. I feel sad that I will not be teaching the Year 5 and 6's in 2011, but they have now a wonderful new DP in Shannon O'Brien and I am convinced that her happy attitude and focus on learning will be just what the children will love!
The appointment process is underway to find the next Principal of Toko School. I feel confident that we will be able to find a fantastic new Principal!

Planning for the end of the term!

We are involved in a neat KIWI unit. Chris Grabow from the Taranaki Kiwi Trust came to school for two visits and we have also set up really cool Predator tunnels, where the kids monitor the animals that roam the school grounds!!! Great fun.

Tuesday the 9th
Welcome to Shannon O'Brien, our new Deputy Principal!!!! Shannon starts in Room 5. Awesome. We are all looking forward to working together!!!

School Reports
Well we are all busy writing reports for the mid year interviews scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week!. This is a really busy tome for teachers! And me as I have written the Room 5 reports, after teaching for 4 days a week in their classroom, as Mrs Spencer left at the end of term 1 2010! I tell you that it has been a pleasant reminder as Principal to teach, pretty much full time, and do reports.... You cant say I have lost touch with reality!!!!!
The reality is that a child's report is really a minimum of 1 hours time to complete.
You need to access the data you need to ensure that you have your facts straight. You need to write. You need to proof check carefully. You need to add a photo, print, proof read again and then hit the colour button. For me it also involved reading other teachers reports as well to ensure quality control! It is a big job. Now it is time for parent interviews.

New Principal Appointed
The Toko School Principal appointed is Kim Waite.
Kim previous position was Deputy Principal at Stratford Primary. Kim will take up the reins at Toko in approximately 4 weeks, about week 3 of term 3!
This is a very positive appointment and we are all looking forward to working with you! WELCOME TO TOKO SCHOOL.

Personally I see the appointment of Shannon and Kim as great for the future of Toko School. They will make a great leadership team. Great synergy, and this can only be good for the children of Toko School.

A special thank you to the BOT'! Many hours of research and interviewing and discussion have been involved in the process of appointing Kim. This is an example of the quiet strong governance of Toko School.

Another point I would like to make is the very, very high caliber of the applicants for this position! I of course was not privy to the details of any applicant or application. However, it is clear that Toko School has been looked upon as an excellent next step to very capable, smart and successful educators!

Parent Interviews This week
Monday 2.30 till 7.30 and the same for Tuesday!
Welcome parents to Toko School. I will be really interested in the feedback, as we are using a new template to better reflect the needs of the new National Standards!
I hav really tried my best to make it as clear as I can to parents about the National Standards, so I am not repeating myself here.

Friday 25th
Cool basketball game! We lost by one point! Darn it!

Monday the 28th of June
You are all very welcome to my farewell on Friday the 2nd of July!
Im planning a little farewell of my own.