23 November 2023
Dear Otaika Valley parent/caregivers,
Board Announcement – New Principal
The Board of Trustees are very pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Sayer as our new Principal. He joins us after a 20 year tenure at Ngunguru School. Rick brings with him a wealth of knowledge in, successful leadership of a larger school, property development, and a comprehensive understanding of learning and achievement. Rick has also worked internationally as an ICT Specialist. He is also experienced in Writer’s Toolbox, which has been a huge focus for Otaika Valley already. Rick is a very personable and enthusiastic leader and while we are all sad to be losing Terry, we are very excited to have him on board. We have no doubt Rick will come in and hit the ground running and will do an amazing job at Otaika Valley.
Please join us in welcoming Rick to the Otaika Valley whanau.
Regards
Melissa Board Chair
2023 Staffing Update
Mrs Courtney de Boer has just recently been successful in gaining a promotion as the new Deputy Principal of Maunu School, effective the being of 2023. This is a very exciting opportunity for Courtney to continue her journey of curriculum and leadership development. Mrs de Boer has been a very hard working, dedicated and ambitious staff member who has taken on every professional development opportunity available to her. This long-term commitment to our school has benefited both children and our staff. She has been our ‘Within School Teacher’ leading the Cultural Competency and Writer’s Tool Box learning in recent years. This recent work has been well established for sustainability and will be a legacy left to continue forward with. We thank her for her commitment to Otaika Valley School, her ability to support both children and teachers and for just been an absolutely lovely persons and friend to us all.
In my first years as a teacher in South Auckland, I was very fortunate to work for a principal who supported teacher professional development. When I thanked him for the opportunities, his response was – if every school supported professional development and teacher improvement, then children somewhere will benefit. He believed teachers need to move schools for experience, I tend to agree. We will miss Courtney, but the children, staff and community at Maunu School will benefit.
Rick and I are working together advertising for a new junior leader for next year. This will also be a new opportunity for the school to move forward.
I wish the new principal Rick all the best and I feel confident that Otaika Valley School has such an experienced principal taking over the reins.
I wish Courtney all the best as well for her exciting new opportunity.
Kind regards
Terry
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