A Farewell Message
E rere ana ngā mihi aroha kia koutou, ngā whānau o te kura o Arataki.
I wanted to follow up with my own personal message.
The decision to step away from Arataki School was an extremely difficult one. I started here as Deputy Principal in 2014 and immediately felt a strong connection to the school and the Arataki community. I consider being appointed Principal in 2015 a huge privilege and will always be defining part of my life.
My reason for leaving is a simple one, I love this school and all I have ever wanted is the best for our tamariki, our staff, our whānau and community. While the job of Principal is extremely rewarding it is also all encompassing and after nine years the time has come for someone with fresh eyes and a fresh passion to take Arataki School to the next level.
For me personally it’s time to take a breath and focus on my family. I am moving into a position in the private sector that will allow me the time to do this. You will still me around because of course I have moko that attend Arataki School.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who came through my door or flicked me through an email to let me know what is going well and what is not going so well. Thank you for working with my team and myself to continually improve Arataki School.
Thank you for being an amazing community!
Ngā mihi
Shelley Blakey