Welcome to Hobsonville School. We are a full primary school (Yrs 0–8) situated in the picturesque Northwest of Auckland. Our goal is to provide the very best learning and life opportunities for our students. I’m immensely proud to lead a school where we can make such a difference to children’s lives and our society. Seeing children develop socially, academically and emotionally into amazing young people is an incredible privilege. It’s also a privilege to lead people who are passionate, dedicated and care deeply about the difference they make in a child’s life. My personal philosophy is that every one of us should aim to be the best humans we can! That’s why it’s so vital to provide an environment where children can experience an all-round education: both inside and outside the learning space. And that’s why I aim to bring my personal best to work each day.

I also encourage our teachers to be the very best practitioners they can be. To develop an environment of care, challenge and responsibility. And to take every opportunity to learn and grow so that they can continue to teach to the very best of their ability. To be their best, I believe that our children must learn about risk, challenge and failure to be able to cope with the world they will live in. They will need to be problem solvers, designers, communicators, dreamers and leaders. Most importantly, they will need values that equip them for the future, respect for other cultures and beliefs, and an understanding of who they are and what their place is in the world.

I also strongly believe that the playground is the place where children learn. They need to have the opportunity to learn to take risks, overcome challenges, develop relationships, solve issues, communicate with others and manage self. At Hobsonville School, children know they can make mistakes and experience failure, but they can also work with others to solve issues or improve their skills in an area, such as climbing trees, riding on our bike track or playing basketball. We don’t separate our year levels, so that older children can learn to look out for the younger children and vice versa – our younger children learn by example. And we know this philosophy is working – research and ERO reports tell us we’re on the right track. We want our students to always continue to embrace our school’s values. To be passionate and have a dream. To always live with the challenge of Being the BEST they can be.

As our students leave our gates and move through their lives, I hope they’ll take these things with them wherever they go:

• Hobsonville School is their waanga (place), a place where they learnt to treat others with respect and kindness,
• Learning is fun and challenging and we never stop learning,
• Responsibility about the world they live in – our environment and sustainability,
• Living a healthy life – eating well, being mindful, looking after their mental and physical wellbeing,
• New Zealand is a bicultural nation where Te Reo is a national language and must be highly valued as a taonga,
• That there are more important things in life than looking at a device!

– Nga Mihi
   ANNE LEITCH