Kia ora Koutou

I feel very privileged to be the Principal of Kenakena School. It’s a school with heart and soul, a school that strives towards excellence in everything we do, and a school that is always exciting, motivating and positive. These aren’t empty words, these are the very foundations of what Kenakena School is all about. Exciting!  Motivating!  Positive!

Kenakena is right in the heart of Paraparaumu Beach, a beautiful, diverse New Zealand community. We work together and we place a strong emphasis on rich learning, which simply means that everything we teach and learn is interconnected, allowing children to really understand the work they do.

To find out how our school is going, how it’s “feeling” I go into the playground to get to know our kids; talk with them, walk with them and have the time to hear what’s important to them. What’s more, I know how important positive feedback is, I keep a ‘Magic Sticker Box’ in my office for when children visit me to show me their best work.

The teachers here genuinely care about the work they do and the children they work with. They are the instigators and drivers of a diverse range of programmes.  Their expertise and leadership across the school complements my own work as the school’s professional leader.  It makes Kenakena a great place to work and learn.

I’m proud of the way we embrace diversity. As well as our New Zealand diversity, families from around the world have settled in our community in large numbers over the past twenty years. These ‘new’ New Zealanders bring a real richness to the culture of our school, as do our fee-paying International Students who are always reluctant to go home when the time comes!

Please make contact if you would like a tour of the school by our Student Tour Guides and to have talk with me about the opportunities Kenakena can offer your children.

Nga mihi nui

Bruce McDonald