Remaining at Alert Level 4

Kia ora koutou,

Such a lot can happen in a week since writing the last newsletter.  We were so fortunate running the cross-country, sadly the interschool events have all been cancelled. Please keep an eye on the website as I am marking which events are cancelled as this happens.

I think we had all anticipated a further extension of Alert Level 4 and the Prime Minister has confirmed this. The alert level will be reviewed on Friday afternoon, but for now, Alert Level 4 will remain in place until 12:59 pm Friday 27th August and Tuesday 31st August for Auckland.

Despite this news, it is really pleasing to see alert Level 4 is having its impact on the number of confirmed cases, with numbers not dramatically increasing as they would likely have done if we had been at a lower alert level.

And so our distance learning programme will continue!  All classes have a daily session on Google MEET or Zoom and have set up recurring times. We would like to accentuate here that we do not want this to cause more anxiety or stress, we understand in these times it is different for everyone, but remember it is the same for all children across the country.  So much learning happens with you as the parents playing games, creating and making things, both inside and outside, cooking, feeding animals or building a tree hut in the garden. The teachers and support staff have been meeting daily on Google Meet as a staff to talk about how our distance learning is going, swap resources and also just connect as a team for our own well being. The teachers have commented how this time for the older children has been a seamless transition back to distance learning as we have done this before. We do understand for junior children and parents this is the first time, it can be very stressful, but once the routines are established from our past experiences, we found it works very well. The routine connections for everyone provide structure to the day and the connection with teacher and friends is something the children love.

Devices – We have packed up 23 devices to lend out if you need one.  Please let us know if you need to borrow one and we can arrange this for you.  I would like to thank the teachers that have been in (one from each team) to pack up the devices to lend out to families.  If the times we have put in place do not work for you to pick up the device, then we can arrange a better time for you. Please note it is only in very limited circumstances that students, parents or caregivers are allowed to come to the school grounds so it is imperative we do contact Mrs Van Dyk in the schoolhouse as she has been amazing in helping distribute things.  Please do not come to school unless you have been individually contacted by us to do so, otherwise, you will be in breach of the COVID-19 Health Response Order.

I do encourage you all to connect with the teachers, and if you as parents would like to chat to the teacher please let them know (email can work for this). If anyone would like to contact our school counsellor Tracey Munton she is available so please contact her on email –  [email protected].

Board of Trustees News – Our scheduled meeting on Tuesday will go ahead next week on ZOOM. We thought it would be great to reintroduce the Policy Review System.  We use School Docs that has been created by an ex Principal’s wife to help us all manage policy and review in a better system. Wainui School have been using this system for many years, and know that our policies are in line with National requirements, legally up to date and not too cumbersome.  We would love to involve more parents in our reviews and thought as we all have a bit more time now is a good time to do this.  Please follow the links to review the policy, It does have a few steps but once you have navigated this it does work well.:

Policies for review are

1. Behaviour Management
2. Concerns and Complaints

Steps to Review

1. Go to the Home page of the Wainui School website- click the “Policies and Procedures” button
2. Access through the www.schooldocs.co.nz
3. Click the green button right side of the screen “Search for your school”
4. Type in wai- find Wainui School (careful you don’t get Wainui Beach!).
5. Username: wainui.  Password: wai123
6. Click on the Green tab “Current review” next to Home tab
7. The two policies for review will appear for term 3; 1. Behaviour Management, 2.Concerns and Complaints
8. Click on the title e.g Behaviour Management – read through
9. To review click on the Red tab  “Under Review Term 3 2021”
10. Follow the directions to review.

All staff members and Board of Trustees have the opportunity to review these policies.

Ag Day Chicks – Mel went into school the first day of lockdown and distributed all the chicks in a contactless way!

Finally – We know some families in our community may be finding it difficult to access food and essential items such as medicine.  This information about how to access food or essential items summarises the supports that are available, including financial help to buy food.

Please do take care and let us know how we can best support you and your whānau.

Kia kaha!

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

• Wednesday 25th August – Takahe Team – Interschool Cross Country – Muriwai – CANCELLED
• Thursday 26th August – Otago Problem Solving Challenge – POSTPONED
• Friday 27th August – Daffodil Day and Sausage Sizzle
• Tuesday 31st August – Asia Experience Day – Takahe Team – TBC
• Friday 3rd September – Assembly – Takahe Team – POSTPONED – DATE TBC
• Thursday 9th September – Immunisation – Years 7 & 8
• Wednesday 15th September – FOWS Meeting – 7.00pm – Staffroom
• Friday 17th September – Tui Team Assembly
• Wednesday 29th September – Year 3 & 4 Production
• Tuesday 28th September – BOT Meeting – 6.30pm – Staffroom
• Thursday 30th September – Young Farmer
• Friday 1st October – Winter Sports Prizegiving.
• Friday 1st October – End of Term 3
• Monday 18th October – First day of Term 4