FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora Koutou to “Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori”
Week 5 in COVID-19 Level 4, and we are all well aware we are still here for at least another week!! Keep doing the great job you are all doing at home engaging your children in distance learning activities and engaging with the teachers. There is some amazing work being done by all ages and the teachers share this with each other on our regular meets. We have children making and creating boats, birdhouses and writing / reading in their groups. Learning is still happening in so many different ways, and in the same way, but online. The routines are well established by teachers now. Thank you to all the teams for your hard work putting together programmes and trying new methods of digital teaching.
There is light at the end of the tunnel with preparations being made to move into Level 3 for Auckland very soon. Schools have clear health and safety practices to follow for all levels to work. Thank you to those that have let us know already your children will be returning at Level 3. There will be a focus on well-being when children and staff return of support, care and reassurance.
Some will be aware there is rising talk of the school holidays moving forward. At this stage, it is talk at the Government level and a decision will be made probably today or tomorrow by the Ministry of Education. This is not a BOT decision and these are areas we all have an opinion on. Once the decision is made we will move on and accept the outcome as it will be impossible to please everyone. I will inform you all as soon as I know if there is any change.
“Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori” – Maori Language Week – Is being celebrated this week. All the teams have various activities to participate with and this will keep developing our Te Reo. I hope many of you got to join the “Maori Moment” at 12:00 pm today.
Administration Upgrades – Thank you to everyone who has already updated their contact details. You would have received a recent email requesting this be done. This will enable us to introduce the APP which needs all contact details to be correct.
School APP – We have set up a new APP for you all to use for communication. It has been trialed by the Board of Trustees members, Mel and I. We are excited to be able to finally launch this. Instructions will be sent to you in the near future.
COMING UP
Planning Ahead – We are still planning for Ag Day and the Year 5 & 6 camp.
Tui Team Camp – 15th – 17th November – Year 5 & 6 – The forms will be sent out by Mrs. Blackburn very shortly. We need to know there is a commitment by all parents for this to happen both in permission, but financially as well.
FINALLY
Virtual House Challenge (this week) – Our Year 8 school leaders have been meeting with myself and Mr. Irvine to see what we could do in our leadership journey and the students have organised a “House Challenge”. There are 3 leaders taking virtual dance classes with some Year 3 and 4 students.
Sharing some fabulous work by some of our students, including Ms. Tollemache dressed as a “pirate”.
Ka kite ano,
Gillian Bray
OTHER
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Wednesday 15th September – FOWS Meeting – 7.00pm – Zoom
- Friday 17th September – Tui Team Assembly – CANCELLED
- Tuesday 28th September – BOT Meeting – 6.30pm – Zoom
- Wednesday 29th September – Year 3 & 4 Production – TBC
- Thursday 30th September – Young Farmer TBC – Depending on Current Alert Levels
- Friday 1st October – Winter Sports Prizegiving. TBC – Depending on Current Alert Levels (likely to be held in Term 4)
- Friday 1st October – End of Term 3
- Monday 18th October – First day of Term 4
- Friday 22nd October – Ag Day
- Monday 15th – Wednesday 17th November – Year 5 & 6 Camp
