FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Kia ora koutou katoa,
What a start to 2022 we seem to be having!!! I can’t thank everyone enough for the help and support today with the unexpected closure of the school. The power was knocked out at 6:00 am this morning due to a car crash knocking over a power pole on the corner of Wainui and Waitoki Road. Vector informed me this morning it would take at least 6-8 hours to restore the power. They were going to provide us with a generator but this would take longer than the 2 hours a school can go without water to install. With New Zealand being in Level Red the decision to move to emergency closure was made. The Ministry of Education was then informed. The driver of the vehicle, I understand, is ok (also good to know).
A massive thank you to Mr. Brent Robinson, past Board Chair for bringing down a generator. We were able to restore limited power enough for the toilets and water to work and one area of the internet!! What a great community we live in.
Thank you everyone for your careful observance of the requirements we have needed to put in place around being in Level Red, COVID-19. If your child has an exemption to wearing a mask, please let me know then I can ensure all the staff and the bus company, if they are a bus user.
Teachers and support staff are very respectful of every child and will not make any child here wear a mask if they have by you as parents been instructed not to, or are unable to wear one because they are unwell or any other reason. Family situations can change.
Thank you to everyone, for the patience with pick-ups and with the new bus company and runs. Both have been challenging but we are starting to get into a good routine. This week with the rain it does bring a few challenges, please ensure your children have a raincoat as they may get caught in the rain. We do ask that people minimise mixing, coming in to get children if you can drop them off and pick them up. Not the ideal way to start 2022, but once we can mix more freely we will have a Powhiri for everyone and an opportunity for parents/caregivers to come in.
WHAT’S ELSE HAS BEEN HAPPENING
Swimming has started – We are so fortunate to still have a school pool as many schools have taken out their pools or their Boards cannot afford to run them. Our Board has made the commitment to keep the pool running at this stage. It is only used for swimming lessons during class time as we cannot under COVID restrictions have the community use it after hours.
Please put your child’s togs in every day and ensure they have a swimming cap. These are available in the school Office at $3:00 each. Hair in the filters can cause so much damage and block the filters up.
After-school care has started in 2022. We are thrilled to have Skids back this year. If you need the details for this excellent service, please access this form from the website.
Buses – Have you seen the new buses! Go Bus is our new company and we now have 3 runs to replace our old 2 runs. To help the bus company and us please make sure your address is correct. Thank you to everyone who has helped get the route, times and the new drivers sorted!!
THIS WEEK
Life Education Programme – This starts this week. The Life Education Classroom with educator Cindy Barrat will run classes in the special classroom for the Years 5-8 with the focus on “teamwork” – what it means to be part of a team. The classroom has an air purifier so is well set up to run in Level Red. We cannot mix the teacher into other groups. The Year 3 &4 classes will be participating in online lessons with Cindy Barrat and Harold of course!!!
I have included the link to the Life Education website for further information for you – https://www.lifeeducation.org.nz/
Powhiri – The welcome of new children and teachers was to be today but the weather has put an end to this as did the power cut. Sadly we cannot invite all new parents/caregivers to the Powhiri as we can only have the people here under the current procedures. As soon as this changes we will have a Powhiri for everyone who hasn’t been welcomed past and present!!! Let’s hope it is some time soon.
NEXT WEEK
Click on www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter the Event Code: 4syvv
Step 1: Enter your email address, parents’ full name, number of students you are booking for and the student’s name/s. Click the “Go” button.
Step 2: For each student, select your child’s classroom under the first dropdown box and select their teacher under the second dropdown box. Click the “Go” button.
Step 3: Choose the time/s you would like for your Learning Conversation/s by clicking on a time slot that suits you. Missing checkboxes mean that the time has already been booked by someone else. Click the “Go” button.
You have the option to print out a copy of the time/s you have booked, a confirmation will also be emailed to you. You can view, change or cancel your booking by using the link in the email confirmation.
COMING UP
Board Meeting and FOWS meeting dates are being finalised this week. FOWS (Friends of Wainui School) are an amazing group of proactive, positive parents who raise funds and ensure our school is able to achieve our wishes and plans. Nadine Philips is the current Board Chair of our Board and Leslie Ann Linn is the president of the FOWS. Please come and join our FOWS, new members are so welcome.
FINALLY
Please feel free to make a time during the Interviews to come and meet me, it isn’t only for concerns or problems.
I am looking forward to a less eventful rest of the week!!
Ka kite ano,
Gillian Bray
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- Tuesday 8th – Friday 11th February – Life Education van at school
- Tuesday 15th & Wednesday 16th February – Learning Conversations (see above information as they are via ZOOM)
- Monday 21st February & Thursday 24th February – Tui Team – EOTC – Goat Island Marine Reserve snorkeling and water safety
- Monday 21st February & Thursday 24th February – Takahe Team – EOTC – Sailing at Manly Sailing Club
- Monday 14th March – Friday 18th March – Swimming at Northern Arena
- Wednesday 16th March – Tui / Takahe Interschool Swimming – Kaipara Cluster
- Monday 21st March – Friday 25th March – Swimming at Northern Arena
- Friday 25th March – Senior Swimming – Years 5-8
- Monday 28th March – Dance Curriculum (whole school)
- Friday 1st April – Tui Team – Summer Sports Day at Rautawhiri Park
- Thursday 14th April – End of Term 1
- Friday 15th April – Good Friday – Public Holiday
COMMUNITY
