Tena Koutou Katoa

This has been a sobering week with the loss of Gus, and the rolling impact on the Peninsula community. Thank you in advance for the support with baking for the celebration of Gus Menzies life on Monday.

Our term has had a very settled start, and it has been a pleasure to talk with whanau about the progress we are already seeing with learning and student development. Our key focus in Term 1 has been engaging in learning, establishing strong work habits, and experiencing success.

Part of the settled start to the year has been moving camps from early term 1 into later in the year. This will enable us to have time to use camp as a rich context for learning and self-development incorporating curriculum and learning opportunities, potentially Duke of Ed, William Pike, and to build further development of self.

Thank you to the whanau who have been able to attend the learning conferences, we want to see every whanau, as touching base at the beginning of the year helps the teachers more deeply know your child and enables us to develop shared goals and focus areas. If you have not yet been to school we are keen to see you and will be in touch to offer options.

Thank you to whanau for completing the Values survey. We are collating your feedback and will be using this to inform our next steps with PB4L and our school values.

In the newsletter today we have articles capturing learning, celebrate sporting achievements with Athletics and our senior leaders continue to actively shape initiatives at AAS.

I have attached the cyber safety agreement which students signed at the beginning of the year. We are currently dealing with breaches of this which have placed other students at risk of being made to feel uncomfortable. A reminder to whanau and our students that the school expects students to engage online as good citizens and abide by the school values online the same as we expect in person.

EOTC blanket consent form for all parents to approve

Please see below the link to our reviewed blanket consent form for EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) in the Peninsula. The Board has approved a blanket consent to cover low-risk activities and learning opportunities that span the Peninsula, including Little River. These activities will be low-risk such as athletic sports in Little River, or visiting an artist, local day trips that are low risk. Any activity with increased risk, or water will require separate consent from parents and separate EOTC planning and approval.

We are trying to minimize the demand on you to provide consent for low-risk activities and rather send an email to keep you informed of any planned events and any requirements of the activity.

Please complete the form and submit it as soon as you can. We will require every child to have this consent signed off in order for them participate in these offsite activities.

https://forms.gle/2H45iMdxXbGCrWpw5

As I sign off for the week, just a reminder we have a Teacher Only Day on Monday and school is closed.

My thoughts are with the wider community this weekend and on Monday.

Nga mihi nui

Vicki McIntyre

Tumuaki

Akaroa Area School