Tēnā koutou,

Having spoken with someone this week about what their friends and family members are going through in Ukraine at the moment, it has definitely made me reflect on my privileged life and the things I take for granted. It may be easy to feel like things feel a bit hard here in Aotearoa New Zealand at the moment, but on reflection, life here is still very good. When I hear about families fleeing for their lives, leaving their homes and sometimes their homeland, leaving or losing family members, or staying and risking their lives to protect their homeland, then I realise just how much I have to be grateful for. 

Our fundraising kaitiaki group (leadership and guardianship group) is currently planning an event to help raise funds to support people impacted by what is happening in Ukraine, so watch this space. I have also had a number of older students talking with me over the past week or so about the conflict, so it is certainly on the minds of some of our ākonga. It is important that we engage with our tamariki about these issues, rather than avoid talking about the hard stuff. Here is a link to some tips for talking with our tamariki about war.

Our thoughts and best wishes are with all of those impacted by the war in Ukraine, and with those who are elsewhere in the world worrying about family and friends and perhaps feeling helpless. Please be ready to support our kaitiaki group when they run a fundraising day in aid of Ukraine a little later in the term. In the meantime, below are several ways in which you can support those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine today.

Red Cross Humanitarian Crisis Support

Save the Children Ukraine

UNICEF Ukraine

Kia pai tō wiki - have a good week. Take care of yourselves and of others around you, and take time to appreciate what we have here in Aotearoa.

Ngā mihi nui,

Urs Cunningham