As part of our inquiry focus this year on thriving communities and the part we play as active members, all classes have now visited Orokonui Ecosanctuary. This has been a fantastic learning experience for our students and we have appreciated the help from parents and grandparents who have joined us on these trips. The students have been learning about the things that live around us, discussing their habitat, identifying what they need to survive and how we can help them thrive and visiting the Ecosanctuary to see some of these living things first hand has been an important part of this learning experience.

As a follow up to this, something practical you could do while out and about over the next few weeks is to look for any signs of possums on Otago Peninsula. The Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group have been controlling possums on the Peninsula for the past 13 years. Alongside staff, Peninsula locals have clocked over 100,000 volunteer hours getting us to the point of our Peninsula being very close to being possum free! Please see the attached information about how you can help with the final phase of the eradication to locate the last remaining possums.

I hope everyone has a lovely long weekend for Otago Anniversary. We look forward to seeing many of you at athletics day next Wednesday if you are able to come along. 

Ngā Mihi

Pauline Simpson