We are over halfway through Term Two and teachers are currently writing reports for our Year 7-10 students. Year 11-13 students will have real time reports that can be accessed through the Parent Portal of Kamar with a comment for each assessment that they have completed.

It continues to be a challenging year in regards to Covid and now an increased number of students, staff and family members becoming sick with influenza. 

As New Zealand reconnects with the world, we are bringing to an end the border arrangements that both protected us against Covid-19 and kept a range of other diseases out of New Zealand, including influenza.

We have had very little influenza circulating in our communities since the pandemic began and this means our community immunity is lower than usual.

In climates such as New Zealand’s, you’re more likely to get the flu in winter. Some people get very sick – in most years, influenza hospitalises thousands of people.

We are expecting to see some of the new strains of the flu virus that have emerged in the Northern Hemisphere winter. There’s no residual immunity to these new strains.

This winter there is the very real possibility of having flu and Covid-19 within a short space of time. This can lead to very serious illness and high mortality rates.

If you do catch flu, while you’re unwell, it’s important that you stay away from work or school. Look after yourself and your family – rest and fluids are especially important. Let us know at school if your young one is going to be off for a few days and we will provide some online work for them to complete at home.

Today our Year 10 boys supported the Puketapu Community Trust with some planting of daisy bulbs on the walkway leading up to the lookout below Puketapu. Giving back to the community and performing acts of kindness are all part of what we are trying to achieve in the Rite Journey to give our young students a sense of belonging while developing a strong values system. Other opportunities could come up with helping develop the mountain bike track.

This Friday the Year 13 students are running a formal fundraiser in the form of two junior socials. From 5pm -7pm they have invited students from the contributing schools to attend then from 7.30 - 9.30pm it is open to our Year 7-10 students. Please encourage your  students to come along and have some fun bringing along some cash to buy food, drinks and glow sticks. It promises to be the social event of the year!

Nga mihi nui!

Marcus Cooper

Principal (Tumuaki)

East Otago High School