Tēnā koutou katoa

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou

Welcome to 2022! We all hope that you had some time over the summer holidays to relax and have some fun with your whānau and friends.

We have really enjoyed catching up with our ākonga last week and this week.

NEW TEACHERS

We have four new teachers who have joined us in 2022. We are looking forward to getting to know them better as the year goes on.

Annie Breeze joins us in our Social Sciences department to teach Social Studies, History and Psychology. A number of our rangatahi have already met Annie as she was here on placement.

Te Marunui Toki joins us from Tangaroa School in Auckland in the Technology department.

Jeff Hawes comes to us from the Regional Council to teach Digital Technologies.

Lisa Johnson comes to us from Christchurch and is teaching junior HPE, Maths, Art and Social Studies.

COVID INFORMATION

MASKS

Our position on masks is that we are ensuring that everyone (teachers, support staff and students) wears a mask when they are on a bus or inside to protect our most vulnerable members of society including those who have medical conditions and/or compromised immunity.

We want all of our students to be at school learning and we will work hard with our rangatahi to ensure that they comply with this health and safety mandate.

We also know that most of our students are fantastic at following instructions and we thank you for your support with this. However, If a student does not wear a mask inside, and does not have an exemption, we will follow our school behaviour plan.

Work at home - Akoranga Learning Hub

If your child cannot be at school we are providing learning online. After 5 days of absence if you have not already contacted us we will be contacting you to check in with you and/or your child. We are working hard to get this up and running well

https://sites.google.com/greyhigh.school.nz/ghsonline/

Y13 Peer Supporters

Our Year 13 peer supporters have been supporting our Year 9s to transition to school and are doing a great job of doing this. We very much appreciate their effort.

Support for your own children

If your child needs support please contact their mentor teacher who will be able to help them in the first instance and if they can’t help them, they will find someone who can.

Staying mentally healthy

Everyone's emotional and mental wellbeing is important. It is normal to feel anxious or stressed in times of difficulty. Below are some numbers you can use to help you and your whānau.

• Mental Health Crisis (0800 800 717)

• Lifeline (0800 543 354 or 0800 LIFELINE) for counselling and support

• Samaritans (0800 726 666) for confidential support for anyone who is lonely or in emotional distress

• Depression Helpline (0800 111 757 or free text 4206) to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions

• Healthline (0800 611 116) for advice from trained registered nurses

• Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865

• Counselling Free Call or Text 1737

Sport

Under red alert we cannot do PE or open the gyms up for practice or a play around inside during the school day.

To play in a sports team, where we mix with any others outside of GHS, it is necessary that your child is double vaccinated. Please send in proof of vaccination so they can start to practice.

Sports teams can only practice and play at school after school hours and make sure that they sign in and hand sanitise before and after practice

Any GHS only event i.e. athletics day, cross country does not require student to be vaccinated as we are within our own school no mixing with any other school or public.

Arts

We cannot sing inside during the day. After school students can sing inside if they are double vaccinated (proof to the office please), sign in and hand sanitise before and after practice.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX!

GHS ATHLETICS DAY 2022 - THE RED LIGHT ADDITION!

Thank you so much to Maddy for her amazing organisation skills to allow us to do some of the fun things we offer during the year. We have to think outside the box and we have definitely done this!

Paid Union Meeting - 23rd February 2022

Heads up that we have a paid union meeting on Wednesday 23rd February. We will be closing school early at 1.25pm. Buses will leave at the usual time of 3.15pm. We will be providing supervision to any student who needs to stay at school. More information to come. Any questions please feel free to email me at school.

“Whāea te iti kahurangi - strive for success”

Ngā mihi nui

Samantha Mortimer

Principal