Kia ora whanau

We need your help! I am becoming increasingly concerned about the behaviour of some of our students in the community. In particular, students who ride scooters are not thinking about others who also use the footpaths. Students are often riding 3 or 4 abreast and at a fast pace, causing others on the footpath to feel intimidated and concerned about their own safety. Students are also crossing roads in unsafe ways by not using crossings and often not bothering to check the traffic flow. There is a lot more traffic on the streets around our school now requiring an even higher awareness of safe behaviour. We have talked to students about this on a number of occasions and will continue to do so. The following are areas of particular concern: crossing Normans Road, Papanui Road and Innes Road as well as not using the Heaton pedestrian crossing, instead crossing at Elmwood Park or opposite St George’s. We are using extra duty teachers to try and improve this situation. St George’s Hospital has requested that students do not cycle, scooter or walk through their grounds. Students are also not to go through the Elmwood Normal School grounds but walk, ride or scoot around the streets.

We ask for your support by talking to your child about safe movement around our community and to consider the needs of others.

We also ask parents not to drive into the school from 8.00 am - 4.00 pm but to drop off students in the drop off areas around the school. We have students arriving early for sports practices and also leaving later in the afternoon.

I recently spoke to a large group of students who catch buses that go through to Rangiora about being considerate towards others with whom they are travelling. If your child catches one of these buses I would appreciate you also having a conversation about this.

Also a reminder that students are to go straight home after school to ensure their safety. Students are not to go to McDonalds after school but can do so if with parents or after they have been home and changed out of their school uniform.

Thank you for your support.

On a very positive note, $700 was raised on our Mufti Day last Friday to support Leukamia and Blood Cancers support and research. Well done to Alisha, Room 3 who initiated fundraising for this very worthy cause and for also making such a large personal contribution by shaving her hair.

Nga mihi

Andrea Knight, Principal