This week I strolled into the orchard and garden and ate a fresh bean, a juicy apple of a tree and saw a huge pumpkin. The Year 4-5 team are gearing up for a new and exciting programme called Garden to Table. The children are learning to grow, harvest, prepare, and share great food. This is such a fun activity that links in so many curriculum areas. I can not wait to see what creations come out of our very own gardens.

As a community, we continue to look after each other as the uncertainty of the COVID surge is hitting Christchurch. Hopefully, you have plans in place should you need to isolate in your household. A number of you have faced this reality already. It has been wonderful welcoming those children returning from isolation. The school environment is one of happy familiarity and routine for children. Even though it is a safe place to be we can not stop the spread of the virus even with all our safety protocols in place.

The children are happy and settled at school (all 3 of them!) and we look forward to returning to some normality towards the end of the term as a whole school. This week all of the new children received their Knights Stream Bracelets - always a highlight. Usually, we would hold a Mihi Whakatau with whānau to celebrate this occasion. The staff had a quick outdoor distance catch up last week - our first in 3 weeks. It was great to see smiling faces once again! The staff are doing an amazing job by keeping the usual routines going even though numbers change on a daily basis.

On Tuesday March 15, 2022, marked the third anniversary of the senseless attack on the Linwood and Al Noor Mosques. These attacks shattered all of us and broke our hearts. Over the past three years our Muslim community has shown us love and forgiveness, I hope what we have shown them is a more inclusive country that will continue to stand in unity against discrimination. 

Look after one another, stay safe and well and together we will get through this.

Kia kaha

Matua Mike