Message from the Executive Principal

He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata
Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

We are heading into the season of goodwill and cheer. Something we all need to look to spread a little more thickly this year. As the whakatauki says, a precious gift to give that we all could use.

I want to acknowledge the effort of all our students for their amazing efforts this year with having to work through some significant disruptions to learning, and for their engagement with online learning. Also to our families and whānau for your efforts in supporting your child's learning through these times. A very special mention for those students sitting NCEA exams in the next couple of weeks. Know the whole community are supporting and celebrating your efforts with this.

I need also to mention the efforts of our staff in your adaptability and creative approaches to supporting the school and students' learning from a stay-at-home environment this year. Our efforts in this area have given rise to new possibilities for the future to create better and more cohesive national connectedness with students and learning.

Vaccinations
It has indeed been an extraordinary year for all schools, staff, students and whānau across the country. It has been even more extraordinary lately for our communities in the Waikato and Auckland having to go through an extended lockdown period. It is great though to finally see students returning here in Auckland as we open for the rest of the year.

As we begin to look to a new start for 2022, we do know Covid-19 will be in our communities and we will need to use a number of strategies to help keep students and staff as safe as possible. Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. As you will be aware as part of this strategy Ko Taku Reo has had to comply with the Public Health Vaccination Order. This means that since the 16th of November the Covid-19 vaccinations are mandatory for all school staff, workers, contractors and volunteers who may come into contact with children on a school site. Vaccination can help schools reduce the risks of outbreaks and potential school closure. I strongly encourage all whānau and eligible students (currently 12+) to get vaccinated to help keep all of us as safe as we can.

Mask Wearing
Mask wearing is another prevention strategy that will be compulsory in some areas. This of course proves a little bit more complicated for us. The Ministry state: “ The use of face coverings may have a particular impact on those who rely on visual signals for communication. Those who communicate with or provide support to this group of people, are exempt from wearing a face-covering in school settings.”

We still want to encourage the use of masks but not at the expense of access to communication. We will be applying some different exceptions and protocols for non-mask wearing or removal in our provisions. When masks are not being worn we will look to observe the 2m distancing rule. This will also apply to staff. At Ko Taku Reo we have experimented with some masks with clear panels, but they tend to fog or the plastic distorts the view of the mouth. We will put a link in this newsletter to one of the more successful masks we have trailed.

For DHH students in other schools or in other environments, support with mask protocols may also be required. Exemption cards are available for those where wearing a face covering is unsuitable. While the cards are not a requirement for the individual, guidance on the Ministry of Health website notes it may make it easier to explain why wearing a face covering is unsuitable for them.

Organisations that can provide an exemption card are:

• Disabled Persons Assembly NZ – 04 801 9100 or info@dpa.org.nz
• Deaf Aotearoa - https://www.deaf.org.nz/2021/08/exemption-mask-card/

• https://arrowuniforms.co.nz/products/vision-washable-facemask

New Head of Enrolled School
You may be aware that Fiona Gordon has resigned from her position as Head of Enrolled School. She isn’t completely lost to us however as she will still be working in support of some of our students as the new Manager of Disability Services at ARA in Christchurch.

It is my great pleasure now to announce Lisa Sharman as the new Head of Enrolled School from the start of term 1 2022. I am sure you will join me in wishing Lisa well. Lisa is the current Deputy Head of School and is currently in the Acting Head Position.

I wish all staff, students and whānau all the very best over the Christmas break.

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete

Ngā mihi o te tau hou

James Le Marquand