What a remarkable school we have!

We are in the midst of a global pandemic and yet we are still able to provide a supportive, nurturing environment for our students - regardless of if they are coming to school or engaging in distance learning. This is happening because of the thought and aroha our staff have poured into ensuring ngā tamariki remain the centre of all we do. I thank them for this, and the amazing amount of time and energy that has gone into ensuring we are ready for the next phase …….. and the next phase …… and the next phase - whenever and whatever they may be!

In our first five weeks of the school year our students have experienced a rich and varied curriculum. The Health and PE curriculum is in action as I type with Senior and Intermediate students participating in the “Ride On” programme with Sport Tasman. You may notice some of the Intermediate Team around the village in small groups with their tutor as they take their learning into an authentic context. This afternoon our Juniors are walking to the beach to explore the natural world as they develop social connections across their learning team. The Middle Team spent time as palaeontologists at Nelson Museum and enjoying the natural world at Tahunanui on Monday.

A huge thank you to everyone who has paid, or made payments towards their school donation. This helps us provide the rich curriculum described above. It supports us to seize opportunities to make learning come alive inside and outside the classroom.

Our school community’s response to the presence of OMICRON reflects our shared responsibility for each other. Your communication as whānau and willingness to follow protocols such as mask wearing and staying off campus, alongside your vigilance with keeping those who are unwell at home and getting tested has meant that our case numbers are keeping steady. This means we are able to keep school running as normal as possible for as long as possible. We make a great team when we work together for our tamariki.

You will have seen a comment on Spotlight for your student to let you know how they are settling in for the year. We understand that it is difficult at times not being able to come into school, so we hope this comment gave you a brief glimpse into how they have started their year. As always, please email your child's teacher if you have any questions about how your child is going, or if there is information which would be helpful for their teacher to know. This can be particularly important if your family is experiencing change or uncertainty. This information is always held in confidence by the teachers, but is really important to have so we can support your child to the best of our abilities.

Ko ngā pae tawhiti whaia kia tata Ko ngā pae tatai whakamua kia tina

The potential for tomorrow depends on what we do today

Ngā mihi aroha

Sharon Prestidge

Principal

Māpua School