Tena koutou katoa. We’re well into our second week of Level 4 lockdown and I hope you are well and safe. Our Milford School staff are working hard to ensure the students are still engaged in their school learning and their connections with their teachers and friends. Thank you to the teachers and staff, all of whom are involved in many different ways, from face to face meetings, to behind the scenes work which enables us to keep delivering the curriculum. It was lovely to see everyone in an online meeting yesterday, checking in to share information and news, resources and birthday wishes!

We do have a number of messages to pass onto you today. Please read through and make note of anything you need to.

• Our school Productions have been postponed to Week 7 of Term 4 (Tuesday 30 November to Thursday 2 December performances). If you have purchased tickets to the productions, these will be carried over, there’s no need for you to do anything about these.

• Kristin Young Leaders Day (event for senior students) has been cancelled.

• The Keeping Ourselves Safe unit has been postponed until Term 2, 2022.

• Parent/Teacher/Student meetings that were planned for later this term have been cancelled. We will still hold student-led conferences in Week 3 of Term 4. You are very welcome to contact teachers if there is anything you would like to discuss, we always welcome parents into school.

• The Year 6 PYP Exhibition will remain in Week 3 of Term 4.

• ICAS Exams for Year 4 - 6  are now in Term 4.

• Sculpture on the Shore and the Festival of Song will be confirmed at a later date.

Whilst we can’t confirm when we will get back into school, we hope these updates will be helpful for your planning.

During Level 3 Lockdown, the children of essential workers are allowed to come to school during the hours of 9am to 3pm. There will be staff supervising the students in their distance learning. If you are an essential worker and need your child to attend school in Level 3, please email sara.baker@milford.school.nz to let me know now, so we can have an idea of how many classrooms and supervisory staff we will need. Once Level 3 is confirmed for Auckland, I will be back in touch to confirm the children’s attendance. Thank you.

I have been Acting Principal this term for the first five weeks and am now handing over to our other Deputy Principal, Mrs Nicola Hewitt for the second five weeks. It has been a real privilege to act as Principal at such a wonderful school! Nicola will be amazing as Acting Principal, and you are welcome to contact either of us.

Nga mihi mui,

Sara Baker

Acting Principal