I had hoped this year would start differently – full classes, full curriculum, celebrations, events…, but COVID-19 is not done with us yet.

Welcome to the first newsletter of the year. For those new to our school this year, our newsletters are written by our students. They share their learning and their school experiences once a month in this newsletter style. It gives them an authentic purpose for their writing, develops important messaging skills, and we hope it improves our home school partnership.

It has not been the start to 2022 we would have wished for. Thank you for your calm and steady influence with your children. School, despite everything, is still a great place to be – activity, laughter, engagement, music, and learning.

The next 3-6 weeks will continue to challenge us. Covering for staff who are absent to support isolating family members or because they are unwell could test us during this time, but we have put good plans in place. They might even include me in a classroom which will be fun. I am so lucky to have teaching and support staff who are committed to keeping our school running as smoothly as possible during this time.

As we have moved to stage 3 in the RED light system, changes have been made to the definition of a close contact. Only those who live in the same house are now close contacts. If someone in your home tests positive for COVID-19, then your child must stay home too. The ministry has advised us that if this does happen in your home, everyone should get a test on day 3 and day 10. Then your child, if the test is negative, can come back to school on day 11. If you child feels unwell, please keep them at home and if you suspect it is COVID-19, please get them tested and let us know if it is positive.

Online home learning is up and running and while we never expect an unwell student to engage with this, any students isolating should participate. It is important that your child contacts their teacher to talk through how they are doing and what they need.

School life continues behind the scenes regardless of how COVID-19 impacts us. We have still developed the strategic plan for the year, reflected on what we did and did not achieve in 2021, set a timetable for start of year assessments as best we can, and created an ‘optimistic’ timetable for sporting and cultural events in the months ahead. Staff have begun their personal and professional learning for the year.

Early next month our new website will be in place. It is hosted by Hail, who support this newsletter format too. The newsletter will reflect and connect to the new format website.

I hope many of you have signed up the Parent Portal on our student management system Edge. This will make life easier for all of us I hope. The 2022 invoices will be sent you soon and the Parent Portal is the best way to manage these.

Thanks again for the ways you have supported us, your children and the community during these challenging times.

Nga mihi nui

Angela Lowe