Tēnā koutou katoa, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Bula vinaka It would be fair to say that winter has hit us and unfortunately we have seen a number of different events and activities cancelled due to the weather.

We are well aware that a number of our students are active members of their community: playing sports, participating in cultural groups, members of church groups, and other activities outside of school on the weekends and during the week. These experiences help students connect to their lives outside of school and develop a strong sense of being part of a community. Part of staying well is ensuring that our children come to school ready to learn on a Monday after the weekend, ensuring that your child has had enough sleep is a really important part of a child turning up to school ready to learn.

Next Wednesday night (7 July) our O.I.S. Choir will be performing at the Music Festival. A special thank you to Mrs. Catto and Ms. Fletcher for their support in ensuring we are ready for this event. I am looking forward to seeing the choir perform.

As part of Matariki celebrations, our school Kapa Haka group will be visiting our local kindergarten and preschool. Thank you, Whaea Jamaya for your ongoing support with the O.I.S. Kapa Haka.

On Monday, August 2nd we have a speaker coming from the Brainwaves Trust and delivering a workshop on Unravelling the Adolescent Brain. This workshop is FREE and open to anyone who is interested. The purpose of the workshop is to help feel supported and informed as a parent while providing guidance and support through the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Topics covered include;

• Recognising and enhancing adolescents’ strengths

• Positive and negative aspects of risk-taking

• The increased importance of peers changes in sleep patterns

• Exploring the potential influence of alcohol use and benefits and risks associated with social media use.

RSVP to the school office or principal@oamaruint.school.nz 

Illness

We have had a large number of children off school with colds and cases of the flu. We have also had head lice, so if you need support with treating your child’s head lice please don’t hesitate to contact us. I appreciate that accommodating sick children is extra pressure on families, however, we can not have sick students at school. It is really important that you contact the school BEFORE 9 am to let us know your child is away: Skool Loop, text, phone are the most preferred ways to contact us.

Town bus

As of next term, Ritchies bus will no longer be providing the Town Bus Service.  We are so grateful to Murray from Pearsons Coachlines Ltd who will be continuing to provide this service for our community for the remainder of the year.

The bus will be different, but the long-serving driver Darrell, the route, and the current fares will remain the same in the meantime. Pearsons are in the process of getting tickets and term/yearly Ride Cards made. These will be available to purchase from the Driver and at their office 2A Regina Lane from the 2nd week of the school holidays 19th-23rd July.

Waitaki Boys and St Kevin's Interschool Sports Week

Next week is the Annual Interschool Sports Week for our local high schools. I am aware that a number of children at our school are wanting to go and support family members. If you are intending on taking your child along to watch a game please make sure that you communicate this with your child’s class teacher and sign your child out at the office.

Have a wonderful, safe weekend.

Rebecca Meek, Principal