Tēnā koutou katoa, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Bula vinaka Despite the miserable weather this week, I hope you have all had a great week. We have had another really busy week at O.I.S with a visit from Youthtown and Year 8 girls participating in Self Defence.

Reminder: Teacher Only Day - Friday 25 June: SCHOOL CLOSED

A huge congratulations to our girls EPRO8 team who got seventh place in the Otago Regional finals.

Last week I wrote in the newsletter about supporting our children to step out of their comfort zone, allowing them opportunities, to feel disappointment but yet, have the courage to try again.

Our school values are built on the foundation of relationships, respect, and responsibility. We talk about being IDEAL Students

I....

Dare to Succeed

Engage with Mana

Act with Respect

Learn with Purpose

As part of our rewards system at O.I.S children receive IDEAL cards. Each student needs to collect 10 cards specifically for each value. Today we celebrate Quinn Neal who has received the I badge, this is an incredible achievement. Quinn is a House Captain and role model to other students in the way he displays the O.I.S morals at school and in the community.

I often find myself having conversations with students about Acting with Respect, and this isn't just about how we speak to others but our actions. This week has been tough for our students, as the playing fields are not in use at the moment with the wet weather. This has meant that we have had 350 students plus our Client Schools students using only our courts and hall to play. I have been incredibly proud of how most of our students have shown respect for our environment by staying off the fields and managing themselves to participate in large games.

At O.I.S we value your feedback and I encourage you to continue to communicate with your child’s class teacher. If you have any concerns please contact your child's teacher and they are always open to having a chat at an agreed time. It is much better to sort things out at a low level and restore understanding early on to ensure we are all on the same page. Please also remember to pass on those positives.

Oamaru Intermediate teachers, who are members of NZEI Te Riu Roa, will be attending a paid union meeting on Tuesday 22 June. The school will be closing at 1.05 pm, so if you need your child supervised for the afternoon please email your teacher or contact the school office (4370822).

The purpose of this meeting is for teachers to discuss the priorities for the renegotiation of their Collective Agreement in 2022. Issues being discussed are school staffing levels, which directly impact the education of your children. These meetings are a critical component of the negotiation process and it is the legal right of all members to attend a meeting and have their say. I appreciate that closing the school early is an inconvenience to our school community and we appreciate your support with this.

I hope you have all had a chance to read up on the Proposed Enrolment Zone.

The Ministry website is:

https://consultation.education.govt.nz/education/oamaru-intermediate-es/

Have a wonderful weekend

Rebecca Meek, Principal

Ki te Taumata, Get there with Learning