Our Purpose: To prepare students to be active participants who will contribute to their community.

A very warm welcome to Mr Zac Mitchell-Collie, Miss India Mclay and Mrs Justine Robins, who are joining our teaching staff this year.

At the end of last year we appointed four of the staff to new positions within the school. I am excited to work with such a diverse and talented group of leaders.

Assistant Principals: Mrs Becky Kingan and Mrs Jamaya Fisilau

Head of Technology: Mrs Monica Genet

Head of Curriculum and SENCO: Mr Gavin Baumber

Check out our website to meet the rest of the team at OIS 'Our Staff' page

The first three weeks are settling in time. Teachers will be working with your child to build positive relationships both inside and outside of the classroom. As a staff, we are committed to doing our best in educating your child and know that we have the interests of your child at heart. I do ask that you support us and allow your child the opportunity to step up and be responsible for their learning, their behaviour and OIS expectations. Intermediate is a special stage in your child’s life, we look forward to supporting your child on their journey.

We are a Positive Behaviour for Learning School. Our core values have a strong emphasis on positive relationships, respect and responsibility.

At OIS we talk about being IDEAL students;

I.. Dare to Succeed

I.. Engage with Mana

I.. Act with Respect

I.. Learn with Purpose

At OIS we have an open door policy, if something isn’t right, you have a concern or you have a positive to share, we want to know about it. Your first port of call is always your child’s classroom teacher as they are the ones that know your child best at the school. If we don’t know we can’t help. I do ask that you communicate with teachers via their school email or you by phoning the school office. Staff will get back to you in a timely manner. Each week your child's classroom teacher will send you an email to inform you about what is coming up -it is hugely important that you are receiving this email. If you are not receiving an email or your email is not correct, please make time to correct it through the school office.

TRAFFIC LIGHT REMINDER

Thank you for your support with ensuring your child has a mask. We are running two timetables at the moment with Year 8 starting at 8.45 am and Year 7 starting at 9.00 am. We are doing this to reduce the congestion at the gate. When your child gets to school at 8.30 am they are able to go straight into their class when the bell rings, they should not be arriving before that time. A reminder that if your child is unwell, please don’t send them to school.

UNIFORM

Thank you for your support ensuring that your child is in full uniform each day. Don’t forget to check that it is named. We have high expectations with how we wear our uniforms. Please ensure your child has a named hat at school everyday; nail polish, makeup and jewellery is not to be worn at school.

Earrings: One pair of studs only, and earrings must be removed for swimming. A reminder if your child is out of uniform for any reason, they need a note from a parent/caregiver explaining why, the letter is taken to the office where they receive a uniform pass.

SAFETY

Our school gate is very busy at 8.30 am and 2.45 pm - 3.00 pm. For the safety of our students and staff on duty can you PLEASE not park on Pembroke street near the school gate. You can pick your child up from the gate off the main road, unfortunately the Dacre street gate is closed. Make a plan with your child in the morning.

PHONES

If your child needs to bring a phone to school it must be turned off and handed in to their classroom teacher at the start of the day. It is kept secure until the bell rings at the end of the day and then returned to your child.

NEW WORLD
We ask that OIS students not go into the New World before or after school unless an adult is with them. Students are not to ride or scooter through the New World car park at any stage, they must go around on the footpath.

YOUTHLINE

Everyone has difficult experiences or feelings at some point in their life, and it isn’t always easy or useful to try to deal with them alone. Youthline offers a range of different platforms where our children can get support when they need it. Helping them better understand themselves, discover strengths, make decisions, deal with difficult events both past or present, cope with feelings, improve relationships and improve self-esteem. We are very lucky to have two youthline counsellors who visit the school regularly to support children. This is a confidential service.

For more information please contact Kara kara@youthline.co.nz or you can send an email to https://www.youthline.co.nz

SCHOOL ABSENCES & LATENESS

If your child is going to be absent or late, we require parents/caregivers to

• Ring the school office before 9am (4370822) each day or
• Text 022 327 5057 with your child's name and the reason for their  absence
• Download the Skool Loop App and enter your child's absence by  selecting Oamaru Intermediate.
• Non-contact from parents will result in your child being recorded as truant. Please make this your priority in the morning if your child is away from school.
• Any student who is running late in the morning or leaving for appointments during the day must come to the office and Sign In/Out on the Vistab system.

Important Dates

• Monday 7 February - NO SCHOOL - Waitangi Day (observed)

• Friday 11 March - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Only Day

• Monday 21 March - NO SCHOOL - Otago Anniversary Day

• Thursday 14 April - last day of the term (Friday is Good Friday so school closed)

• Monday 2 May - Term 2 starts