We have been through a lot, over the past term. With the Term 1 holidays pushed forward by two weeks, Term 2 has lasted 12 weeks. Six of these were in lockdown and six back here at school. The need to be collaborative and innovative in our approach and the importance of connecting and caring for each other have never been as important. As I refer to our school Malaga, each of our principles and learner capabilities have been reinforced in their importance through this experience.

We have had to adapt in order to ensure we have been meeting our obligations in terms of reporting to parents and caregivers, whilst keeping workload for staff manageable. We have also had to be responsive to the ongoing Covid risk whilst getting education outside the classroom, sporting, and cultural activities back up and running. This has all happened against a backdrop of global unrest around the Black Lives Matter movement and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Throughout the term our students have continued to get on with their learning and to speak out for what they care about. They have combined what they are learning in the classroom with finding solutions to real world problems and with supporting each other. They have been supported by teachers who care and who work hard to make opportunities available to them. This makes me proud; proud of our staff, proud of our students, and proud of what this school stands for in ensuring that diversity is valued and that students are encouraged to realise their dreams.

Next term sees us prepare for our annual Open Night. This is an important event in the calendar as we promote our school to prospective students and their whanau. We have had to make changes to our usual operations to reduce the number of people in the school at any one time. We are running three sessions; at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm. While we are encouraging people to book one of these times, people are welcome to attend without booking first. Often there are concerns among parents that they do not live in-zone. In previous years all enrolments received by the cut off date of August 13 have been successful in gaining places. If you know friends or families interested in finding out more about OGs, encourage them to look at the website and come along to our Open Night.

We have some staffing changes happening at the beginning of Term Three. Ms Kathryn Dick will take up the role of Assistant Principal. Mrs Jenny Seward has been appointed to the role of Acting HOD of English until the end of the year. Mrs Rebecca Laiman is leaving us to take up a full time position at Taieri College. There will be a number of changes as a result of these movements and we are working through the final solutions to them. The beginning of Term Three is also when students in Years 9 and 10 will change their options so it is important everyone checks their timetables prior to starting back.

I wish you all a restful holiday break and look forward to seeing everyone back on July 20th.