As we reach the end of another week in Level 3 lock-down I would like to extend my thanks again to all our students, staff, parents and the wider school community for your continued support during this period of lock-down. I will keep today’s newsletter article brief as my message sent out to you all yesterday via email, the school app, and our website, outlined the situation as it exists now with regards our move into Level 2. I will update this information early next week after the Government’s Level 2 plans and timeframe are unveiled.

One of the highlights of the week has been our ability to celebrate student successes through social media even when these students are still in lock-down. Some of these achievements reflect our students’ abilities to adapt and be resilient during this difficult time. Year 9 student Immy Morey is to be congratulated on her Dance results which were obtained when her normal competitions had to move online and she had to submit her performances on video. Hannah Matehaere must be acknowledged for her determination and resilience, coming back from knee surgery, to be selected as a reserve for the New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns. Notification of story writing successes of Year 9 students Katherine McArthur and Julia Clark, who will have their stories published in an anthology, brings with it a sense of wonderful normality. The art work being produced during lock-down is also stunning and I encourage you to enjoy the work on show on the OGHS art instagram account featured in this newsletter.

Finally I would like to say how delighted we were to have our purple chair returned to us. It’s removal and return created a lot of interest on Facebook, the ODT and local radio stations! The chair, created by Hard Materials teacher Simon Pickard, has been a feature of whimsey to all new arrivals to the school and is a symbol of the strong and collaborative spirit that exists between our staff and students. It is lovely to have it back in its rightful place for us all to enjoy.