Today marks the first time I have been able to return to school since the country went into Alert Level 4 on 26 March.

The fact we are moving into Alert Level 3 from Tuesday next week means we are on our way back to normality but it is essential that we are not complacent and that we continue to stay home, and work and learn from home if at all possible.

To that end I would urge you to keep your children home over the Alert Level 3 period if you possibly can. If you do require your child to return to school next week it is essential that you have let us know, preferably through the form that was sent out on Tuesday. Another link to the form can be found here if you have not completed it. Please note this only needs to be filled out by parents of Year 9 and 10 students who need to come to school.

Further information will be provided on Tuesday 28 April to the families whose children will be attending from next Wednesday. School hours will be 8:50 - 3pm during Alert Level 3.

Please note that Monday 27 is the day ANZAC Day is observed and Tuesday 28 is a nation wide Teacher Only Day. This provides students with a long weekend to have a break from their studies and for schools to get set up for those students who are returning. Students will not be set work for these days. From Wednesday 29 the school is open to Year 9 and 10 students who are unable to be cared for at home (see above). All students (including those coming to school) will continue to learn via online means throughout Alert Level 3. Please be aware that a number of our teachers will be delivering their online courses as well as supervising students here at school over the Alert Level 3 period. This is a significant ask and another reason I would urge you to keep children at home if possible.

From Wednesday 29 it is possible for students in Years 11 to 13 to come and collect resources from the school. This can only occur by prior arrangement with the school office and must be contactless. If your child requires materials from school please phone or email the office admin@otagogirls.school.nz to arrange this.

During Alert Level 3 the school office will be open from 8:30am to 4pm. There will be no second hand uniform or other sales possible at this time. We will not be enforcing Winter Uniform at the beginning of the Alert Level 2 restrictions as we are very aware that many families have not had the opportunity to purchase these uniform items. Second hand sales will be available from the school once we move into Level 2 and there will be some support available to help families experiencing financial hardship. Again, please contact the school office if help is required.

I am aware that many students have been finding working in the online environment quite overwhelming at times. The main priority for all of us at this time needs to be the wellbeing of ourselves and our whanau so please feel confident in stepping in and getting your child to take a break and/or leave their work if you have concerns about how much work they are doing or the toll it is taking. Once school is back to normal we will be putting a number of strategies into place to support students to catch up or stay on track. A mantra we are starting to use is:

Self-care. Keep it simple. Do what you can, when you can. Pause. Breathe. Smile.

Thanks to Miss Young and Mrs Porter for this!

Once again I would like to take the opportunity to thank the support and teaching staff who have kept things ticking over while we have been in Alert Level 4. The school is clean and tidy thanks to our amazing cleaning and caretaking staff and students have been able to continue to engage with their teachers, their classmates and their learning through the Zoom sessions and google classroom activities. One thing that has become very clear throughout this process is that the online environment is nowhere near as responsive or personal as the good old fashioned physical classroom and I know the vast majority of us are looking forward to ‘normality’.

All the best for the week ahead. Enjoy the sunshine and remember to Pause. Breathe. Smile!

Ngā mihi

Linda Miller