Week 7, Term 3

Kia ora koutou,

It has been a changing week in terms of weather. With last weekend highs of 20+ then snow falling Tuesday morning to kick spring off, it has been interesting. The snow on Tuesday began very late which is always a challenge for us in determining whether the school remains open or needs to close. The biggest decision we need to make around a school closure due to snow is whether our young people can arrive at school safely. We are guided by the road conditions report by the Waimakariri District Council, coupled with our school transport operator Torlesse Travel. Also, conditions vary in the wider Oxford district with students coming from as far as the Waimakariri River, beyond the Ashley River and down to Cust and West Eyreton (some from further away). As parents/caregivers, it is essentially your call as to whether it is safe to get to school or not. If school is closed it will be posted on the school Facebook page, school website, sent to your registered email address, and text to your registered mobile phone number. In the ideal circumstances, this decision is made by 7 am, though sometimes mother nature does not play ball!

On another note, it has been a big week for our Year 11, 12 and 13 students as they worked their way through their examination schedule. For our Year 11s, it is the first taste of school examinations and good preparation for the end of year National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) examinations. The feedback has been very positive - our students have clearly prepared and taken this round of assessment seriously. As they start to receive their results and feedback I would encourage them to make note of it and discuss it with their teachers to make the necessary adjustments and improvements for the end of year examinations. I think their reward will be to enjoy the school formal which will take place in the Oxford Town Hall on the 19th September!

Ngā mihi

Mike Hart
Principal/Tumuaki
Te Kura o Te Poho Rakahua
Oxford Area School