We recently took part in a Council Safety Video regarding speed limits around schools.

Two of our students, Stellar Talauta and Phoebe Driscole, spoke passionately and articulately about the need for cars to slow down around schools. Both have extensive experience as crossing patrollers on Park Road and have seen many near misses as car drivers lost concentration and due to speed were unable to slow down appropriately. We learnt there have been 11 serious accidents on Fitzherbert Ave near our school in 10 years. Having witnessed one of these accidents myself, I can only reiterate the need to slow down around schools.

I would also like to take the opportunity to discuss how your young person gets to school. Part of the council’s safety plan is to increase bike lanes and general space and safety for those cycling to school. We know there has been a huge drop off in the last 20 years of girls biking to school - for a variety of reasons - but, not least because of parental concern about road safety. These concerns are valid but they are also leading to an increased traffic congestion problem within our school environment. While I appreciate parents and caregivers' desire to ensure their young person gets to school safely, dropping them at the school doorstep is not only not necessary, it is creating dangerous congestion. Please help us to ensure our school driveways and nearby bus bays and Huia street are safe for not only drivers but also pedestrians, by observing the following protocols:

1. Do not drive in the school gate to drop your daughter at the office steps. This is only permitted to parents collecting a child from sick bay during the day in which they case they park in the holding bay. Coming into the school driveway is not a school drop off or school pick up place.

2. Avoid coming into Huia street if you can - pick a nearby street to drop your young person off. Most teenagers are fit enough to walk half a block to school.

3. Do not drop your young person off in the school bus bays. This is very dangerous. Again, pick a drop off point close to the school but not right outside it.

We’d really appreciate you following these. Please do not be offended if our staff ask you to move on or remind you of these protocols. They help ensure everyone’s safety. 

message from Tracy Walker, Principal.