Message from the Principal

Dear Parents /Caregivers,

Return to school Post lockdown

We are happy to report that our children are in fine form at school in the time since the lockdown. A lovely tone prevails right across the school with the children fully engaged in their work. Our teachers have and are doing a great job in the way they are managing this transition. The children have had lots of stories to share and we have certainly enjoyed listening to their family lockdown adventures and experiences. The children are pleased to be back and we are pleased to see them back.

Lockdown thank you to parents

We just want to say a big thank you for the way you have supported us throughout this lockdown period. The respectful way you have followed the government directed requests through us has been hugely appreciated in our quest to keep everybody safe. An example of this has been the respectful way you adjusted to the drop and pick up areas at the front and back of school as we managed the transition back up to full speed as a school. Thank you for the positive feedback and the many kind comments that have come our way for the work that our staff have done during this time. Our staff have been awesome during this time and I am really proud of them.

It is fair to say that this time has been challenging for us all and for many the challenges are continuing with changing job situations. We are mindful of where many of our families are at, at the moment and for those who are trying to get businesses back into full swing please contact us and we will give you a plug on our facebook page. We want to use our networks to help you all get going again!

Level 1 / Contact Tracing - IMPORTANT!

Isn’t it great that we have got through all the alert levels. You have noticed that we have QR codes positioned at our school entrance ways and at classroom entrances. We ask that when you are visiting school that you register via the QR codes as recommended by the Ministries of Health and Education.

This procedure is important as should another COVID-19 outbreak happen and it involves a school the quality of the contact tracing is a factor in determining reopening a school after an initial 72 hour closesure. Many people see the constant need to QR when entering a school as an imposition. The greater imposition will be a school closure because of a COVID-19 outbreak and the inability to trace the source of the infection.

Please take the time to QR when you enter our school campus. It’s not about you but rather about us, our school community and our country. It only takes a couple of minutes to QR. If you have problems please see our friendly school admin staff for help.

Wellbeing - Mindfulness Training Programme

You will be aware through the children that we have had a mindfulness programme running throughout the school this year as part of our health curriculum. This programme is called “Mindful Movers “ and is being led by Karen Hoult and facilitated by Johanna Borella and Erica Videma. They start their day by working with staff and then work with classes during the day. The strategies that are being taught are in line with our Friends for Life programme.

At a time when we are all focusing on wellbeing I could not recommend a better programme at this time for our children. Practical mindfulness techniques being taught include self awareness of green and red brain states, focus skills, managing anxiety through breathing and meditation and managing unhelpful worries and thoughts. These are life long skills that we want all our children to have. In fact there are a lot of good practical suggestions for we adults as well. We will send information home as this comes to hand.

School Grounds / Construction Project all go!

One of the joys of being back on deck at school is seeing our MOE building projects up to full speed again and seeing the outstanding work our new caretaker Ben Kroening is doing on our grounds and gardens. We are loving our new environment and it makes us feel so good as we go about our work with our children. If you see Ben please stop and give him some feedback and encouragement. We look forward to formally introducing Ben to the children at assembly next week. It is great to see the respectful way our children are looking after our garden areas. We want this to continue.

Thank you PTA

Thank you to our hard working PTA who have recently gifted the school, funding to complete the synthetic grass projects by the flagpole and by Room 9. These mini stage areas look fantastic. This idea was created by our senior students and it is great to see the use these areas are getting already.

MOE Teacher Only Day

Thank you for your support during our recent teacher only day. We appreciate the time and effort that goes into juggling children and childcare at times like this for parents, but rest assured that this day was a most valuable day for us professionally. The time spent here will enable us to introduce this new curriculum to our children. Aaron Jukes leads our Digital Curriculum and this day was led by him and facilitated by Arnika Macphail. We have a new Digital Curriculum and this is the year that this curriculum is being launched.

Highlights for this term:

1. School Disco - Friday 26th June (Week 9). This year the Disco has an ‘Under the Sea’ theme. Our Disco entry and behaviour expectations are:-

   1. All Junior students must have an adult accompany them at the disco.

   2. All senior students must be picked up at the end of the disco from the Hall Foyer. (at 8:30pm.) Students can only leave the disco if they are accompanied by their parent(s) or a family member or friend of the family by arrangement.

   3. Only students who attend Queenspark School can enjoy our disco.

   4. Side doors of the hall are to remain closed and are not to be used for exit or entry during the disco.

   5. Students will not be allowed outside during the disco.

   6. Entry at the Door: $2.00 or prepay a Disco Combo $5 (includes Entry Fee, Water/Fizz, chips & lolly bag)

   7. The Disco Combo $5 must be prepaid via Kindo or at the School Council stall outside the hall foyer from 22nd to the 26th June (Mornings from 8:30 to 9:00 am)

   8. Junior Disco (for Years NEST, 1, 2, 3, 4) 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Senior Disco (for Years 5, 6, 7, 8.) 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm

Date: Friday 26th June (Week 9)

Where: The School Hall

Hope you are doing well out there.

Kind Regards

Ross Willocks

Principal