KORERO FROM MIRANDA

Kia ora Rototuna e te Whānau,

I hope you are continuing to be safe in your bubbles as we find ourselves at Level 3, Step 2 and restrictions begin to ease. For some it will mean back to face to face work with retail now being allowed to open for customers. With these changes it is likely that there will be more places of interest people’s paths begin to cross more frequently. As a school we will continue to be vigilant and minimise risks by following our health and safety protocols. If there is a need to take any additional action, for example students being required to stay at home, we will be working directly with the Department of Health and following their directions. If this is the case, you will all be the first to know.

This week is our final week of classes at the Senior High. As you know your students have been focusing on working with their teachers to finish the year well. Collectively, we are working through Whānau and Wānanga Ako to support your young person’s efforts to prepare for exams and complete the work that is due. With the finish line in sight all our young people owe it to themselves to put in one last push to finish well. Encourage your students to make the most of their teachers' expertise to support these efforts.

Exams will test memories and show understanding of particular concepts in one particular subject on one particular day. Remember that your students' results will never be their full measure. There is no exam or assessment that will even come close to showing what your young person is capable of, or the exciting life that is waiting for them.

Finally, we have had to make so many unprecedented changes to respond to COVID at the end of our school year. As a school we had done so much planning to celebrate the triumphs and rites of passage with our young people: the Ball, our Leavers Ceremony, our Puna Wānanga Celebrations and our Prize-giving. I know having to cancel and change these events has been disappointing. I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the determination and amazing resilience of staff and students in this difficult time, finding ways to work around these challenges.

We will now be celebrating our students' achievements with an online Prize-giving. Staff and students have already created an online showcase of Puna Wānanga projects. We are also coordinating a mail-out to our Year 13 students to send them our best wishes. We are looking forward to reconnecting with you and your student next week at Whānau conferences and please be in touch with your Kaiārahi if you have any questions.

Finally,

Stay well. Stay safe.

Wear a mask if going out!

Get vaccinated,

Stay connected,

Ngā mihi,

Miranda