The week has been one of joyful excitement as we adjust to school at Level 2.

Thank you to you all for the incredible support as we have worked our way through the first week of Stanley Bay at Level 2. There is no doubt that there were a few first day nerves, but by morning tea the excitement was palpable as the children headed out to play. It was quite a sight to see them all out in the sun and 'being children'. There has been a happy sense of purpose and sheer joy of being with their friends and back at school. 

We have spent the last week building routines and providing constant reminders about healthy hygiene practices. It is amazing how quickly the children have adapted. Below are a few photos of the children adjusting to their new 'normal' at school.

We have also been delighted to hear of the 'bubble' antics and have been witness to many home videos and stories! We have some talented children who have shone in lockdown, expressing their learning in many ways. Two special highlights are a rap song written and performed by Harrison B (shared above) and a fantastic lip sync performance by Ella T, Heidi O and Lizzy T. 

https://app.seesaw.me/pages/shared_item?item_id=item.5184db68-7d57-4c35-87fd-2ee82963cba9&share_token=_BYEFbf8QiGutS-5HW44Ag&mode=share

Take a few moments to watch the videos, they are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. 

A big thank you for embracing learning at home, we are thoroughly enjoying seeing the outcomes of your hard work. 

Revised Drop off Times

At the end of the first week of Level 2, we reviewed our processes and have made changes to drop off times. These changes were effective from Monday 25 May.

Classrooms 4, 6, 7, 9,10

• 8:30 - 9:00 am - Students are not to arrive before 8.30 am and can use the Russell Street gates or the Glen Road gate. Parents are to remain outside the gates. Students are permitted to play on the playground and field.
• 3:00 - 3:15 pm - No change. Please meet your child at either the Russell Street office gate or the Glen Road gate

Classrooms 1, 2,11,13,14

• 8.45 - 9:00am. Students are not to arrive before 8.45 am and must use only the Russell Street gates.
• 2:45 - 3:00pm - No Change.Teachers will bring students out to the court on Russell Street and release them on sight of their parents/carers.
  

Also note:

• Juniors may wait for older siblings and their later pick-up.
• Parents are to remain outside the school, identify the relevant teacher on the court, and send students to join their class. In bad weather, the teachers will wait on the senior deck.
• Seniors, with or without younger siblings, are still permitted to walk home unaccompanied.

Supporting Student Wellness  

Dogs are an important part of life for many of our families and are often included in activities such as walking children to and from school. We know dogs can add value to a family but also understand that some people can find contact with dogs stressful, and even frightening.

There is a lot of research that shows numerous benefits of animals in school, and many schools allow dogs in school as 'therapy' dogs. This term we are having a small scale trial and will be welcoming Indi (Tibetian Terrier) to the office for a couple of hours each week. 

The trial is twofold, firstly our aim is to see how dogs can support student wellbeing and secondly to teach children appropriate behaviour when approaching dogs so that they have a positive experience interacting with the animals. 

Indi has certainly received a very warm welcome from students and staff alike. We will let you know how the trial goes. 

Finally, as we move through Level 2 and we navigate changes to restriction we will keep you informed. We hope before long to have sports teams up and running and once again to be able to invite you into assemblies and other school events. 

Nga mihi 

Lucy Naylor 

Principal