Kia ora koutou whanau,I write this in lock down day 24, it is the most extraordinary of times. I hope this finds you well in your bubble and our students have commenced their online/distant learning. We are very grateful to our staff who have worked hard over the holidays to deliver the curriculum in this new environment. We are all learning and with learning comes speed bumps. By the time this newsletter is issued, the Prime Minister will have announced at what point we enter Level 3. Meetings with the Ministry of Education are taking place to finalise the detail of what this looks like for our schools. We are confident that our two high schools will work in unison and that we will employ the necessary health and safety measures to ensure our staff and students remain safe and well in this pandemic situation.The Board continues to progress the Principal recruitment process with applications closing last Friday. We also continue conversations with the MOE regarding our property requirements.It is important in this climate to balance your home circumstances with the needs of your whanau and school work. Please make contact with the school if you are feeling in any way concerned with your child's learning or anything that could be impacting their access to learning. We are all in this together and we can make it work to suit your circumstances.We encourage you to access the various avenues of assistance available:
https://covid19.govt.nz/individuals-and-households/health-and-wellbeing/ On a lighter note, FICA (forestry) have engaged the services of Pio Terei to do a series on coping in lock down. It is worth a watch and you are guaranteed a laugh, there are 5 in the series so far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tGmSatEUcU&list=PLC8bsq1HkBElXg3eUvIkjgcL5Un4eLfFw

Kia mau, kia ū, otirā kia haumaru

Hold fast, stay strong, furthermore be safe