On behalf of Te Ao Mārama School we convey our sympathy and sadness in light of the tragic events in Christchurch last week.

This will have undoubtedly been a focus of discussion in your homes over the weekend. Our young people look to us, the adults in their lives to provide support and guidance.

I would like to assure you that we have sought advice from a range of experts as to how to best support our students at school if they have any questions or worries about what has taken place. I will be working to ensure that the staff feel equipped to deal sensitively with any questions that may arise.

Some of the best advice is contained in this post from the Children’s Commissioner: click here

I would also like to inform you that our school has a lockdown safety procedure. This procedure is in place to ensure the safety of our students where we need them inside (rather than outside for a fire evacuation). This could also be for events such as a dangerous dog on the grounds, a swarm of bees, or a chemical spill from a traffic accident. We will be discussing this procedure with staff and students and holding a drill in the next week or so.

Rest assured, our teachers will explain this to students in a manner that doesn’t cause any undue worries. Please see further information here from the Ministry of Education

In conclusion, our priority is to support your children and to keep them safe.

Our school prides itself on its community-mindedness and sees our cultural diversity as a real strength of our school community.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!