Thank you to all of you who have been come into school over the last couple of days. It is great to start reconnecting with our community again.

Talofa Lava! Happy Samoan Language week to you all 🇼🇸, especially our Samoan families. 

It was awesome to see so many parents yesterday at cross country to celebrate those kids that do their best to achieve a personal goal. Thanks to Tom Straker for his organisation of the event which was held in perfect first day of winter conditions.

Today we have our hall open from 3pm - 6pm to all parents/caregivers and whānau keen to see the learning that has taken place around our inquiry focus on Tūrangawaewae. We would love to see you all there if you can make it, as well as at our EOTC drinks for parent helpers from 6pm in the staffroom.

It's the time of year when traditionally the winter ills start to kick in. We’re doing our best to keep things moving along in spite of a lot of absences out there at present. We had 80 students away on Monday, 70 absent on Tuesday, and 78 absent on Wednesday. 

On the Covid front, we’ve have had a couple of 'second bouts' with it in our community which is really tough on families/whānau and self-isolation. If you’re not sure on a situation give the Covid hotline a call 0800 358 5453. We really appreciate the continued excellent communication from families around Covid and households isolating. 

A few Casebrook Covid stats for 2022 for you - (during term times)

• 156 students have had to isolate as household contacts to date this year 
• 183 students have had Covid (some of these students will have also started as household isolations.)
• 9 staff have had Covid and 10 have been in household isolations.

An update on our investment in the active health areas of our school this year. We have installed brand new basketball and netball hoops in the tech court, and now have 3 futsal sized pitches to go with our football and rugby pitches. In the hall we have 4 table tennis tables that were donated to us by the Papanui Club a few years back. Throw in a large donation of sports balls from iSport and ongoing investment in our sports shack and we have a stunning range of options for our students. Importantly, they are making the most of it too.

Thanks for taking the time to read the digital/social media safety letter that went home last week. We have booked our community schools police officer to talk to our students on the 14th June about the harmful communications act as well as being decent humans online. John Parsons, cyber safety expert, has been booked to talk with students, staff and parents (over zoom so you don't even have to leave the kitchen) on July 7th. More info will be shared with you about this closer to the time. 

The big reminder for next week is that school photos are on Tuesday, so please make sure your child is in full school uniform and shoes are polished and smiles nice and clean.

On behalf of the team here, hope everyone is able to make the most of the long weekend. Drive safe if you’re on the roads heading out of town.

Ngā mihi nui,

Nick Leith