Term 3: Week 7

View full newsletter here

Kia ora koutou e te iwi!

On Thursday 9th September, we return to school under alert level 2 settings after working and learning from home for the past 3 weeks. We would like to acknowledge all of our tamariki, whānau, staff, and community networks who have absolutely done their best to get through this challenging time. Rāhui (lockdown) time is never an easy time with the uncertainty and restrictions that implicate our everyday lives. Ka nui ngā mihi aroha kia tātau! You will find our alert level 2 protocols further down in this newsletter.

We would also like to officially thank Matua Dave Willis who was relieving in Room 12 prior to lockdown (and some of the way through) looking after a junior class until their newly appointed kaiako could transition to Ōwhata School. Matua Dave is in and around our kura regularly and did a wonderful job of caring for this class. We welcome Whaea Toni Crengle who returns to Ōwhata School after working at Ōtonga Primary School for the past few years.

We are pleased to have the majority of tamariki and staff returning to working and learning onsite, with a portion who will continue working and learning from home. We can reassure you that our staff are well prepared and we have our safety plans and Golden Rules in place. Our approach is considerate of the social and emotional impacts the rāhui time may have posed with the challenge of staying home for a long period of time. We will be discussing the many positives and worries our tamariki may have.