E ngā reo, e ngā mana, rau rangatira mā, ngā matā waka, tēnei te mihi nui atu ki ā koutou katoa. Ko te wawata me te tumanako ka noho ora mai koutou katoa.

Last week saw us move to an alternating school because we were having high levels of staff absenteeism. Thankfully many of these staff are back and ready for work. We are now in a position to welcome back the full school on Monday 14th March.

This was part of our business continuity plan. Whilst we move back to a full school next week we may have to move back to an alternating school if we are faced with the same staff absenteeism again.

The BOT are confident that we can run the school as usual at this moment in time.

We thank you for your support of our plan and would really appreciate it if you could encourage your child to return to school next week.

In the meantime we are looking forward to connecting with our community next week at our student mentoring interviews which can be booked here.

A reminder for all of us

• If your child is symptomatic. Please do not send them to school.

• If your child is at home isolating and can complete their schoolwork, it is important that they access their learning through their Google Classrooms. We have a complete list of every Google Classroom for every teacher here.

• It is important that masks are worn inside at school.

• If you are a household close contact your isolation period has been changed:

• Isolation periods are being shortened. From 11.59pm Friday, people with COVID-19 and their Household Contacts must isolate for 7 days, not 10 days.

• Household Contacts will need to test on Day 3 and Day 7.

• Once you have recovered from COVID-19, you will not need to isolate again for 3 months, if someone else in your household tests positive during that time. This is an increase from 1 month.

Student Mentoring and Meet the Teacher

At WHS, we believe in powerful partnerships with students and their whānau at the centre. Education is strengthened when we work together on common goals. The Student Mentor interviews are important in building connections and common goals between students, parents and teachers. These will take place next week (Week 7) on Wednesday from 3:30pm-7pm and Thursday from 10:30am-5:30pm. We will provide a quick report on your child's progress against our school values and start discussing realistic goals for 2022 and beyond. You can book these interviews here. These goals will be reviewed at Student Mentoring Interviews in Term 3.

A reminder that students are not required at school on Thursday 17 March to allow these interviews to take place.

In Week 8, on Thursday from 3:30-7pm we will have a ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening where you can meet with teachers to discuss your child's learning in their specific classes, if you still have questions after meeting with your child’s Student Mentor in Week 7. These interviews can be booked at the Student Mentoring interview, or via a booking link which will be released at a later date.

Challenging students to achieve

My congratulations go to Mia Shepherd and Charlotte Billings for being accepted into the Blake Inspire Experience in October. These students have been recognised as environmental leaders and alongside 100 other students in NZ they will take part in a one week residential leadership programme in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment. Congratulations. More details are here.

The WHS rowing team travelled to Karapiro to compete at the Aon Junior Rowing Regatta over the weekend 26th & 27th February. While the atmosphere was very different due to COVID restrictions meaning no spectators allowed, the team were grateful to have the chance to compete.

Final results were:

• U17 Single Scull – (5th in heat) Jonghyun Yun
• U16 Single Scull – (B final 5th) Logan Howard-Hill
• U18 Novice Double Scull – (A final 3rd) Christiaan Nel & Indy English
• U18 Novice Eight coxed – (A final 3rd) – Lucas Weijers, Deshan Senavirathna, Ryan Manning, Kikiwa Tua Swain, Jack Boyde, Andre Perkins-Toailoa, Christiaan Nel, Indy English and cox Evia Linnell-Olsen
• U18 Novice Quadruple Scull – (A final 3rd) Lucas Weijers, Deshan Senavirathna, Ryan Manning, Kikiwa Tua Swain and cox Evia Linnell-Olsen
• U15 Double Scull – (A final 7th) Ryan Pryde & Jack Boyde
• U15 Double Scull – (A final 1st) – Kaden Naidoo & Travis Talpos (winning by 11 seconds)
• U17 Eight coxed – (A final 4th) - Ryan Calder, Shaun Snow, Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen, Logan Howard-Hill, Jonghyun Yun, Kaden Naidoo, Travis Talpos and cox Conrad Hopkins
• U17 Quad coxed – (A final 1st) Ryan Calder, Shaun Snow, Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen and cox Conrad Hopkins (Personal best time 6.26)
• U 17 Coxed Quad Sculls - (B Final 8th ) Charlotte Billing, Emma Jackson, Kaylee Lawlor, Cassie Bennett, Entelea Savinelli
• U 18 Single scull – (C Final 5th ) Sophie Peat
• U 15 Double Sculls – (A Final 7th ) Cassie Bennett, Kaylee Lawlor
• U 17 Double Scull – (B Final 5th ) Grace Iremonger, Sophie Sisson
• U 17 Double Scull – (C Final 5th) Kirsty Bell, Entelea Savinelli
• U 16 Double Scull – (B Final 6th) Charlotte Billings, Emma Jackson
• U 16 Double Scull – Sophie Peat, Greta Jackson (3rd in heat, didn’t finish final due to injury)

Congratulations to Eden Gloyn, Jordan Gault, Sian Gebert and Ella McKay who all passed their Surf Lifeguard Award and will now be patrolling the beaches for the rest of the season.

WHS continuously seeks ways to support the wellbeing of our students.

This year, we are working with a wellbeing team from GoodSpace Schools Ltd to implement a wellbeing survey, initially for all Year 9 students this term. We aim to extend this programme to other year groups throughout the year. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and will be run during mentor time.

The results of the survey are confidential and will be available immediately to our Student Support Team (school counsellors and nurse) only. Follow-up support will range from class-based information/education, referral to validated self-help tools, peer group sessions or individual time with a school counsellor or nurse. Students with the highest needs will be prioritized.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Judith Graham, HOD Guidance, judith.graham@whs.co.nz

Health services provided FREE in school:

• School Nurse: daily except Wednesday morning
• School Doctor: Tuesdays P2