Week 4, T3 2022
19/8/22 - He Pānui Wiki Wha, Whānga Tuatoru
Tēnā koutou katoa (hello everyone)
Firstly a huge thanks to kaimahi (staff) on the ground at our kura (school) for all they have done and are doing to cover for those of us who are away. I am back in isolation mode working from home with a COVID +ve husband and son. I haven't had COVID yet - I will keep you posted on how that goes. Mr Brown has been out this week with COVID and is due to return on Monday all going well. In the meantime, everyone is in good hands with team overseeing the day to day running of the school - team work at its best.
We currently have 3 students and 1 staff member with COVID. 1 other student and myself are isolating as HHC. We will continue to monitor the impact of COVID as the term progresses and will keep you updated via the newsletter and app if an urgent update is required.
On the app earlier in the week we shared this update from the MoE regarding illness:
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the guidance for returning to schools following vomiting or diarrhoea has not changed. If a child is free of those symptoms for 48 hours, they can attend school again.
- If a child has been unwell with a respiratory illness other than COVID-19, they can return to school 24 hours after they have significantly improved and are behaving/eating normally.
- Following vomiting or diarrhoea, a child should be symptom free for 48 hours before they can return.
- If they still have a runny nose or dry cough without any other symptoms such as a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, then they are unlikely to be infectious and can be considered well enough to attend school.
- In general, a doctor’s certificate or clearance should not have to be provided for a child to go back to school after being unwell.
As you will be aware we are now at the end of the recommended 4 week mask wearing period. In consultation with the BoT and staff, we have decided to remove the requirement for staff and students to wear masks at school. We do however advocate for personal choice in this matter and strongly encourage those staff and students who would like to continue protecting themselves by wearing a mask to do so.
Despite our best efforts, students continue to wear masks incorrectly, move them down under their noses or need to be constantly reminded to put them on. Added to this, students are hard to hear & some of our tamariki find it difficult to get through the day without getting a headache.
We feel that ventilation and staying home if you are unwell are our most effective courses of action in the school setting. Two additional air purifiers have been sent to school which we will put in the pit of Ruamahanga - our most difficult space to ventilate.
Obviously within our school community there will be differing views on this and I encourage you all to try and be mindful of others' thoughts and opinions. We will be asking our audience that masks are worn during 'Gladdy's Got Talent' performances.
Values Focus This Week
Community Consultation Thursday 29th September (while the mid winter disco is happening). We are hosting an opportunity for you to respond to the ANZ Histories Curriculum - local stories component; our Health Curriculum delivery & programmes; our Camp programmes and costs etc; and our Sun Smart Policy. For those unable to attend, there will be the opportunity to participate in a digital capacity. Please watch out for more details in next week's newsletter.
Assembly
Thanks to David McKay and Levi Kokx for running this week's assembly. Everyone said you both did a great job - well done & thank you. Congratulations to: Hannah Douglas; Sophia Tosswill; Lily Tomlin; Hannah Beetham; Lucy Orsborn; Lizzie Gibb; Annie Heffernan & Saoirse Doyle who are our 'Whetu o te Wiki - Stars of the Week'. The group were an AMAZING help earlier in the week setting up the artificial grass and pegging it in around the portable toilet facility.
Well done to the following students who have been recognised by their teachers for either displaying manaakitanga, kaitakitanga (from last week) or excellent progress in their learning: Maddie Nicol; Kaylee Huck; Lily Tomlin; Aurora Richardson; Isla Thompson; Oscar Nicol; Hugo Wilkinson; Rex Hartley-Meilink; Paige McGregor; James Strang; Sam Beetham; Ayla Longstaff; Jorja Palmer; Lucy Blake and Abby McGregor.
Rā Whanau to our Birthday Tamariki
Women's Rippa Rugby Tournament
Well done to our Year 7&8 Women's Rippa Rugby team who participated in the Wairarapa Rugby Union event held at Carrington Park on Tuesday. The team won all of their games and we a pleasure to take out for the day. Results: First game a win v St Matt’s Red 9-1. 2nd game v St Mary’s a win 14-3. 3rd game v Solway College win 7-5. 4th game v St Matt’s Green a win 8-7. Go Gladdy.
A reminder that we are leading into 'Fair Mode'. If families have items or contacts with items for the auction, please let katy@pointdorsetinteriors.nz or the following people from FoGS know so the item can be added to our spreadsheet. FoGS contacts for auction items: Belinda Bunny; Nadia Wither; Katy Post.
Have a great weekend everyone & I hope to see you on Thursday.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Belinda
School Action This Week
STEM Challenge
Science
Science
Newsletter Proudly Sponsored by Kayla Watson
Tracking & Trapping
A massive shout out to the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust who have donated this awesome, state of the art Tracking & Trapping kit to Gladstone School. A big thank you to Gill Stewart from Enviroschools Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui for facilitating this initative. The tracking and trapping team are beyond excited.
Year 5&6 Blue Mountain Adventure Centre Camp Follow Up
Our Year 5&6 students have been busy working on post-camp projects. Please see an awesome slide show created by Sophie Beetham linked below. Well done Sophie - what an action packed time away you had. We look forward to seeing others as they get completed.
New Addition
Look out for this new gal who is set to arrive at school this coming weekend. Her name is Charlie and she is a mini kunekune pig. Charlie is being re-homed from Pip Blackwood's place - thank you very much to the Blackwood's. We hope Charlie will be very happy here. Thanks very much to Sharpes Farm Feeds who continue to kindly donate feed for all our animals.
Whānau Online Vaping Webinar - Monday 22nd August 7:00pm
Life Education Trust are committed to helping young people understand what vaping products are and some of the health risks for adolescents. As you may have seen in the media, vaping is a growing trend amongst young people.
Life Education will be sharing information about vaping in a live webinar, and how you can support your young person to make positive choices. There is a lot of confusion out there as to the effects of vaping, and our families need to be armed with the right information so they can support their children to make the right choices. This includes targeted content for adults around breaking down the myths of vaping, with Life Education working in partnership with the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation.
ZOOM Link:
Topic: Vaping Webinar
Time: August 22nd, 2022 @ 07:00 PM
Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75600934225?pwd=LYGu1eO2sNrVSHHg97xjTLhTEqBMIt.1
Meeting ID: 756 0093 4225
Passcode: 7SmaUN
Well done Sidney & George Mason
Great going boys - these two were very proud of their latest MX efforts. Keep up the awesome work.
FoGS Lunch Helpers
Term 3 - Things Coming Up
Week 5 - Vaping Webinar 7pm Monday. Link on Whānau Calendar
Week 6 -
Week 7 - Y 7&8 Rural Kids North Wai; Y 7&8 Design Tech Starts; AIMS Games.
Week 8 - Y 3&4 Camp Kaitoke; NZ Principal's Conference; Dance Splash.
Week 9 - Gladdy's Got Talent; Kids St John's First Aid Courses; School Photos.
Week 10 - Possible Kapa Haka Festival.
Please find a direct link to our Whānau Calendar below. It can also be accessed via the app and the school website.
School Docs - School Policy & Procedures
This term parents are asked to review our 'Student Safety Policies'. Go to 'current review', read the policy and make any comments by clicking on the red icon - top right of the screen.
Contact Us
Email: office@gladstone1.school.nz
Website: http://www.gladstone1.school.nz
Location: 1471 Te Whiti Road, Gladstone, New Zealand
Phone: +64 6 372 7601