A big thanks goes out to Graham & the team at Gladstone School for keeping things running this week while I have been isolating at home. Everyone has done a great job. We are pleased to report negative tests all round and the end of 10 days as of tomorrow (Saturday). I'm very much looking forward to being back at school next week.

It was super cool to see Ruamahanga getting out and about on their river safety trip with Glenn Beach - a refreshing change from being at school given recent Beach Ed, camp and Tent City cancellations.

Please read further down the newsletter updates on 'Phase 3' and a summary of the week. Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Belinda Bunny

As outlined in the app alert from yesterday (24.2.22) we have now moved to 'Phase 3'. The main change for schools is the updated contact tracing requirements. In short:

- Positive cases (students and staff) need to isolate at home for 10 days following a positive test result.

- That persons house hold contacts ie. parents, siblings and other people living at the property, need to also isolate for 10 days getting tests on days 3 and 10 of the isolation period.

- Close contacts do not need to isolate, but do need to watch for symptoms and get tested if symptoms appear.

- Schools no longer send out close contact letters from the MoE/MoH.

- Parents/caregivers still need to let the school know if their child is a positive case.

Thanks very much to Tom & Cooper for running a super assembly today live from Ōnoke, and for remote calling me in - apologies for the video feedback/sound. Happy Birthday to: Archie Ashby; Jade Francis; Michaela Delves & James Hanson who all have birthdays this week.

Well done to the following students who received certificates today:

Sophie Betham; Arthur Wildy; Arie Butler; Logan Hanson; Blake McGregor; Sophia Tosswill; Deegan Nolan; Hendrix Charters; Robert McWilliam; Jay Kawana-Reid; Henry MacKay; Alice Thompson; Aiden Harris; Ben Freeman; Genevieve Taylor; Charlie Ashby; Maddie Nicol; Rosie Falloon; Tim Berryman; Rex Hartley-Meilink; Patrick Quirke; Guy Reynolds; Joey Wiliams (Whetu o te Wiki - stars of the week).

Benji Gardner & Milo Wildy (Ōnoke). Edith Mason & Neela Rogers (Ruamahanga). George Mason, William Thompson & Mia Hodder (Kourarau).

Photos of those not at school today (river trip) will be taken on Monday and shared. As well as a group photo of our awesome stars of the week.

Great to see the cool writing and science continuing in each syndicate.

Wednesday 2nd March - We are still at 'Red' Alert Level settings and need to keep to event numbers. We are making this a staff and student event only.

Due to no swimming events with other schools, we will be holding our own swimming sports. This will involve the whole school, with Y4-8 going down at 9am, and the Y1-3 joining them at 11am.

The Y4-8 will run a similar programme as the usual sports event, so there will still be a competitive side to it, but also accommodating those who just like swimming for fun.

They will also be doing skills from our Water Skills for Life programme such as treading water, lifesaving…. Teachers will help students select events. Parents/caregivers can make suggestions too by emailing their child's teacher. We will also be filming parts of the day and sharing the movie with you.

The Ministry of Education is seeking thoughts from schools and whānau about current funding systems. If you child has the highest learning needs and you wish to comment on current nation wide funding systems. Please complete this survey before 31st March.

- The Year 7&8 camp payments are being held for a new camp that is currently being planned for later this year. Most of you have already pre-paid for the camp. If any refund is due, we will process these once a budget has been established.

- Inquiry Play Contributions: these are now donations. We welcome and appreciate families with students in Kourarau contributing to the cost of inquiry play items.

Kia ora. As you know, we have had to cancel our camp to Abel Tasman. We are endeavouring to book a new camp which will likely take place in Term 4 - we will let you know as soon as we have something confirmed. In the meantime, we are keen to get out and about doing some EOTC things. First up is a trip to Patuna Chasm. Some of the kids would have gone in 2019, however it is a great local spot and in March the weather ‘should’ be awesome.

Steve Thomson has requested a massive working bee at the Complex on Sunday 27th February – the flood has caused a lot of debris to be piled up all over the new plantings – he is going to get the Rugby Club in to help move the larger stuff off the fences etc – they will need some repairing too. We will try and get as much of the Community in to help as it is significant and many hands will make light work. It would be appreciated if all Sports Clubs could send this out to their members and get as many as possible. So 10.00am on Sunday the 27th February – thank you!!

This term parents are asked to review our 'Visitors' policy. Search 'Visitors' or go to current review, read the policy and make any comments by clicking on the red icon - top right of the screen.