Yes!, 2021 is finishing very fast and like last year we find ourselves going through another year of change and uncertainty as the world continues to deal with Covid-19. As has the rest of the world, we too, have had to constantly adapt to an ever-changing Covid environment.

As you know, our usual programme for the end of year event has also been affected by the Covid situation. In planning these changes we have had our children in the forefront of our minds. We have been advised that all schools are to continue to operate under Alert Level 2 guidelines until the end of the year, therefore a few reminders of what is happening for our children.

• Our prizegiving is for children only and will be held during the school day on Thursday 15 December. We will take photos/slideshows of award winners and share these with families and the community to celebrate our children.
• The end-of-year Mass is only for our Year 8 leavers and the rest of the school will assist in celebrating this special occasion.

Although the school is at Alert Level 2 the rest of the community has changed to the Orange Level and this has consequences for any out-of-school activities including in the church. All venues will be requiring the Vaccine Passes for people over 12. We are an inclusive school and whatever we offer is for all our children not just some.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in these matters.

Many thanks to our whole school community, whānau and students who have been in support of us as we faced each new challenge or change and had to adapt, as a school, to how we do things in this new environment. Your support and understanding have been much appreciated and has made getting through this year so much easier. Thank you also to all our staff who have been flexible and have ensured that school life and learning continues as smoothly as possible for all your children. We are very privileged to have such a lovely school community to work with and we are very proud of how your tamariki have navigated this year.

A reminder that school will finish next Thursday 16 December at 12.00 pm.

Have a happy, holy, and restful Christmas.

Farewell to our Year 8’s who will be heading of to various high schools next year. This is the biggest number of Year 8 students that we have had leaving our Kura. You have been excellent ambassadors for our school and we appreciate all you have added in your time with us. You are a very inclusive group who have welcomed new children to your groups openly over the years. In fact, of the 29, only 12 of you started as New Entrants.

We wish you all the best for the future and look forward to you coming back to visit when you can.

We are pleased to share with you the teachers and levels for 2022.

Muriwai - New Entrants - Miss Paula Duncan

Aumoana - Year 1 - Miss Molly Farrell

Teretere - Year 2 - Mrs Lyneen Thomson

Paretai - Year 3 - Mrs Hellen Munro

Te Rōpū Waenga - Year 4/5 - Mrs McLauchlan, Miss Journee, Mrs French

Te Rōpū Tauhu - Year 6/7/8 - Mrs Williams, Mrs Jory

We are pleased to inform you the Canterbury DHB will continue to offer a School Based Vaccination Programme to Year 8 boys and girls, who have not completed their eleven year old vaccinations in General Practice.

The School Based Vaccination programme will offer the two dose HPV vaccinations to protect against genital warts, cervical cancer, throat and mouth cancers, and other types of cancers later in life. The programme also includes a one dose Boostrix vaccination to provide protection against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough.

To enable students to receive the vaccinations at school a vaccination pack will be provided to students who have not completed their vaccinations in General Practice in term one 2022 to take home for the parent/caregivers to complete and return the consent form to school.

The Community Dental Service will be providing dental care for children enrolled with our service during the upcoming school holidays. The clinics will offer treatment and relief of pain sessions by appointment only. To make an appointment please call/email our Contact Centre which operates between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday throughout the holidays (closed between 25th December and 10th January). If your child requires dental care during the time we are closed contact your family dentist.

The following Dental Clinics will be open during these school holidays:

· Hillmorton Clinic, Sylvan Street, Christchurch – from Monday 10th January

· Aranui Clinic, 240 Breezes Road, Aranui – on 12th, 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th January

· Hornby Clinic, 2 Hei Hei Road, Hornby - from Monday 10th January

· Timaru Clinic, Level 1, 18 Woollcombe Street, Timaru – from Monday 10th January

The clinics will offer appointments between 8.15am and 4.45pm for school-age and preschool children. If your child has dental pain because of an accident, please contact your dentist in the first instance.

To book an appointment at one of our clinics please: call 0800 846 983

Or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz

• Friday 10 December - Year 8 Leavers Mass, school children only

• Tuesday 14 December - Whole School Fun Day

• Wednesday 15 December - Prizegiving (School only)

• Thursday 16 December - Last Day of the year (School finishes at 12.00 pm)

• Wednesday 2 February 2022 - First Day Back