Kia ora koutou,

Last week the Prime Minister announced up and coming changes with the COVID-19 government response.

At this time we will be continuing with our current health and safety plan under the red setting. We are awaiting final advice from the Ministry of Education, and the further government announcement to be made on Monday 4 April. Once we have more information on what changes mean for schools specifically we will be able to review our own school procedures and update you.

We know that masks will continue to be worn and that QR scanning is not required when you enter the school grounds anymore. However, our usual process of signing in at the office for visitors beyond school drop off and pick up, will still be in place.

As soon as we move to another setting within the framework we will be able to further ease restrictions. We are looking forward to this and bringing back the wider curriculum (singing inside, assembly in the hall etc) and having our community onsite in classrooms for parent help and reconnecting within the grounds.

We have had five positive cases in the last week, and three staff impacted as household contacts or positive cases. Our attendance is continuing to grow by the day. We are averaging at 80% attendance and today have 85%.

Attendance

We have been very empathetic and understanding of attendance and different family scenarios at home as we navigate Omicron. However, we are concerned that there are some students we have not seen all year. School is open for all and we continue to follow all Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education guidelines and protocols to keep Pinehill School safe for all. Our incredibly low positive case numbers reflect this.

Under Section Three of the Education Act, it is an obligation of all parents to send their children to school. As we begin next week, Monday 4th April, any child who is not Covid positive or isolating and has been absent for five days or more must provide a medical certificate to the school. Currently, we are recording children who are working from home online or have accessed hard copy learning packs as “E” on our roll. “E” means explained but not justified. Moving forward, it is likely that children who are absent for more than five days (without a medical certificate) will be recorded as “T” for truant. Once identified as truant, the Ministry of Education Truancy Services is notified.

Later this week, one of the deputy principals will contact you to make a plan to help you get your child back to school on Monday and for the remaining two weeks left of the school term.

Staff Update

Chloe Warwick is taking extended maternity leave next term to spend more time with her daughter. We look forward to welcoming Chloe back in Term 3.

Rochelle Mabon, our Deputy Principal will be taking refreshment leave for Term 2 and travelling to the UK with her husband. We look forward to welcoming Rochelle back in Term 3.

Kirstin Blanchard will be acting as Deputy Principal in Rochelle’s absence. Rochelle is transitioning Kirstin into the roles and responsibilities in Term 2. Kirstin will oversee the Senco and pastoral care for students and their families in Year 1,3, 5 and support families in Term 2 with meetings taking place with external agencies. Kirstin is well known to our students, families and the community and is looking forward to this role.

Three Way Conferences - 3WC

Next week, you will have the opportunity alongside your child to meet with the teacher on Zoom for a Three-Way Conference meeting. The school will close at the normal time of 3.00 pm on Wednesday 6th April with an early finish of 1.30 pm on Thursday 7th April.

PKC will open earlier on Thursday for families who are unable to collect their children at 1:30pm. If you are requiring your child to attend after school care on Thursday, please contact Rochelle Raddock on 027 325 3229 Rochelle@premiumkidscare.co.Nz to book a place. There will also be supervision in the library for students who will not be going to PKC and who are to be picked up at 3:00pm. Please ensure you have completed the google form so your teacher is clear as to what the arrangements are for your child at 1:30pm on Thursday 7th April.

3WC - Early Closing - Student Option Form

These meetings are a conversation between the student, parents and teacher that is focused on recent learning. It is one of the many ways of reporting to you, on your child’s progress at school. In a Three-Way Conference meeting, it is the child that leads the way by talking about their recent learning and progress. Not only is your child the best person to tell you about what they have learnt, but by talking about their learning they can build and deepen their learning. The staff and children are putting in much time and effort into preparing for the Three-Way Conference meetings. Please read further information about how to book a Three- Way Conference time to meet, below. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom.

Three Way Conference Booking System

For these conferences, we use an online booking system. To make an appointment go to https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/v68dd and follow the online instructions. Confirmation of your times will be emailed to you. You may change your appointments at any time.

Your child’s class teacher will send you a Zoom link to attend the three way conference. You will be in a Zoom waiting room. Once the teacher has finished with the three way conference (3WC) with the family before you, they will let you into the zoom meeting for your three way conference meeting.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini

Success is not the work of one, but the work of many.

Ngā mihi nui,

Carla Veldman, Principal

We hope you found Hugh’s video on Empathy useful and interesting. If you didn’t get a chance to view the video last week, here is the link again: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/parent-and-carer-hub-hugh/

You can see how the GEM concepts fit so well with our Pinehill Way with empathy connecting with respect, responsibility, integrity and excellence.