Kia Ora Parents/caregivers,
A quick update at the end of the year as there may be changes on the way.
Teacher only Day
On Thursday 3rd December, there is a Teacher only day, this is a regional day for staff to further prepare for the changes in NCEA.
Junior Prizegiving
With the country moving to the traffic light system on December 3rd there will be new guidance from the Ministry of Education on what it means for gatherings. Hopefully, this will mean that parents may be able to attend the prize giving in person. It is a matter of watching this space in the coming week.
College Pool
The pool is heating as I type, it is hovering around 26-27 degrees and looks inviting. We are planning to issue keys for the pool after the college closes in December. There will be a number of conditions imposed due to Covid 19. These will be given when the time comes to issue the keys which will be available from the 5th of December.
Buses 2022
Next year our school bus operator is changing. Our new school bus operator is Ritchies. We are working closely with Ritchies and the Ministry of Education to ensure that the transition to our new school bus operator goes well.
As always, please either stay with your children while they are waiting for their school transport in the morning or keep in contact with them to make sure that they are picked up safely.
There will be no changes to bus routes or times with the new provider. If there are any changes in the future you will be notified.
Eligibility for school transport assistance
We often get questions about whether students qualify for school transport assistance i.e., a place on a school bus.
The Ministry of Education has three criteria that students must meet in order to qualify for school transport assistance. They are:
The student must attend their closest state or state-integrated school
The student must live more than a certain distance from the school:
There must be no suitable public transport options
The Ministry of Education has a handy video on their website that explains the eligibility criteria for school transport assistance.
Responsibility of caregivers
To ensure a safe environment for bus loading and unloading, caregivers should:
not park in bus bays
adhere to the speed limit (20 km/h while passing a stationary school bus on either side of the road)
try to eliminate the need for children to cross the road
ensure that children get to and from the bus stop safely
teach children to not run across the road
Please note: if you currently have a private arrangement with your bus operator, you will need to contact your bus operator to confirm that your arrangement will continue in 2022.
School transport queries
If you have any queries about our school transport, please contact Sophie Lyon, our Bus Controller. she can be contacted on slyon@reporoa.school.nz
