Kia ora,

Welcome to Term 2, and to our first newsletter following the holidays.  The students were treated to some very good weather, and both staff and students have had an opportunity to return recharged and focused on the term ahead, and also for those who have been sick to continue their recovery. We are very pleased that we have been able to start this term with all year levels being able to attend and, that we can include in our school programme more curricular and non-curricular activities.    It will be important to keep a watching brief on a national and local level in terms of the ongoing impact of COVID, and look to be responsive to this potentially changing situation.  As a school we have greatly appreciated your support and understanding.  We will endeavour to inform you of any necessary changes as timely as we can. 

TWO IMPORTANT NOTICES:

OPEN EVENING CANCELLED - It has been decided that this year we will not proceed with the traditional Open Evening where prospective students and their families come to meet and have tours around the school. We will be working on providing a range of material to Year 8s and their caregivers over the course of this year to support enrolments and transition to PHS  

ACCORD DAY Thursday May 12 - The school will be closed for instruction so that all Christchurch secondary school teachers can take part in Professional Development regarding NCEA changes.

COVID AND SCHOOL: 

ROSTERING HOME - We commenced rostering home in Term 1 because of the large amount of students and staff absenteeism due to COVID.  The feedback that we received at the end of last term suggested that this was a good way to ensure that staff could manage with the demands of both onsite and online learning.  At this stage our staff numbers present at school have improved, as has our students, and therefore we are able to manage all levels back on site.  It continues to be important that we are open and wherever possible as many of our students as can be are attending. 

MASKS - We know that the wearing of masks indoors did help to stop the spread of COVID at school last term.  Public Health advice is that masks should continue to be strongly encouraged when indoors. We are advocating their use for students and reminding everyone of the benefits.  We will continue to supply masks to students and encourage their use.  Masks must be worn by anyone over 12 whilst on school transport and this includes any vehicle used for travelling for school related activities.

We will continue to keep all of the other health measures in place at school that we know slow the spread of COVID.  These include; ensuring our indoor spaces are well-ventilated, supplying hand sanitiser, encouraging good hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, physical distancing and staying home if we are sick. 

Ngā mihi nui 

Jeff Smith

Principal