Author: Janine Laing

Photolife Portrait Photos

Photolife will be onsite on Wednesday 23 Sept taking Portrait Photos.

Photo ordering information will be sent home to families early in Term 4 (this will include a key code – with a similar online ordering process as with the class photos this year)

If you would like a “Sibling Photograph” taken, please request an order form from the office.  This will need to be returned to the school office by 22 September.

Thank you

Photolife Sibling Photo Order form

 

Communication to our community around an issue on Tik Tok

It has come to our attention that a disturbing film clip of a graphic nature is circulating on social media at the moment. It is of someone dying by suicide and has sadly gone viral. I have linked the Mental Health Foundation public advisory/press release around this.

I think that it is important that you as caregivers are also aware of this situation, to monitor and speak to your children if they are using social media platforms.

Mental Health Article

Here are some further links from the MOE and Netsafe which may be helpful for Caregivers with regard to social media issues. These are also posted on our school website.

Netsafe have advised the following:

 For now, we recommend that students are being made aware not to share or view the footage as it can be highly distressing content. Our webpage has information about helping tamariki exposed to upsetting content that you may find useful. We have also provided some support lines for students and staff if they need to reach out for support below.

·        Need to talk -. Free call or text on 1737 and there is support available 24 hours a day

·        0800 What’s Up – Available Mon-Fri 12pm-11pm Sat/Sun 3pm-11pm on 0800 942 8787

·        Lifeline – call on (0800 543 354) or text HELP (4357) for confidential support.

This content can have an impact beyond those immediately engage with it. It is likely to have had a range of impacts on each person – some may be severely affected and others may not be affected at all. It is important to be aware of the need to talk with young people who have heard about it and to encourage them to express their feelings in response to the video. We recommend that having regular, open conversations at home around online safety is important to help young people navigate the myriad of digital challenges they will experience.

You can read more on our parental control advice page here. There is an option to switch to Safe Search when using Google search or alternatively, you can consider looking into this article to block Google images without blocking Google search.

This staying safe online guide and some of our printed resources may be useful.


We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes
He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai ōna huanga

 

Kotahitanga Camp Cancellation

Dear Parents / Caregivers,

 

2020 Kotahitanga Camp Cancellation

 

Sadly, but after lengthy discussions, together as a Leadership Team based on the guidance we have received from the Ministry of Education we have made the decision to cancel Kotahitanga Camp this year.  

 

Due to concerns around COVID-19 we have decided that added Health and Safety guidelines would have increased the pressure of running such an event and we would not be able to guarantee that Health and Safety procedures, although stringent, would be upheld at all times throughout the camp. 

 

We are hoping that students, while disappointed at the cancellation, will be able to look forward to other alternative activities later in the year.

 

We are very sorry for any inconvenience that this decision has made; however, Health and Safety is paramount when providing opportunities for positive experiences for our students and we want to ensure that our school is doing its part to reduce the risk of exposure and the potential spread of COVID-19. The measures in place would have taken away the true essence of what it is to be at camp, as the freedom and exploration of pushing oneself to the limits, the strong bonds built with peers and team building would not have been able to be done in the usual way. 

 

If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind Regards,

R Dullabh, Principal

R Gage, Kotahitanga Team Leader