PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
John Goulstone
Kia ora koutou
We had our annual flag raising ceremony on Monday to celebrate the diversity that we have in our school. We also took a picture of the whole school for posterity! The weather was in stark contrast to what they are having in the upper North Island and the disruption to travel, work and school. Our thoughts go out to those affected by the flooding and the high winds and hope that they get a respite ahead of winter. It looks like the areas worst hit are going to take a while to get back to some semblance of normality. Down here we could do with some rain which is par for the course for weather in NZ, either too much or too little.
There continues to be covid about and we are also experiencing a tummy bug. Remember good hygiene - wash hands, sneeze into elbow or tissue, ventilate indoor spaces well and stay home if you are unwell.
Meet the teacher evening is on Thursday (tonight) starting at 6:30pm. If it is fine we will meet on the court between the two classroom blocks. If not we will meet under the canopy. This is just to keep us outside and away from confined spaces with lots of people while this mini covid wave goes through. The teachers will talk about their classroom programmes and the routines that they are currently setting up. It is more big picture stuff. You will be able to talk with the classroom teacher individually a couple of weeks from now at parent interviews. Room 2 will not have a session as Rachel Scott is still off sick. Rachel has rescheduled for Thursday 23 Feb. at 3:10pm and 6:30pm. Eliza Collings will host the Room 3 session by herself as Kirstin Engelbrecht is away in Christchurch on a course - this was a late opportunity to attend a face to face BSLA session which we couldn’t pass up.
Next week we have Elgregoe performing his magic show around the themes - FABULOUS FRIENDS and LEARNING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR - the show starts at 9:15 and goes for an hour (Tuesday 21 Feb). Elgregoe is always entertaining and the children are amazed by his magic tricks. His messages are good as well.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has put aside a teacher only day early in term 2 so that teachers can explore the revised curriculum, or at least the parts that are in the new format. It has to be taken some time in the first two weeks of term 2. One possibility is to have it on Monday 24 April as the following day is ANZAC Day and the school will be closed. Then we can start the term for children on Wednesday 26 April without further disruptions. EOHS and other schools in Waitaki are planning to use Monday 24 April as their teacher only day (TOD) as well. Please put that date in your diary, unless something changes or the MoE changes their mind we will aim to have the TOD on that day.
Most of the school took the opportunity to watch the old chimney on the boiler house come down on Wednesday. We thought it would be quick however it took quite a bit of maneuvering by the hiab to make it happen. The boiler house has been gutted in preparation for the new pellet fired boiler to go in. The boiler is due to be commissioned and ready for use by the time we need to have it going at the end of this term. I am a little nervous because the MoE is working on a supply and delivery contract for pellets which is not in place yet.
Our school tryathlon is next week (Friday afternoon). Bikes can come to school from Monday. We will be using the EOHS pool for the senior competitive and non-competitive events. Bikes in these two events need to be road worthy as they will be ridden across the road. I will check them as they come in. They can stay in the activity centre for the week. We will have a bike course set out for training purposes at lunchtime. The junior races will be a biathlon solely based on our school grounds. Chelsey will need parent help, especially over at the pool. This is a weather dependent event. We do not have a postponement date.
Hei kona mai I roto I nga mihi, Goodbye for now and thanks
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