Kia ora Parents and Caregivers,

The announcement this week that vaccine passes will no longer be required will mean the following changes for the school:

• We are now able to hold outside events with no restrictions on numbers, which will be particularly helpful for those organising sports and other activities involving multiple schools.

However, while we are at Red alert level, the following restrictions remain:

• We will be restricting the number of non-essential visitors onsite.
• The Second-Hand Uniform Shop will remain open to students only.
• Masks will continue to be worn inside.

Raising the number of people allowed to gather inside from 100 to 200 will have little impact on our current policies. We will continue to live-stream assemblies into Form Classes and decisions on events planned for Term 2 will be made nearer the time.

We are very pleased with the way our school is managing this current pandemic. I am very thankful to the staff and relievers who have stepped up when needed, and our notification process is working well. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to a less disruptive time now that Auckland has hit its peak.

Since mid March our attendance rates have consistently been over 80%, and continue to increase.

It’s been great to see students working onsite after their period of isolation and quickly adjusting to being back in the classroom. The value of social interaction and face-to-face learning has certainly been highlighted over the past couple of years, and our high attendance rate is testimony to the fact that, after several lockdowns, most students have a greater appreciation of being in the classroom with their friends and teachers.

Yesterday our Kapa Haka group, Te Rerenga Wāna, performed at ASB Polyfest which we watched via the live-stream. We were so proud of their performance and all of the work they put in behind the scenes. This was a young, Division 3 group competing against Division 1 performers – and they represented our school with passion and pride. Well done to Matua Eddie Hudson, tutors Renee Lawrence, Maddison Gerbes, Tirakahurangi Leaf, Sarah Tahere and Lyric Wihoete, along with all the performers.

I also want to wish our athletes competing in Summer Tournament all the very best for next week. While some tournaments have been cancelled, we have students representing the school in rowing (Maadi Cup), water polo (NISS Division 1 and 2 Champs), cricket (AKSS National Cricket Tournament Qualifier), senior tag (Central Northwest Zone Tag Tournament), and sailing (AKSS Team Racing Regatta).

Jane Stanley