The Connection Week 5 Term 1

I’m writing this update as I listen to the interaction between two ambulance officers, a parent, our Ops staff and a brave student who has broken her arm whilst playing on the monkey bars. I think most of us can all go back to a memory of breaking a bone whilst young. I’m so impressed with the manner of the Ambulance medics, I think there is nothing better than seeing a person operating in their strength zone, with the professionalism they bring and such genuine care.

So often, adversity brings out the best in us. We see people rise, compassion and support offered and the best of being human shine. I love seeing our Ops team in action when we have a challenge like an injury. Around the school I’m seeing teams swing into gear supporting each other, covering each other's classes and now pulling together to shape our online programme all whilst still retaining solid classroom programmes. Our Leadership team is another great example of the power of a team.

Thank you also, our community team, again the communication, engagement and support is something really special in our school - we do not take this for granted. I do know we can do great things with the people we have on site and the support we have from our community. We just need to get through this current COVID challenge.

This last week, we have hammered parents with lots of communication. We’ve sent details of our online intentions, we’ve sent out a promotion around school donations and we have sent class based updates where we deal with positive cases. We want to be transparent and communicate rather than leave room for doubt. Thank you for keeping us in the loop as you deal with sickness. With over 200 students away daily, this is presenting as a significant challenge.

Thank you for all you are doing.

John Petrie

Principal

• Friday 4th March (tomorrow) - Teacher Only Day

Maeve (Year 7) says: “I love Huapai District School because it is always getting upgrades. There are so many cool things to play with here. Our teachers take us outside to do sport and fun games. My favourite things to do are reading and writing because I often have the freedom to write about anything that comes into my head.”

Kirstin Robinson

Kia ora e te Whānau,

I currently teach in our senior studio with the Year 7 and 8’s and I also help support our school with Tikanga, Te Reo Māori and whakawhānaungatanga (relationship building). I would love to work alongside those in our community who share a similar vision or would like to know more. I currently live locally and have recently returned to Auckland from Wellington and the Wairarapa. I am excited to be a part of Huapai District School and I look forward to connecting with our community and whānau. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou (kirstin.robinson@hds.school.nz).

Friday 4th March 2022

This day has been allocated to all schools through negotiation between Government and Teachers unions and was part of a settlement. At HDS we were not able to take this last year. The day is used for staff planning, assessment and reporting. Our primary focus will be the setting up of online learning at the various year levels across the school.

Our Huapai+ will offer support and supervision for families who might otherwise struggle with supervision for their children. Please use the link below to book your child(ren) in.

This is the first of two (2) planned Teacher only Days - the second being Friday June 3rd (Queens Birthday weekend).

We are averaging over 200 children off-site at the moment. This does include children staying at home in support of our requests for help with managing teacher absence.

As of 2nd March, we have 38 children (that we know about), who have tested positive.

We have 4 staff who have tested positive.

This is the first in a series of videos where students will show us around their classroom.

Today, Hannah (age 7) shows us her Montessori classroom.

We will delay the class puberty discussions until a time when we have the majority of our students back at school. At this stage we are unable to predict when this will be but we will inform you a few days ahead of time to let you know.

We can not sustain the impact we are currently experiencing with requests from parents to get messages to their children. Parents are encouraged to establish expectations with their children before they arrive at school. Where there is a change, please phone the class directly using the extension option given to you when you call the school contact number (class extensions are provided below). Where a significant issue arises we will always help. Where the message is a change of plans, please phone the classroom directly and continue doing so if the class is not present or not answering.

The school day is 9am - 3pm. Unless necessary, we ask that you please wait until 3pm to pick up your child. If you do need to pick up your child earlier than 3pm, then please email their teacher, as well as the School Office, in advance.

As a strongly encouraged and highly beneficial supplementary resource to our Year 7&8 science programme, a Start Right Science Workbook is available, payable through HERO ($17.50) with collection from your child's teacher.

The units in these workbooks cover the New Zealand Science curriculum in preparation for Year 9&10 science and fit in nicely with the topics covered in science at school as a pre or post-learning revision/consolidation. Though not compulsory, we will reference, mark and use this resource to supplement the school-based programme. As this book is an optional resource, it is, however, encouraged for our Year 7&8 students to have a copy.

Please follow the directions to download the Scholastic app today.

Is your child keen to play winter hockey for school? Please open the attached google form to find out more and to register your child. Entries close in three weeks - Friday 11th March.

Do you have any size 12/14/16+ school uniform at home? If you are happy to donate these to the school, please pop it into the School Office.

Our good friends at MusiqHub are looking forward to another awesome year of music in 2022 at Huapai School! They will have some slots available for Guitar, Drums, Piano and Ukulele lessons in Term 1. If you're interested, be sure to get in touch to reserve your spot or ask any questions you may have. Contact details below:

Drums - paul.barry@musiqhub.co.nz

Guitar, Keyboard and Ukulele - scott.wotherspoon@musiqhub.co.nz

Our 2022 Term dates are:

Term 1 - Thursday 3rd February - Thursday 14th April

Term 2 - Monday 2nd May - Friday 8th July

Term 3 - Monday 25th July - Friday 30th September

Term 4 - Monday 17th October - Friday 16th December

Additional to this there are two planned Teacher only days:

• Friday 4th March

• Friday 3rd June (making Queens Birthday a 4 day option)

We use HERO to send classroom updates, to share regular learning posts and now for payment on all in-school costs. HERO sends push notifications or emails. You can now choose how you receive HERO notifications as well as manage devices that receive them.

To set your own notification preferences:

1. Click on your profile image

2. Select EDIT PROFILE

3. Scroll down to My Devices and select your preferences.
   

Or please see the full instructions linked below.

Email: office@hds.school.nz
Website: https://www.huapaidistrict.school.nz/
Location: Huapai District School 40 Station Rd, Kumeū, New Zealand
Phone: +64 09 412 5042
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huapaidistrictschool