ORATIA DISTRICT SCHOOL - NEWSLETTER

Week 8 - Thursday 5 December 2024

MESSAGE FROM MS LINDA

Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te whānau o te Oratia. Talofa lava. Malo e lelei. Zdravo. Ni hao. Namaste. Kamusta. Greetings Oratia whānau and families.

Each week we have events to celebrate this time of year and all the ceremonies for acknowledgement, which while making life very busy makes for a positive and joyous time for us all. Sunday, December 1st was our Christmas community picnic held at the Oratia Church, and our Kapa Haka rōpū opened the festivities, with our choir and rock band also performing. Christmas carols were sung with Matua Matt's band playing all night, and Santa made his special visit. Thank you to all the families who supported this event and brought their children to perform on the night or be a part of the fun. Mrs Goldsmith told me that she cooked humdreds of sausages for the crowd, and loved catching up with everyone there. I was at a family wedding at the same time so was unable to attend this year, but I hear it was a real success. And thank goodness the weather cleared up for the evening - at both events!

We had our Year 6 prizegiving on Wednesday afternoon. I am always sad to see our Year 6 students leave us, as they play such an amazing part of making our school so great. This year's group have joined in with all that has been on offer, and made themselves available for so many leadership positions. I am really proud of them, and wish them all the best for their new schools next year. I know they will carry with them the Oratia vision of being confident, connected learners who make a positive difference.

You may have noticed that the fencing has gone up around the hall blocking off access across the field. The scaffolding and wrapping of the building will take place next, and then the work on the hall will begin. As a leaky building the Ministry of Education scope of works includes replacing of the roof, cladding, spouting and any damaged framing etc amongst other things. The work is expected to take till at least mid 2025, though it may take longer of course. We will be doing many of our gatherings in the Settlers Hall across the road, or on the Tiger Turf if the weather allows. Our sincere thanks to the Settlers Hall team for allowing us use of their space while we need it.

Keep an eye on the public calendar on our website, or the upcoming dates in the newsletter, or in the weekly email that your child's class teacher sends home so that you can keep track of all the events happening in the next week or so. The last day of school is Tuesday, December 17 closing at 12.30pm.

Take care and stay safe.

Kia kaha, kia atawhai.

Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda

ARAWHATA END OF YEAR PRIZEGIVING

Our end-of-year prizegiving and performance will be on Thursday 12th December. The prizegiving will run from the new time of 9.10am - 10am so that we can avoid the heat of the afternoon. . We warmly welcome whānau to this end-of-year celebration. Whānau are invited to bring a cushion and or picnic mat and sit on the grass banks in the valley. Please remember to wear a sun hat, sunscreen and to bring your water bottle to keep hydrated.

Ngā mihi nui,

TUAKANA - YEAR 6 PRIZEGIVING

On Wednesday, we held our Year 6 Senior Prizegiving at the Settlers Hall. A big congratulations to all of our Year 6 Senior Prizegiving Winners and well done to all of our Year 6 graduates.

THANK YOU

Room 12 made cards for Juleen and Tanya this week to thank them for all of their hard mahi

this year working in the Garden to Table garden and kitchen.

ROOM 13 and 14 SPACE ART

Rooms 13 and 14 have been creating space art with astronauts and zentangles. We practised drawing an astronaut in space and then used various colours and zentangle patterns to create a background.

Te Kahu o te Rēhia whakaahua

REPORTING AN ABSENCE

IMPORTANT ABSENCE REPORTING INFO

The Ministry of Education have made changes to absence reporting for schools. We are now tasked with reporting absences daily which means we need to have a reason for your child's absence on the day of their absence.

If we aren't given a reason for an absence on the day, your child's absence will be marked as Unjustified. As part of our procedure, more than 5 Unjustified absences will be followed up.

To report an absence please use the absence reporting form on the front page of the school website, or phone 818 6216 and leave a message with a reason, for your child's absence.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING

Health alerts and advice from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Pertussis (whooping cough) awareness and prevention

A pertussis epidemic was declared across Aotearoa New Zealand on 22 November.

Whooping cough epidemic declared across Aotearoa New Zealand – Health New Zealand

Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) can be particularly severe, and sometimes fatal, for babies many of whom require hospital care.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is encouraging those who are pregnant or have regular contact with young babies or preschool children to check they are up to date with pertussis vaccinations.

Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine – Health New Zealand

Protect against measles

Measles is a serious and extremely contagious disease that affects adults and children.

Measles is increasing in countries that Kiwis travel to frequently, including South-East Asia, Europe and the United States.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is encouraging vaccination for people who do not have immunity to measles, particularly those who are planning to travel overseas in the school holidays.

Measles Immunity – Health New Zealand

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine – Health New Zealand

Funded meningococcal vaccines for eligible rangatahi

Meningococcal disease spreads easily in close living situations and can be fatal within hours.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is encouraging rangatahi to get a meningococcal vaccine if they are entering their first year of shared accommodation in a boarding school hostel, university halls of residence, military barracks or youth justice facility.

Meningococcal vaccines – Health New Zealand

Support with checking vaccination records

Advice about vaccines and immunisation records for children aged 16 and under is available from the free vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Māori, Pacific and disability support services are available to provide assistance.

Vaccination Healthline - Healthpoint