End of Term Community Breakfast & Whole School Hui

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel these two events under Level 2 Covid restrictions. We hope to hold a celebration event when we return to level 1. 

Aroha mai

From the Whitney Team

Calendar Art: Payment options and absolute final day for orders on Monday 27 September

Dear Whānau

As you would have seen, our students have been hard at work over the past few weeks putting together their calendar artwork.
These are now available for you to purchase. In addition to paying by cash to the office, we are also accepting online payments.
Payments can be made online to Whitney Street School, using the following account number 03-0599-0305934-00. Please use your child’s last name and initials as a reference. 
Please ensure that your child also returns their order form to the office with all necessary information filled out.

Also, please take note that final orders are due by Monday 27th September. Due to time constraints created by postage and delivery, we are unable to accept any late orders.
Kind regards

Whitney Street School Teachers

Netball Players – End of Season Uniform Returns

All Netball players must now return Netball uniforms to Mrs Ives in Room 3.

Thank you!

Level 2 Alert prior to children returning to school

Some Level 2 Reminders

Hi Everyone,

As you are no doubt aware most of NZ is now in Alert Level 2. We are looking forward to seeing your child/ren back at Whitney Street School tomorrow. Once again we ask that you drop off and pick up your children at the gates unless you are the parent of a New Entrant child. We will have staff with a Contact Tracing clipboard and the QR code available at each gate for you to sign in if you need to come on-site. 

Physical distancing is a good precaution to prevent the spread of disease. There will be 2 metre distancing for adults in the office area and we ask that you observe this anywhere on site. We would also politely ask that if you do need to come on site that you wear a face mask.

If you were issued with a device for the lockdown period, please wipe/clean the device and return to the school library with its power cord. 
If you were given a hardcopy pack of resources that included school books/readers, please return these to school, to your child’s teacher. 
Road Patrollers will need to be on patrol as normal – thank you!
School lunches will be resuming as normal.

Thank you for your understanding.

The Staff of Whitney St School

Alert Level 2 Parent/Caregiver Procedures/Guidelines

Crazy Hair Day – This Friday!

We have decided to go ahead with our Crazy Hair Day in exchange for a consumable bottle scheduled for Friday 9 September. 

What a cool way to celebrate getting the Whitney gang back together! Have a read of the poster and if you have any questions, please ask the teacher of your child. We look forward to seeing some CRAZY hairstyles…the extra length that has grown during lockdown should make for a bit more room to get creative!

Crazy Hair Day 2021 Poster

Whitney Street School Open from Thursday 9 September

We are very excited to announce that schools south of Auckland will be open for ALL students this Thursday 9 September at 9am. Masks are not mandated for use in schools – they are only recommended. 

Our Alert Level 2 Parent and Caregiver Procedure /Guidelines are here. Please read through them carefully although they are subject to change as we are given further advice from the Ministry of Education and Health. 

You can be assured that in Alert Level 2 we will know who is at school, who our staff and students have been in close contact with, and take appropriate measures to keep everyone safe. 

Once again we ask that you drop your children at the gates unless you are the parent of a New Entrant. We will have staff with a Contact Tracing clipboard and the QR code available at each gate for you to sign in if you need to come on-site.

Physical distancing is a good precaution to prevent the spread of disease. There will be 2 metre distancing for adults in the office area and we ask that you observe this anywhere on school grounds. We talk to the students about using their ‘chicken wings’ or ‘short aeroplane wings’ to keep a bit of distance between them. We do however know it is challenging in schools, so good hygiene practices and regular cleaning are even more important here. This includes staff and students coughing into their elbows, handwashing and drying and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.

Under Alert Level 2, we advise any students and staff to stay at home if they are sick, and we will send anyone home immediately if they show any symptoms.

Our school has safe and sensible practices to maintain the health and safety of everyone on the school site. It’s important however that not just at school but at home, safe hygiene habits are practised by everyone, as this is essential to minimise the risk that someone gets infected with Covid-19.

 For more information about the public health measures at Alert Level 2, you can visit the covid19.govt.nz website. 

If you have any questions about our health and safety plan, or have a child who might be vulnerable to serious illness and would like to discuss a plan for them, please contact Lisa or Christee.

 We will keep you informed as more advice comes to hand from the government. Thanks for following these procedures and fingers crossed we return to Alert Level 1 shortly.

Ngā mihi

Christee and Lisa

If your tamariki are playing a sport please join that specific group in the school apps so that you receive the correct app alerts.

TENNIS and TOUCH signing up

Before lockdown a survey found that about 60 children wanted to play summer tennis, another 60 wanted to play touch. 

Check with your children and if they were one of those children please send me an email:  dikmans@whitneystreet.school.nz so that I can send you the links and information to register. In this way we will be set to go when the level is right.

Moving to Alert Level 3 – Please complete this form by Sunday 29 August 6pm (Correct version with link)

Kia ora,

As you will be aware, south of Auckland will be under Alert 3 and Auckland and Northland residents will remain under Alert 4 from 11.59pm on Tuesday 31 August.

As Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has said the key message for Alert Level 3 is to be KEEP YOUR CHILDREN AT HOME AND ENGAGE IN DISTANCE LEARNING.

Parents and caregivers should ONLY SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. (This would include if you need to leave home to go to work and there is NO-ONE ELSE to look after your child at home.) Schools are considered CLOSED for all other students.

Until schools are fully re-open, this needs to be a definite decision and not something that happens day-to-day.
The Government has said that schools will open in a limited capacity from Wednesday 1st September for those that NEED to be at school. We encourage children to continue to complete the home learning programme that has been set up by Whitney Street School staff.

The Government has asked that schools gather information from families about who needs to attend on site for learning so that we can establish a special register that will assist with contact tracing and making decisions about staffing.

Students attending school during Alert Level 3 will continue with their current distance learning tasks in bubbles with strict Health and Safety protocols. Students will likely not be placed in a bubble with their normal classroom teacher or other students who would normally be in their class.

To support the organisation of this work, we ask you all to fill this form out by 6:00PM, SUNDAY 29 AUGUST.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Ngā mihi nui,

Lisa Lissaman and Christee Dalzell

Whitney Street School Level 3 Questionnaire

Vaccinations: No bookings are required this weekend

Community Vaccination Notice

Vaccinations are available for 12 years to elderly at the Stadium 2000 in Blenheim today 27th August, tomorrow 28th August and Sunday 29th August.

No bookings are required. People can simply walk in.

Today vaccinations begin at 8.00am to 5.45pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 8.00am to 5.30pm. This will also be happening next week from Monday the 30th August to Friday the 3rd September from 8.00am to 5.45pm.

From The Marlborough District Healh Board

Lockdown Update from Whitney Street School

Hi Everyone

We hope that you are all safe and well in your bubbles and that you are keeping warm. Character strengths such as resilience, kindness and empathy have never been more important. Please remember to always put the hauora (wellbeing) of those around you at the forefront during times like these.
 
As you will be aware, the impact of COVID-19 continues to be a fast-changing situation. We are receiving regular information and taking advice from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. NZ is continuing in Level 4 until Tuesday 11:59pm, when we will then be advised further as to Alert Levels. 

We can only work with the information we have been given and that is that (at this stage) online learning will be in play for 2 days. Should your child/ren desperately require a device for these two days, to access online learning, please carefully read the eligibility and conditions for borrowing one in the form below and complete it before Sunday at 6pm. We will be in contact to arrange drop-off or pick up.  

On Monday morning at 9:30am your child/rens teachers will be ready to go with online Home Learning. 
Ōpaoa whānau will receive an email in the next few days with a new Seesaw login for a different Seesaw app to access their Home Learning. Please follow the instructions on the form attached to the email.

Taylor Hub children will need to use their school gmail account to use Seesaw Home Learning and a Family Announcement will be sent through Seesaw confirming these details in the next few days. 
Wairau students will need to check their emails. 

Take care and mā te wā – hopefully!

Lisa and Christee

Online Learning Device Agreement

COVID 19 Alert Level 4: School Closed

Kia ora Whānau

As you may have heard NZ will move to Level 4 – Lockdown from midnight tonight, Tuesday 17 August.  This is initially for 3 days.  All schools will be closed for all children and staff for the next three days, as are the school grounds.  If the lockdown extends beyond 3 days, we will be in touch with learning options.  At this stage we will not be setting up anything formal. Children can take time to read books and help out at home, however this document has some ideas if you are interested. If you have any queries or concerns please contact your teacher via email or phone Lisa on 0272009756 or Christee 0212115638.  

Look after each other and take care.  We will be in touch once we know our next step from the government.

Ngā mihi

The Whitney Street School Staff

Important safety notice: No Road Patrol in Week 3 (Next week)

In Week 3 (next week), there will be no student Road Patrollers as they will be on camp. Please make sure that your child is safe when arriving at school or being picked up. There may be an adult supervisor there – but some of these parents are supporting us as parent helpers on camp. so it’s not guaranteed.

Principal Reminder – Term 3

Dear Parents/Whānau,

Just a reminder that I will be away on sabbatical leave for all of Term 3. In my absence our two Deputy Principals, Lisa Lissaman and Christee Dalzell, will be sharing the role. Christee will be Acting Principal on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays, while Lisa will be Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays. They are very capable and approachable, so please contact them if you have any queries or issues. 

Also I wanted to update you on the playground upgrade progress. We were hoping to have it completed in time for the start of the term, however unfortunately, due to the unprecedented amount of rain the trucks could not get on-site because of the sodden grounds. Consequently it will be at least another week before the playground is finished. I’m sure it will be worth the wait and the children will love playing on the new improved version!

I hope you have had a lovely holiday break with your children and that they have a fantastic Term 3. I look forward to seeing everyone again in Term 4.

Kind regards,

Cheryl Wadworth

Progress Meetings – Please collect your child at 1pm tomorrow

A reminder that our progress meetings begin tomorrow and that we would love for your children to be collected at 1pm. Please ensure that you have sent the note back to school letting us know if they are being collected, making their own way home or if they are staying at school. 

The Taylor and Wairau Hubs will be returning from the trip to the ASB theatre by 1:00pm. Please make sure they have a raincoat and/or an umbrella in case it rains. 

Nga mihi

The Whitney Street School staff

Community Consultation about Rooms 1-4 Upgrade

The next Ministry of Education property project for our school is the upgrade of the Rooms 1 – 4 learning spaces, including cloakrooms and bathrooms. The Board of Trustees would like your input on what you would like to see. Please provide your suggestions in this form by the end of the week. If you would prefer a hard copy please email the office and we will give one to your child to bring home.

Thank you.

Soup Day this Tuesday

Kirsten, one of our wonderful Teacher-Aides, is making soup with the children using the leftover fresh vegetables from our Matariki Day. If your child would like a free cup of soup with their lunch tomorrow please put a named plastic cup in their school bag. The soup is dairy, gluten, and nut-free.

School Sport Shirts & Singlets

We still have several outstanding sport shirts and singlets, some dating back to last year.

We ask that the tops are returned at the end of each season/competition and  NOT at the end of the year.

Please check at home and return all Whitney Street sport tops to Mrs Ives in Room 3, so that we can distribute them for other sports.

Thank you for your support.

PE Team

School Marching Team Competition

Students are now being asked to register their interest to enter a School Marching Team competition, which will be held at the end of the Term 3 holidays on 17th October.

The program is aimed at primary school aged boys and girls to encourage a strong sense of team spirit, self discipline, personal achievements, and lifelong friendships. 

Practice times will be once a week, 30 -45 minutes, either a lunchtime or after school.

We already have a coach!

If you would like your child to be involved please ask them to register with Mrs Ives in Room 3 before Friday this week.

More information will be available early next term.

COVID Vaccination Opportunity for Māori and Pasifika Whānau

The PHO (Primary Health Organisation) are offering COVID Vaccinations for Māori and Pasifika families on Saturday 24 July in Blenheim. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity please complete this form and someone will be in touch with you. Alternatively, we will have a clipboard at our hangi and Matariki celebrations tomorrow.

Ngā mihi.

NEXT WEEK: Learning Progress Meetings, two trips for Taylor and Wairau Hubs, and a 1pm finish on Wednesday.

Kia ora te whānau
Please read the note below that will also be in the bags of Taylor and Wairau students today. This is in regards to two trips on Wednesday and Thursday next week. 

RVS and BIS Productions – Wairau and Taylor Trips

Also, please make an appointment for your Learning Progress Meeting next week Wed or Thurs), if you haven’t done so already. See the note below. 

Learning Progress Meetings

Finally, please note that we are asking that our students are collected at 1 pm on Wednesday 7 July. This is to allow more time for the Learning Progress Meetings. 

We hope to see you on Friday for our Matariki and Hāngi celebrations.
Haumi ē Hui ē Tāiki ē!

A reminder that school will be closed tomorrow (Monday 28 June) while teachers and support staff participate in a Staff Only Day.