Newsletter - Week 9, Term 1
Greenmeadows School 30 March 2022
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tēnā koutou kātoa,
It is great to be back at GMS after my time away cycling the length of our country. It was such a fantastic experience. I enjoyed virtually everything about the challenge ... probably the 'ONE' puncture I got riding between Hokitika and Ross was the only downside I can think of. But then to only have one puncture in 3000km of riding is pretty good going!
Thank you for all of the messages of support that I received while I was cycling, as well as since I have returned. I want to acknowledge the staff and Board of Trustees for all their incredible support while I took on this task. In particular I want to recognise the very effective leadership of Mr Holloway for the way he has led the school through some unchartered times over the past five weeks. There has been excellent communication and extremely skillful management of a lot of uncertainty throughout the past five weeks which I clearly want to acknowledge. My sincere thanks to you Darren and to all.
I also want to thank everyone who donated to the charity I had selected to raise funds for: Brain Tumour Support NZ. Through individual donations, and the very generous collection on the St Patrick's 'green dress up' day, we are closing in on $2500: an outstanding effort. Thanks so very much!!!
We will continue to produce a weekly newsletter for the remainder of this term while we are experiencing a number of positive COVID-19 Omicron cases. Having left when we had no cases linked to school, and now returning to the situation with many children having been through isolation, or being a positive case, is certainly a changed situation. It also gives an indication of what you have faced over the month of March.
I send all the very best to everyone in the Greenmeadows School community.
We look forward to the coming few weeks before the holiday break incorporating Easter and ANZAC observations.
Ka kite anō,
Mark Johnson
Principal
WELCOME TO GMS
COVID-19 INFORMATION UPDATE to 30th March
We currently have 61 children isolating.
KOWHAI: 11 household contacts, 12 positive cases.
POHUTUKAWA: 11 household contacts, 5 positive cases.
TOTARA: 14 household contacts, 8 positive cases.
STAFF: 0 household contacts, 5 positive cases.
Whilst we are still being advised of new cases daily, we now appear to be receiving a greater number of children back to school. Hopefully this trend will continue into the end of the term.
As always, we greatly appreciate those of you who have been keeping us informed of reasons for your child's absence, particularly those who test postive during isolation as a household contact as this usually pushes out the date of their return.
COVID PROTOCOLS FOR GMS GOING AHEAD
Going ahead we assume that we will be able to relax restrictions at some stage. We all look forward to being able to do so. However for the remainder of this term we are going to continue with the limited access to school as we have operated under so far this year. We will review these procedures over the holiday break and communicate any changes to you early in the new term.
Please note that the whole of New Zealand is still in 'Red' setting requiring masks to be worn for adults and children from Year 4 upwards (optional for younger students). And may I say your children are doing an amazing job of this too.
TEACHER ONLY DAY - Thursday 14 April
This date was originally set aside to engage in professional learning with all other schools in the Ōtātara Kāhui Ako and was entered into our school calendar. Due to various reasons the learning combined with all the Taradale schools will not be taking place, but we have kept the date in our calendar so that teachers can plan for next term.
SCHOOL SUNHATS - OPTIONAL FROM Monday 4 April
UNDERWEAR APPEAL
If you have any spare uniform (especially small sizes) that you can donate, we will gratefully accept those too!
TERM 2 SPORTS
Registrations are still open for Term 2 sports teams - full information and the link to register via Kindo can be found under the sports tab on our school website, www.gms.school.nz.
Registrations close on Sunday 3rd April, contact Nicki at nickis@gms.school.nz with any queries.
OSCAR Annual General Meeting
NAPIER LIBRARIES HOME DELIVERY SERVICES
If you live in the Napier area and are unable to visit either Napier or Taradale Libraries, we may be able to set you up with a contactless delivery of items to suit you or your children's interests.
You may be eligible for this free service if:
You are unable to visit the library due to limited mobility, disability or illness
You are unable to visit the library due to Covid-19 restrictions
Please phone our team on 06 8344180, or visit our website for more information.
CHILD ABSENCES
The absent text service is NO longer available. Please do not text.
To report your child being away please use the school app. Find the absence button then use the email function.
REMINDER ABOUT PICKING YOUR CHILDREN UP DURING THE SCHOOL DAY & THE REQUIREMENT OF FACIAL COVERINGS
Carolyn or Sara will ring through to the classroom and have your child sent out to meet you. The office staff will sign your child out on your behalf.
If you do need to come into the office to collect your child from the sickbay or for some other reason, please make sure you are wearing a mask, Many thanks.
GMS SCHOOL APP
This is how we communicate with the school community any importmant messages or reminders.
Contact Us
Email: admin@gms.school.nz
Website: http://www.gms.school.nz/
Location: Greenmeadows School 45 Osier Road, Greenmeadows, Napier, New Zealand
Phone: +64 06-844 7024
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmsnapier