Principal's Message

Kia ora koutou

Thank you for continuing to take the time to read my ‘Ata Mārie’ and the Newsletter. That you know what I know, more what I need you to know keeps us all on the same page.

You will recall from the ‘Ata Marie’ that my message would come to you from the letter ‘V’. I will cover:

- Staff who will be taking new Voyages from teaching careers.

- Ministry information received on Vaccinations is in here.

- Vaping.

- Our Values and those who talk the Values and those who walk them

- Varsity- which we often refer to as university.

- The upcoming Vacation.

New Voyages

Some significant teaching souls will be disembarking from our docks at the end of the academic year and setting sail on new Voyages. After many years of loyal service we will say farewell and thank you to: Junko Bracefield, Penny Walker, and Rosemary Taylor.

Vaccinations

You are aware of Government’s decision that all staff and workers who may have contact with children and students in schools and kura must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by 1 January 2022. This measure has the support of education entities including the representative bodies of teachers and principals.

As the employer, we are responsible for ensuring the Government’s Health Orders are put into practice.

The health and wellbeing of our students, staff, and everyone involved in the safe operation of our school is something we take seriously. As with other diseases that many of us are vaccinated from (measles, meningitis, pneumonia, tetanus and polio), without those vaccinations we are at risk of serious illness, disability and in extreme cases, even death.

Our endeavour is to protect ourselves and protect those around us. We are less likely to get sick from COVID-19, and we are also less likely to pass it on. We hope that this mandate for us provides reassurance for parents and whānau that it is safe for your young people at school with their friends and face-to-face learning with their teachers.

We will continue to update you with the latest public health and other information as it becomes available.

Vaping

St Matthew’s and in fact all schools are required to be Smoke and Vape Free. On 11 November 2020, changes under the Act saw the existing prohibition on smoking at schools, kura kaupapa, kôhanga reo and early childhood facilities extended to include vaping. This means these places must be smoke free and vape free, indoors and out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act took an important step forward on the 11th of May this year with a key new requirement taking effect that ‘no vaping’ signage must be displayed at these locations in addition to the existing requirement to display ‘no smoking’ notices. Schools are also required to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that no person smokes or vapes in any part of their school, whether inside or outside, at any time of the day. We have put our signage.

Some time ago I called a parent about her daughter who had been caught vaping and that she would be stood down. The parent told me I was overreacting, and that this decision was over the top. I do not think for a second that it was. More recently another student has been caught vaping and she was stood down for the maximum number of days one can be stood down in a term. It was pleasing to see that her parent completely supported the decision seeing the addictive nature of the activity. In fairness to the previous parent, the impact of the Vaping craze was all new. When this product arrived in our towns, we immediately predicted that there would problems. It is more discreet (well apart from the sweet smells which emanate), and your children could be using the product at home- and you do not know.

Make no mistake when we catch a student, that student will be stood down (or more depending on the gravity of the event). Three known evidenced events in three years- what am I worrying about right? I am worrying because it should be zero.

Values

Our school Values are Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Inclusiveness, and Commitment. These sit nicely alongside the Marks of Mission: Tend, Teach, Tell, Transform, and Treasure. Every student and staff member knows them; should know them. Every parent should know them also (because I adopted you when I enrolled your daughter). We all need to live these Values so that our talk about Compassion and the like, is what we walk. When I do what I do I check myself- am I showing compassion? I expect respect- did I show it? These values are not just for school either. I do need to get a grip though when Lindsay says to me “you need to take your school Ma’am hat off” to which I immediately respond by giving him lines to write- he has handed them in yet. Actually, the right thing to do, or my integrity tells me he is right in this instance.

Varsity

Yes, you are more familiar with the term ‘university’. There are some worried seniors who are wondering if they will get placements in halls of residences in the Canterbury and Otago Halls. We have made contact today with these establishments and what we have learned is that Canterbury Halls have been, as has Otago, inundated with application so the placements are taking longer. Students appear to be going South rather than North.

They were able to tell us that on a number of applications (and that includes St Matthew’s) where the students have been asked to give their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd options for Halls, some have written their 1st option 3x. That has not been a clever move because that has meant they have remained on the waiting list for placement. They have not got their first choice, but the Halls admissions have to go back and try and see where a best fit will be because the applicant has not given them other options.

Basically, now it is a timing factor. Canterbury (and I will assume this is the case for Otago until I hear from them) has said places will be given in the Halls for our applicants.

Vacation

It is Labour Weekend and a rest from labours. I am mindful seniors will be studying for DGEs (yes that could be seen as an expectation). I wish you a safe weekend.

Ngā mihi

Kiri

Congratulations!

Mr Davidson and his wife Wendy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this week.

Orientation Day

Today we welcomed the new student for 2022. This morning they sat the entrance exams and then we guided around the school by Year 10 students. The girls had lunch together and ice-blocks and had the opportunity to connect with each other and the girls who are already here in Years 7 and 8.