Principal's Message.

Kia Ora Koutou

When it rains it pours, and when the rain stops we go into Alert level 2.

Alert Level 2

In both situations we don the appropriate gear for the conditions and get on with it. It has of course felt a tad more real because COVID is on our doorstep, but we must be realistic about the fact we have been given the information to manage in times like these. It is all of our responsibility to make sure we adhere to those directives. One thing that has stood out has been the communication that has allowed people to be contacted if they had been in places tranversed by the individual who had contracted COVID. This was made possible because of the use of the tracer apps so I implore you to continue to use this facility.

In the most recent update I placed this reminder:

5. Face coverings are not required at school or on any school transport.

This includes charter buses hired by the school to transport students and staff. Anyone who chooses to wear a face covering in any setting should be supported to do so.

Face coverings must be worn on public transport and are encouraged to be worn when waiting for public transport and in taxis and rideshare services. If you are in Wellington, also consider wearing a face covering when interacting with people you do not know and where physical distancing is not possible.

Some generous soul wrote a letter to the editor about the absence of masks worn by some of our public bus travellers, which has prompted me to remind us all about the importance of this protocol not just once again for your child’s safety, but for the safety of others.

Some common queries received at Ministry level and the DHB are clarified here:

• For clarity - the boundaries of Wellington region impacted by the Alert Level 2 change are the areas from Mt Bruce to Manakau (which lies beyond Otaki Beach). Please note that when you move from a Level 2 area to a Level 1 area you are encouraged to act as if you are carrying the Alert Level with you.

• Please follow the official Ministry of Health / Healthline guidance.

• The majority of queries we are receiving are around ‘contacts of contact’ or ‘secondary contacts’ i.e. those that are connected to someone who has be identified as a contact – for clarification current guidance is:

- If a student / child or staff member have been in contact with a person who has been asked to isolate because they were in a location of interest, advice is on the website: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/contact-tracing-covid-19

- They do not need to stay home or get tested unless the contact becomes symptomatic at which point, they need to stay at home until the contact returns a negative test result.

- If they have been in contact with a person who has been asked to stay at home and get a test after five days, they do not need stay at home or get tested.

- If people become symptomatic, please get tested.

Please keep washing & drying hands, using the Covid Tracker App and using face coverings on public transport.

- Current Wellington locations of interest Locations of Interest/ https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/contact-tracing-covid-19/covid-19-contact-tracing-locations-interest

- Further information on Alert Level 2 https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-2/

- Ministry of Health information - Here / https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/health-and-disability-services-different-alert-levels/health-and-disability-services-alert-level-2

Accord Days for NCEA changes

The Wairarapa Secondary Principals’ Association have as a collective elected to shift the Accord Days scheduled for later in the year. Both days are staff only days so there will be no normal instruction on these days. Both days are dedicated to the NCEA change packages.

The day changes are now Monday August 9 (previously August 5), and November 22 (previously December 1).

What I told my teenage daughter and would tell her now: It is okay to say NO. Be true to yourself and be confident. Good friendships last. We all grow and change at different rates- it is not a race. Be happy and have fun. Stick to the boundaries- they are there to keep you safe. Learn to manage your money. Have manners. Manage the ‘active now’ world- switching off is not a bad thing. I Love You and Will Always Be Here For You.

Have a great weekend, and be safe.

Ngā Mihi

Kiri

Pride Week

Below is a run-down of what the girls organised this week at school:

Monday Week 8 - bakesale on the upper classroom block deck, to be donated to an LGBTQIA+ youth charity in NZ.

Tuesday Week 8 - Ally poster making outside the art room at lunch time (featured photo Mrs Gill and girls).

Wednesday Week 8 - Opportunity for pride flags of your choice to be painted on your hand at lunch, this will be between the upper and lower classroom blocks. There was also a pride-themed assembly.

Thursday Week 8 - A chalk drawing area at lunchtime with some music by LGBTQIA+ artists playing in the background.

Friday Week 8 - Treasure hunt on at lunch time for prizes

Thanks to the following Year 11 girls for their leadership in organising these events:

Rebecca Johnson, Sophie Bassett, Sophie Johnson, Charlotte Austin, Tia Lange, Hope Eales, Kate McKenna, Zoe Kreyenhop, Aibhinn McCan-Bell, Penny Noble, Trinity Wallace, Blandine McIntosh, Jenna Portman, Rose Wells, Scarlett McCallum, Chelsea Hawkes and Lucy Stevens.

Pride week is about accepting who you are as a person, which includes who you love, what gender you identify with, and how you express yourself. It’s the small things that count, wear that outfit that you’ve been ignoring because you didn’t think other people would like it, dance because it makes you happy or don’t if you personally don’t like dancing, the point is that we need to start doing things for ourselves and accepting all parts and flaws that make us who we are, life is no fun doing things to please others and honestly it too short to spend your time doing so. This week we worked to encourage this by doing small fun activities that spark conversation about accepting others and ourselves. The participation was great and it did what we hoped to achieve, spark conversation. Students and teachers asked questions about LBGTQ+, individuality, and accepting others, it was so so lovely to be able to answer them all, it really brought a smile to our faces.

Rebecca Johnson - Year 11