Weekly Communication

Dear Families,

Malo e lelei! This week is officially Tongan language week.

To celebrate this during lockdown level 4, Mrs Bell our librarian has created a dashboard on the Information Centre portal featuring a range of educational links, stories, games and music promoting Tongan language.

Throughout the week our classroom teachers have posted easily accessible links to the portal through Seesaw and Google classroom.

Malo ‘Aupito

Emergency School Led Learning from Home and Alert Level Change Preparations

Once again we thank all of our community for their active support of the emergency school led learning from home programme which our teachers are providing.

We will know on Monday whether Auckland is due to move down alert levels later in the week.

If we are notified by the Prime Minister on Monday that Auckland is shifting lockdown levels, I will send an email on Monday afternoon requesting families to be in touch with me directly at lcampbell@starofthesea.school.nz if you are an essential worker who requires supervision in a school bubble once we reach Level 3. Thank you in advance for prioritising your response to this should we find out we are moving lockdown levels as this will assist us in our planning.

Next week is Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori! – Maori Language Week

Kia kaha te reo Māori
‘Kia kaha’ is well understood in New Zealand English with its meaning of ‘be strong’. We often talk about languages as if they are people – talking about language health, strength and revitalisation. So when we say ‘Kia kaha te reo Māori’ we’re saying – ‘Let’s make the Māori language strong’. Expect to see plenty of Te Reo Māori sprinkled through online learning next week.

Teacher Only Day Friday 17th September

You will note that we have a Teacher Only Day scheduled for Friday 17th September. Regardless of lockdown levels, this Teacher Only Day will go ahead. This means that our teachers are involved in Professional Learning and Development on the day and will not be setting emergency school led learning from home tasks to be undertaken by the children. They will also not be available for usual zoom sessions or to respond to student work on that day.

If we are in Lockdown Level 3 by that date, we will make arrangements to continue to support the students of essential workers who have no other option but to send their children to school on this day.

Gala Update

You will have received an email this week advising you that we are in the unfortunate position of needing to cancel our OLSOS Gala for 2021. Instead the Gala Committee will work towards a modified community gathering on Friday 3rd December 5 pm – 8 pm for a Twilight Mission Market Night. We will combine our annual Mission Market event for our students, giving them the opportunity to raise money for those in need with a modified school fundraising event to enhance our students’ learning environment.

Class, Team and Portrait Photos

We were due to have photos taken this week but like a number of activities we have had to find alternative dates. We have now confirmed Monday 29 November for Class & Portrait photos and Tuesday 30 November for Teams and Sibling photos.

Covid-19 vaccination

Unichem Pharmacy Pakuranga would like to invite you to book your Covid-19 vaccination with them. You can book through their online portal www.bookmyvaccine.nz They are located at 11 Cortina Place in Pakuranga underneath Pakuranga Medical Centre. They are fully operational throughout lockdown, open seven days a week. Contact phone number is. (09) 577 1237.

As all our churches are closed during Lockdown Level 4, you may find information on weekday and weekend Masses around the diocese on the Auckland Catholic Diocese website

Louise Campbell

Principal + Lead Principal South East Christian Kahui Ako

He Whetu o te Moana

Our Lady Star of the Sea School

14 Oakridge Way

Howick

Auckland 2014

Ph: 09 538 0195