We have welcomed back many students and are now able to offer two days for each class. We were delighted there were no further cases of Covid-19 after an anxious time for everyone. Thank you for the many messages of support it was greatly appreciated.
Staffing News
We sadly farewell Mr. Jack Hopkinson, Mrs. Adele Hunkin, Miss Brooke Neale and Mrs. Neva Bassingthwaite at the end of this school year.
Jack has been with our school for seven years and feels it is the right time to have a change for his career. Neva who is currently on maternity leave and Brooke have both bought houses in Papakura, so traffic and time spent in a car were the deciding factors. Adele is going to work part time to balance family priorities and work.
We will miss them because not only were they dedicated teachers but also great colleagues and friends, as Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” We wish them all the best in their future careers and pathways.
We welcome Miss Jess Hackett who will be teaching in the junior school and Miss Jazmyn Garrett-Dalton in the senior school.
Hall Update
Work has continued at a rapid rate. So far, 100 percent of the framing of the outside walls replaced. We hope this will be finished early next year.
No School Road Patrols For The Next 3 Weeks
There will be no school road patrols this year. We do not have enough staff or students to operate these and most students arrive by car. If your child is going to be crossing the road, please remind them of the basic road safety rules. Stop. Look. Listen
End Of The Year Major Events Information
Class Timetables for onsite learning the remainder of the term
Reports, Returning Devices and Collecting Learning Packs
End of Week 8 – Friday 10th December 8.30 am until 11.00 am
Returning of School Chromebooks and iPads
If your child has one of these school devices that they borrowed they must bring the device back no later than Friday 10 December. School drop offs of these devices are welcome before this day, please just call the office and arrange contactless pickups in the car park.
Organisation for Friday 10 December
Location for device return and picking up school reports will be under the TLC Shade Area in the middle school area. This allows us to ensure the safety protocols can be actioned correctly.
- The back and front gates will be open and supervised to help with any questions you may have.
- We ask that only one member of each family come into the school grounds, as we are conscious of numbers. All adults coming into school must sign or scan in and be wearing a mask.
- Your child’s teacher will be waiting behind a clearly labelled table. We will set out cones to ensure enough distance between each person returning devices and/or collecting their child’s report and learning hard pack
- If your child has any books or stationery, they will also be bagged and ready to collect from your child’s teacher at the same time.
- There will be a collection point where you can drop off library and/ or home reading books.
How will we know what teacher my child will have next year?
This information will be included with your child’s report.
How can I get my child’s report if I am not coming onsite?
If you are not returning a device and prefer not to come into the school grounds please ring the school office on 576-9209 and we will arrange to post your child’s report out.
What happens in the last week of school with home learning?
A hard pack of learning can be picked up for the last week of school when you drop off devices and /or pick reports and stationery on Friday 10th December. If you are not coming into school, ring the office to organise a contactless pickup.
What if I cannot make it on Friday 10 December?
You can send another member either of your whanau or your child.
Year 6 Graduation and Duty Awards – Thursday 16 December 9.30 am
Due to current restrictions and the effect of the lockdowns this will have to be quite different to previous years. The ceremony will be held under the TLC Shade Area and live streamed for the families to watch live or later. Unfortunately, we will have to limit the audience to just Year 5 students only, seated the appropriate distance apart.
There will be no academic awards this year. A outline of the ceremony for all the families of Year 6 students sent out next week.
Can my child attend school that day just for the ceremony?
Yes, they can. We ask they come to school by 9.00am so they are ready to participate at 9.30 am. We expect the ceremony to take 45 minutes depending how many students turn up.
If my child does not attend will they still get a graduation certificate and koru pendant?
Yes, you can arrange either a contactless pickup, a fellow Year 5 or Year 6 student to collect on their behalf or we will mail them out.
If my child is in Year 5 or Year 6 can they stay all day on Thursday December 16?
Yes, pick up will be between 2.30 pm and 3.00 pm
Students Not Returning Questionnaire
Thank you to everyone who has filled in this questionnaire as it helps us to organise class lists for 2022. Although the replies so far show that very few students are leaving it is very helpful to know. Please click on the following link if you have not yet managed to complete this 1-minute survey.
Last Day For All Students – Thursday November 16 The last day for all students this year is Thursday November 16. Year 5 and Year 6 students will be at school as well as the normal bubble classes. Staggered pick up time will be as normal from 2.30 pm.
If you have any questions please email me fintank@papurangaheights.school.nz
We will continue to send updates and information as we receive them from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education. Thank you for your patience and support.
Warm regards
Fintan, Sue and Monique
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish