Kia ora koutou
We have had some confirmed cases over the last three days. One is a staff member and we will be in touch with the Home Base and classes of that staff member. The staff member was last on site on Thursday 3 March.
We have also had confirmation from the following:
- Year 12 student who was last on site on Wednesday 2 March.
- Year 11 student who was last on site on Tuesday 1 March
- Year 7 student who was last on site on Tuesday 1 March
- Year 5 student who was last on site on Tuesday 1 March
Thank you to all the caregivers for letting the school know and for keeping children at home when they were unwell and getting tested.
Our staff absences are increasing and we are closely monitoring the situation. This will mean that your child will be working with increased numbers of relief staff over the next couple of weeks. The safety of students remains paramount in our decision making and we will keep you informed as the situation develops.
Thank you to everyone for contacting the school when your children are away.
Thank you to everyone for supporting your children to wear masks at school. Remember we have spare masks on every floor of the building.
We now have a dedicated email address for any Covid related questions. Covid@aotawhiti.school.nz
The Ministry of Health has provided some graphics to help whānau with decision-making during the 
Whānau volunteers
Thanks so much to everyone who is supporting off-site trips such as Nature Play and swimming. Just a reminder that all adults working with school students, including volunteers, fall under the vaccine mandate for education settings. This means that a booster is required within 183 days of your second jab. To help us ensure we are complying with the Public Health Order, please verify the dates of your jabs, if you haven’t already done so, by sharing your ‘My Covid Record’ with us. Please send a screenshot through to the office at office@aotawhiti.school.nz. Educational experiences outside the classroom are so valuable for tamariki and rangatahi and we couldn’t do it without your help. Ngā mihi nui!
Learning and Pastoral Opportunities
We have our school newsletter coming out this week which is a celebration of the great learning that has taken place for the first half of term one. There are some more opportunities available for students in the information below.
Senior students – Technology Credits for NCEA and Project Based Learning
Jared Gallagher was a Learning Advisor at Ao Tawhiti. He is available to support senior students to gain credits for projects they might be working on. Last year a student who was designing and building his own guitars at home worked with Jared to get NCEA credits for this work. If your child is designing and building a product then they are welcome to come to the Technology workshop on March 23rd in the morning. Jared will be there and will advise the students on how to match their product and design to NCEA assessment. He will support the students to work on these assessments and assess them later in the year. Please talk to your child’s Home Base Learning Advisor if you have any questions.
Tūranga Membership for students
Bonnie Sarkar is the mother of Gus in Year 4. She works at Tūranga and can support parents to gain library memberships for children, as some parents are unable to make it into the library.
She has organised a membership drive for all Ao Tawhiti whānau at school. Bonnie will be onsite on Floor One from 8:30 – 9:30 this Wednesday 9 March and 2:30 – 3:30 on Thursday 10 March. She will support whānau to enrol in the library. Please bring ID and proof of address.
Thank you to Bonnie for organising this.
Lunchtime Clubs
Thank you to Laura Borrowdale and the Peer Support students for organising lunchtime clubs this term. See poster below for the opportunities. The Peer Support students are also leading Jump Jam in the Dance Room for the Years 1- 6 students. Writers’ Club and Board Games are open to all students in the school.
