Principal's Message...

Our Purpose: To prepare students to be active participants who will contribute to their community.

Tēnā koutou katoa, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Bula vinaka

As we are now half way through the first term, I am grateful for the ongoing support from our community, the students and the staff at OIS. Thank you all for the positive messages and the communication that is being shared with class teachers, the office and Leadership team. I am aware that there are a number of families who are, for whatever reason, struggling, overwhelmed, worried or unwell. Please remember you are not on your own and if you need support in whatever form, reach out to your child’s teacher or to Belinda or myself.

One of our core values at OIS is Respect, Respect for ourselves and Respect for others. We don't have to agree with other peoples opinions, but we do need to be respectful of them. 

It is important that I reiterate the information from the Ministry of Health that only household contacts of a positive case need to isolate at home. All other students just need to be monitored for symptoms and then get tested if these symptoms arise.

With the protocols that we have in place you should know that unless they are showing symptoms, or are immuno-compromised, the best place for your child is at school.

This scenario could continue for some weeks until the peak has passed. Keeping your child at home for that amount of time “just in case”, could be detrimental to their learning progress as well as their social and emotional well being. There may come a time when they are required to stay at home for a period, but until then we encourage them to be here every day.

At OIS we are big on communication and ensuring that our community is informed. If your child is or has been in a room where a child has tested positive then you will receive an email from the Principal, Deputy Principal or the office. It will read as below, or similar:

This message is to inform you that we have had a positive case of COVID-19 from a student in your child’s class. The student has not come to school today but was at school on Friday.

Only families with positive cases of COVID-19 in their home need to be isolated, everyone else can attend school as normal. Keep an eye out for symptoms and get tested only if symptoms are showing.

It is also important to note that our teaching team is going to be very stretched during this time catering for children at school and at home. We are going to do our very best to keep the students in routine.

If your child is well, my recommendation is that you send them to school. If they are unwell, keep them at home and get them tested if they show symptoms of COVID. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

It has been great to see sporting opportunities still available to students both in and out of school time: Youthtown, North Otago Cricket, and a large number of students heading over for Touch on Tuesday. We will be putting out Winter sports information shortly. 

Kind regards

Rebecca Meek

Principal