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
Today, we celebrate our wonderful support staff team and expressed our sincere gratitude for their dedication and hard work. Our support staff, including our administration team, property manager, and teacher aides, play a vital role in our school community. Their efforts contribute significantly to a positive learning environment and have a direct, positive impact on student learning and well-being. We deeply appreciate their collaboration with teachers to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.
I was lucky to participate in our Kahui Ako Community of Learning professional development session on Monday. This is always a great opportunity to get together and share the mahi we have been doing toward our learning goals. One of the most exciting things that comes from these meetings is the opportunity for teachers from high schools, primary schools and Intermediate schools to get together to discuss education across sectors and communities. We are super lucky to have OIS teacher Victoria Forrest leading these sessions.
Today, a number of our students and staff were wearing something pink. This is a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Bullying. Pink Shirt Day is an anti-bullying movement that celebrates diversity and creates environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.
At Oamaru Intermediate, one of our values is Acting with Respect, which means respecting self, others' opinions, religions, identity, and our environment. We are always talking about doing the right thing even when others are choosing not to, speaking up when something isn’t right, and seeking help when a situation is unsafe. Keep talking with your child about calling out inappropriate and unsafe behaviour, whether it be online or face-to-face. We can all do our part to stop bullying.
This week, I have taken the time to reflect on what we can do as parents to support our children’s mental health and well-being.
Create a safe and supportive home environment: providing lots of opportunities to actively listen and encourage open communication, and providing emotional support when needed.
Encourage healthy habits: a balanced diet, regular exercise, digital-free time, and adequate sleep can have a huge impact on your child’s well-being.
Model healthy coping strategies: We can model healthy coping strategies for our children by managing our stress in a healthy way. This can include practising self-care, seeking support from friends and family, or seeking professional help when needed. As adults, our children take cues from us, they watch how we react and respond to different situations. Our children learn from us.
Take an interest in what your child is doing out of school, spend time with your child, and know who they are hanging out with and who they are talking to online.
Be aware of warning signs: It's important for us to be aware of warning signs that may indicate that our child is struggling. These signs can include changes in behaviour, academic performance, or social interactions. If you are worried about your child, then do reach out and professional help. This can include talking to your child's doctor, Fiona - Public Health Nurse, Youthline, or a mental health professional. Early intervention can make a big difference in a child's mental health outcomes.
Remember that every child is unique and may require different approaches to maintain good mental health. At Oamaru Intermediate, we have an open-door policy, where students and whānau are always welcome to speak with their teachers about any concerns they are having. If you have a concern or have noticed a change in your child, do reach out to your child’s classroom teacher. They are only too willing to support and connect with you.
If your child is using a social media platform, I can’t urge you enough to please take the time to check who they are connecting with, what they are doing online and that the conversation and messages being sent are respectful. We do not encourage chat groups, and we certainly do not promote class or school groups being made. Ensure that you have robust systems and expectations in place. A sound piece of advice I heard from a parent this week was, “nothing good happens for students on social media after 9 pm”, for that reason, in their house, they leave their phones on the kitchen table for the night. You would be surprised by the number of students who are still online after 9.00 pm.
Chocolates
A huge thank you to all of our community for the support in selling chocolates, and a special thank you to Jude Garrett and Amanda Notman, along with their team of helpers, who are running this fundraiser for the school.
ALL MONEY AND FORMS are to be RETURNED by next Tuesday 20 May 2025.
Any queries please contact amandan@oamaruint.school.nz or judeg@oamaruint.school.co.nz
The OIS PTA thanks you for your support.
Appreciation
This week, we put a call out to our community for shoes. We have been absolutely blown away by the shoes that have come in the door this week. We are very humbled by this support and can’t thank our community enough.
Rebecca Meek
Principal