Newsletter 03 10.03.22

Covid Update

As you are aware, Covid is now within our community.

We have 5 students and several families who have tested positive. We hope that they all get well soon.

As we advance through the next few weeks we can assume that this number will increase. From now on, only parents of children in the positive case class will be informed.

The health and wellbeing of our children, staff and community is a top priority so we are closely following the Ministry of Health guidance for schools.

Just a reminder that during Phase 3 of the Omicron response, only cases and household contacts are legally required to isolate. School will remain open for as long as we can staff classrooms. If your child is having to isolate please let the school know and we will provide a learning pack which can be completed at home.

Please continue to follow good practices when it comes to your own health and the health of your whānau. Please wear masks if entering the school site and maintain social distance.

Do not send your child to school if they are feeling unwell.

Thank you for all of your support, good wishes and understanding as we work our way through this wave of the pandemic.

SCHOOL OFFICE

As you can appreciate the School Office is a very busy place. It would be helpful if you could organise your children's activities each day eg; guitar, bus or any after school arrangements. When notices are sent out, the information needed is to be cut off and kept to refer back to. This would reduce the number of phone calls and emails we are having to answer.

Puketapu School Green Team Visit to Mangaone Stream

Last Friday, The Green Team visited Omatua Camp to learn about how to measure the health of our local waterways, the Mangaone Stream, which feeds into the Tutaekuri River.

The team were met by Richard Beetham (member of the catchment group) and Nathan Burkpile from Landcare.

Thanks to Shelley King, Administrator of the Mangaone Catchment Group for coordinating our visit.

It was great and was amazing learning about the river and the life in the river and it was nice to be able to be a part of it.

We studied lots of insects and bugs we all really enjoyed it. The parents were lovely and they were very helpful and kind . A gentleman taught us about the importance of having a healthy Mangaone Stream.

If you want to go camping there's great glamping by the river on a farm with wild goats and more animals too.

Keep an eye out in the newsletters for ways in which you can help our School Green Team.

By Isabella M

MARAEKAKAHO COUNTRY MARKET DAY 2022

As part of the much-loved Maraekakaho Country Market Day 2022, which this year is being held online, is their colouring in competition being run in conjunction with their major sponsor Harris Pumps / Lowara.

The competition ties in with World Water Day, held on 22nd March. This day has been held every year since 1993 and focuses on the importance of fresh water. The United Nations sponsored World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. The theme for 2022 is Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible, and this forms the basis of the image for our competition. More information is available here World Water Day | World Water Day 2022,

Entries are due 3pm, Friday 18 March and can be dropped at Harris Pumps (500 Omahu Road, Hastings) or in the named box outside the Maraekakaho School office (ie contactless). There are three age categories: 3 to 5 years, 6 to 8 years, and 9 to 13 years. Prizes in each category are Paper Plus vouchers as follows: 1st - $50, 2nd - $25, 3rd - $10. Winners will be announced on World Water Day via the Maraekakaho Country Market Day Facebook page (Maraekakaho Country Market Day - Home | Facebook). Please make sure all entries are named with appropriate contact details to enable them to contact the winners.