Star Board Term Two Week Two

Principal's Message

Kia Ora Koutou Whānau and Students

Please know that in my role I am asked to report our COVID-19 case numbers to our contacts in the Te Mahau office. MoE are still using the information to inform the Government’s understanding of patterns and level of disruption caused by COVID-19, so I thank you for keeping us informed.

Heading into winter, it is likely we will find ourselves up against the impacts of other illnesses.

We need to keep in mind that the Orange setting was not the magic bullet to say COVID has gone away- it has not. In our school we are still implementing processes to mitigate risk, one of which is the wearing of masks when in large groups and encouraging those who are vulnerable to wear masks. We have had no dissenting voice to such measures and please know that any insistence on ramping up these protocols is for the health and wellbeing of our community. Later in the message I will write about this.

It has been disappointing to hear that some of our nation’s Russian whānau children are experiencing bullying and harassment at school because of the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine. As we lean into Bullying-Free Week, I am reminded how strongly we as adults need to create opportunities to manage conflict and difference with respect. I send a strongly heartfelt message to our school community that bullying is abuse and it is not OK.

1. New: Face mask exemption card

A new face mask exemption process is being implemented from Tuesday 31 May. Using a self-declaration process, people who qualify for an exemption from the requirement to wear a face mask can apply for and be issued with a new personalised exemption card.  The new card will provide evidence of a person’s exempt status and will be issued digitally (or by mail if needed).

The COVID-19 legislation already provides a legal exemption for circumstances in which some people are not required to wear a face mask. It also exempts anyone who has a physical or mental condition that makes wearing a face covering unsuitable, as well as when someone is communicating with a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or has a disability which makes it hard to have effective communication.

When face masks do not need to be worn – Unite Against COVID-19

There is currently no official way to provide proof of an exemption. (Though you will be aware there has been a communication card available for people to apply for which can assist card holders to alert people or businesses that they cannot wear a mask.)

The new exemption card has a legal status that neither the old exemption card nor the interim communication card (issued by the Ministry of Health) has.

Face mask communication card – Ministry of Health

Further information - The Ministry of Health website will be updated on Tuesday 31 May with new exemption card information.

2. Winter illnesses and Planning ahead

Along with COVID-19, it is likely we will also be having to grapple with the impacts of illnesses such as colds and flus through the winter season.

Caution over the flu season is very important in 2022. As noted on the Ministry of Health website:

• We have had very little influenza circulating in our communities since the pandemic began. This means our community immunity is lower than usual
• This winter there is the very real possibility of having flu and COVID-19 within a short space of time – this can lead to very serious illness
• If you do catch flu, it’s important that you stay away from work or school while you’re unwell. Look after yourself and your family – rest and fluids are especially important
• The symptoms of influenza can be the same or similar to the symptoms of COVID-19
• If you’re sick, stay home. Call your health provider or Healthline and follow their advice. They may advise you to have a COVID-19 test, and self-isolate while you wait for the results
• It’s also important to seek medical advice early if you are concerned, and especially if there are any danger signs, even if you have been seen before. Other serious conditions can also look like the flu, including meningococcal disease.

Influenza – Ministry of Health

We may also experience multiple peaks of illness in our community, including COVID-19. Because we are more vulnerable as a population to colds and flus, maintaining a highly cautious approach for anyone who is symptomatic is strongly encouraged, to keep spread of illness as low as possible.

The tools we have to minimise spread of COVID-19 will also support a reduction in transmission of other seasonal illnesses including:

• wearing masks
• ensuring you have good ventilation
• staying home if unwell
• cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces regularly
• encouraging vaccination for our staff and students (for example, COVID-19, flu, measles, whooping cough). In 2022, flu vaccinations are free for pregnant people, people aged 65 years and over (Māori and Pacific people aged 55 years and over), people who have a long-term medical condition like diabetes, asthma, or a heart condition and children under the age of four who have been in hospital with respiratory illness such as asthma.

Infectious diseases information and exclusion list

The HealthEd website has a poster which contains at-a-glance information on a number of diseases children may get

Infectious diseases information and exclusion list [PDF, 234 KB] (Poster)

3. Reminder: Bullying-Free NZ Week

Bullying-Free NZ Week 16-20 May (BFNZ) is a chance to empower our students and teachers to take the lead, spread the word and make a change, to help prevent bullying together.

In conjunction with Pink Shirt Day on Friday 20, the theme this year is ‘He kōtuinga mahi iti, he hua pai-ā rau – Small ripples, create big waves’.

Download action packs for students and teachers from the BFNZ website to find out and share quick ways to get involved.

Bullying-Free NZ Week 2022 – Bullying-Free NZ

Students on both the St Matthew’s and Senior College sites are pivotal in what we will do to acknowledge this week.

3. Wellness to KoTahitanga

We are making changes in this space the first of which was a schoolwide discussion about renaming and ideas gathering about what the students and staff want to see in this space going forward.

This time is now renamed KoTahitanga- unity as a reminder of the bringing together of all our students for their growth and capacity to thrive. The decision to have them do this was also so they could have ownership over the change.

Stay safe

Nga Mihi

Kiri

Around School

Boarding Note from Jo Booth

With our Open Night on Tuesday, it has been another busy week in the boarding houses. A special thank you to those who volunteered as tour guides in Main and Hampton Houses, and to all the boarders for making sure your rooms were looking lovely. Although it is important the boarding houses are looking neat and tidy when visitors come in, it is an expectation that boarders take pride in their rooms every day. Therefore we have started the “Tidiest room competition” in Main House, where one boarder from each dorm is chosen daily and at the end of term, the students from each dorm with the most stars besides their name, will go out for a surprise end of term treat.

Another competition we have running is our photo competition. Any boarder can enter this and information is in the Student Gallery between the downstairs common rooms in Main House. The winner gets their photo printed onto canvas and hung in the gallery, along with a voucher from Stirling Sports. The thinking behind this is, why buy art when we have such talented young people who are always out there taking photos on their phones!

Below are a two pictures taken this week in Main House.

Enjoy the weekend - Jo

Open Evening

A huge thank you to all the students and staff that made our Open Evening such a great night, especially given the cool conditions.

For open Evening, students of French decorated balloons with an image representing something typically French along with a slogan. Hailey from Hadlow was delighted when she chose un ballon rouge and received a beautiful red balloon decorated with an image of Mont St Michel in Normandy. The image was the work of Year 10 student Ran Jarroenkitchaichana, who gave up their lunch hour to complete it. Félicitations, Ran! Everyone was impressed with your work.

Parent Survey

Please click button below to view the Parent Survey results;

Nga Tawa Interschool Showjumping Competition

St Matthews Collegiate sent two teams to the annual Nga Tawa Interschool Show Jumping Competition in Marton this week.

The St Matthews Green Team of Emily McMaster, Poppy Tatham, Sofia Williams, and Alex Anstis put in a fantastic team effort to take overall 1st place in a field of around 150 riders from more than 20 schools.

This relatively young team completed 12 rounds only taking 3 rails all day, with Alex riding clear in all her rounds. Emily McMaster on Onetai Cover Girl won the 1.05 table C speed class, and 4th place in the Working Hunter Class. Sofia Williams and Grassendale Gin won both the Table C, and working Hunter 90cm classes, with Poppy Tatham and Wembleybrook O’Driscoll coming 4th in the 90cm working hunter and 7th in the Table C. This combined score of 48 put them just ahead of the hosting Nga Tawa Titanium team.

The St Matthews White team of Allie Domanski, Lilly Reynolds, and Tessa Buckley all rode well in what was an extremely competitive event.

DDA Maths group

The year 7 /8 dept are studying statistics so Mr D's math class counted car colours that passed the school gate in 30 minutes. They made tally boxes to record what they saw and then created Column graphs to show their findings.