Kia Ora Parents and Whanau,
Auckland and New Zealand schools are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of staff absences due to illness and or isolation. Glenbrook School is no different and when we asked for assistance you have responded. Whakawhanaungatanga: At Glenbrook School we work as a community together. Thank you so much. As we battle winter illnesses, covid and long covid, we are doing everything we can to keep classes at school, and the school open. This week we have four staff members who are isolating and a number of staff who have been ill, mostly in Team Kereru and Te Rangi. 

Kapa Haka
We have yet to get our kapa haka underway. In Term 1 we were unable to gather due to red level. We are keen to get kapa haka restarted but need someone to do it. Usually I have taken kapa haka with support, but my priority has to be ensuring our classes have teachers (which includes me being in a class). I know many parents are wanting kapa haka so if you are able to take kapa haka please contact me. Hopefully we will be able to gather in Term 3. 

Akonui Hui
A huge thank you to all our parents and students who attended Akonui Hui.  We changed our format and held our Akonui Hui in the hall. We found this to be time effective and easier for whanau who have more than one child. Teachers moved seamlessly between face to face and online meetings and whanau appreciated having the option. It was so wonderful to see our whanau and I know many whanau appreciated being able to chat with their child’s teacher. 93% of whanau attended Akonui Hui which is fantastic when we know some were isolating or ill. 

Just a reminder that another big piece of your child’s achievement are the Reading, Writing and Mathematics progressions they are achieving and working towards. These can be found in your etap app. Each week our teachers update what your child is learning in class and their level. These progressions reflect the content and knowledge skills of the English and Mathematics curriculum. You will see the breadth of coverage in that curriculum level. Students need to be achieving each aspect of the progression 80% of the time to move to the next level. If you need support to access the app please contact Mrs Goodall goodalld@glenbrook.school.nz 

Illness

The coughs, sniffles and winter illnesses are amongst us. If your child is ill or sick, please keep them home. If they have tested negative for covid that is great news they don’t have covid. However if your child is sick, ill or has the flu, please keep them home. We cannot afford for staff to become ill as this impacts on the whole school. We are also aware that measles and chicken pox is on the rise in the region, so please be vigilant in keeping an eye on this.


EOTC
Well done and thank you to all our students, parents and staff who attended Trees for Survival. 1100 trees planted, we had beautiful mana and manaakitanga shown from our students and a nice BBQ to finish. A big thank you from Mr and Mrs Murray for the fantastic work done by our team. 

Finally it is so great to see weekend sports, music and cultural activities underway in the weekends. Please, send us photos if your child receives player of the day or is involved in something pretty cool. We love to highlight and celebrate our students. 

Enjoy your long weekend this Queen’s Birthday weekend,
Nga manaakitanga,
Ms Lysandra Stuart
Principal