21 August 2021
Kia ora koutou whanau
Like me you probably looked at the emerging cases from this outbreak and thought that some further time at Alert Level 4 was the best thing for our community, particularly that there has been a confirmed case of students who attend McAuley High School and De la Salle. As we all know these families are a part of our community as well. If you know you have had contact please follow the guidelines. Isolate for 14 days get tested if you have any cold and flu symptoms. For further information please visit https://covid19.govt.nz/.
We extend our support and Aroha to these families.
I wanted to reassure you that our school staff and board will continue to be available to support your child’s learning and wellbeing in the coming days.
We have distributed over 200 devices already plus learning packs. Some of the devices are new and need to be logged into the school Wi-Fi before they will access your home Wi -Fi. What this means is that students need to come to the school gates login to the school Wi-Fi and they are good to go. We have had many devices being returned yesterday because they have been broken or power cords lost, please parents, make sure your child looks after the device that they are given, it takes a device away from someone else, and they are on loan.
Students will continue to follow their normal timetable. Parents if you have any questions regarding your child’s learning, please do not hesitate to contact their year level deans
Year 9: Marieke Brinkman email: mariekeb@tangaroa.school.nz
Year 10: Rob Downing email: robd@tangaroa.school.nz
Year 11: Abigail So’e email: abigails@tangaroa.school.nz
Year 12: Chris Ashford email: chrisa@tangaroa.school.nz
Year 13: Renee Tawhi email: reneet@tangaroa.school.nz
Or alternatively you can still call the school during the following hours of 9am – 2pm our office ladies will answer your calls. We will also be posting messages and information regularly on our school website: https://www.tangaroa.school.nz/.
If you have changed address and or contact details it is important you let us know.
We also hope you are doing OK at the moment – but it is also OK if you aren’t.
As the Mental Health Foundation of NZ says, “it’s all right to feel a range of emotions right now. Going into a Level 4 lockdown is a big deal and it brings all sorts of different feelings to the surface, including frustration, worry and even gratitude. However, what you are feeling, know that you’re not alone – we’re all going through this “together.”
If you need to talk, check in with a friend or whānau member, or free call/text 1737 to chat with a trained counsellor. It’s free and confidential. If you or anyone you know wants some advice or support over this time here are some further options that might be useful.
Support services that remain open:
- Counselling Free Call or Text 1737
- Healthline for COVID-19 health advice: 0800 358 5453
- Youth line 0800 376 633 or free text 234
- Samaritans 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline 0800 111 757
- Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865
FOOD BANKS:
?Auckland Council Aucklanders unable to afford groceries or in self–isolation with no access to other support networks can call 0800 22 22 96 between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. Callers must meet government criteria for assistance.
?Salvation Army Text your name and postcode to 4114 and a rep. will contact you within 48 hours.
?Presbyterian Support Northern – 09 309 2054 Collections between 11am – 12pm, Monday to Friday from 8 Madeira Lane, Grafton. No walk-ins.
?Foodbank NZ: 022 045 8184 info@foodbank.co.nz www.foodbank.org.nz
?Auckland City Mission: 09 303 9200 Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 3.00pm
You will also understand the importance of routine for your family. If your routine has been shaken up, it’s good to structure your time. Routines are reassuring and promote health and physical wellbeing. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ has been working to ensure useful information is available to Pacific peoples in nine different languages.
A big thank you to all of you for taking the lockdown so seriously – we’ve seen before that staying at home will break the chain of transmission and save lives. Breaking the rules could risk someone close to you and if the rules are not complied with, this could risk the lock down period being extended or could risk the virus being spread to thousands.
Please keep checking the locations of interest and get tested if you were at that location at the specified time, or if you have symptoms which could be COVID-19.
As always, please let us know if there is anything you need to support you and your tamariki during this time. We will learn more on Monday from the Prime Minister and keep everyone up-dated then.
Take care and God Bless
Davida Suasua