From the Principal 18 March 2022

Rostering Home

This week has seemed very unusual with numbers of students attending College dropping quite dramatically in response to the current COVID Omicron outbreak.  Our main aim, as always, continues to be keeping students at school and learning in front of our staff.  However, due to being down to only one reliever we have been forced to roster senior classes to work from home.  In an effort to make sure whānau can continue with work, we will only roster Year 10 and above to offsite learning as these students can legally remain at home without supervision.  Next week Year 12 students will be rostered home on Wednesday and Friday but I would ask you to be vigilant on your emails as things change quickly and we often have to be responsive at short notice.  I include below the hybrid learning plan that you should familiarise yourselves with.

SS Otaki Commemoration

It was fantastic to be able to again host the SS Otaki Commemoration Service.  My sincere thanks to Te Akau Epiha, William Fogden, Kaea Hakaraia-Hosking, Pounamu MacKay and Charlie Simpson, along with the guidance of David Ledson, for the organisation of an extremely successful Service with a focus this year on the 80th Anniversary of Convoy PQ17.  It was particularly special to have three members of the Russian Convoy club present and to be honoured with an address by their President, Derek Whitwam.

In Closing

I sincerely wish to thank everyone for their ongoing support of the College and student learning while we navigate through challenging times.

A reminder that if you need to isolate, with a positive case in the household, please do not hesitate to contact Katene Morris, Ōtaki COVID Relief Coordinator, at Te Puna Oranga on 021 089 47470 or contact me at the College via email - afs@otakicollege.school.nz or mobile 027 4328829.