1 December 2021

As you know, the Prime Minister has confirmed that all of New Zealand will move to the COVID-19 Protection Framework (CPF) at 11.59pm on Thursday 2 December.

Guidance for the education sector on exactly what is expected of schools under the new framework, has come through and Auckland schools will retain their current public health measures and other requirements that are in place at Alert Level 3, Step 2 for the remainder of the year. This means that we are required to continue with our current reduced attendance onsite. Auckland schools will then move to the CPF from 1 January 2022.

Staff 

We are farewelling a number of staff at the end of the school year (as already previously mentioned in our October newsletter). We will also be farewelling Andy Boyd who has taught Year 5&6 for 5 years at Woodlands Park School. Andy will be returning to Kelston Intermediate School as a single subject teacher following his passion for technology and hard materials. We wish him all the very best with getting back to the workshop!

We have recruited and successfully appointed Mrs Lee Bartlett who will teach Year 5&6. Lee will also be the Whanau Leader for Whanau Harakeke. Lee has taught previously at Woodlands Park and more recently at Oratia School. We are looking forward to welcoming Lee back to our WPS whanau in 2022.

Buildings and Property 

After months of planning we are finally ready to start our administration school building upgrade. Wilkran construction successfully won the tender and project works will begin mid-December. We will be moving and relocating a number of spaces across the school in keeping with our health and safety plan with managing risk. Temporary changes at the beginning of 2022 include;

• Office and Sick Bay - will operate out of the Rainbow Room 

• Room 19 - R3

• Room 20 - R5

• Staffroom - R19

• SLT offices - R20
  
  

Although we have been given a 4 month build timeframe, I am realistic about the possibility that it may take longer. 

Due to the building works starting shortly there will be no public access over December/January. 

Pool 

Unfortunately, due to a number of complexities related to Covid-19, we will not be able to issue school pool keys over the holiday period. However, we will review this decision in late January and our intention is to try and plan to issue keys for a shorter period of time from February to April 2022, if this is possible. 

Year 6 Graduation

It will be no surprise that given the current restrictions and changing nature of information from MOH that it has been a difficult one to plan for! Year 6 families will be sent communication shortly - please note you will need to complete a very short survey please asap, thank you. 

Finally, our awesome tamariki continue to show our school values and have settled back into school life (despite health restrictions), without missing a step. We are also so proud of the way that our Year 4-6 students have taken to wearing their masks without issue. I can not thank you enough for your support at this time. 

Nga Mihi, 

Nardz Stephenson