Principal's Message...
We have had a very busy short week here at school, both in and out of the classroom. Thank you for being so supportive last Friday for our staff's professional development day; it was greatly appreciated. A special thank you also goes to our Head Boy, Angello Raukete Toa, and House Captain, Daniel Manu, who served as excellent ambassadors for the school by providing support on the day.
Our Year 8 students' camp experience has been a huge success! The first two groups have returned, full of great stories and smiles. This camp creates lifetime memories, and we are so grateful for all the support that made their attendance possible. We wish Rooms 7 and 8 all the best for their turn at camp next week.
A big congratulations to our two ripper teams who represented the school with pride, bringing home both the first and second-place trophies! Thank you so much to Colleen and Miss Johnson for their dedication in making this happen.
A huge shout-out to Gus Leckie, who is competing in the South Island mountain biking competition in two events, the Downhill race and the Enduro. We wish him all the best as he represents Oamaru Intermediate School.
As the holiday break approaches, this is a timely reminder to be aware of your child's online activities. Take an interest in who they are connecting with, both online and in the community. Please take the time to review the following points and actively engage in knowing what social media platforms your child is using.
Key Online Safety Guidelines:
Protect Personal Information: Stress the importance of maintaining the privacy of all personal details and never sharing passwords.
Maintain Respectful Communication: All online interactions require respectful language and conduct. Students should always use appropriate language and expect the same from others.
Be Mindful of Your Digital Footprint: Encourage your child to "Think Before They Post." Nothing should be said online that would be unacceptable in person. They should avoid becoming a "keyboard warrior" and remember that everything they post is a permanent part of their digital footprint.
Online Stranger Awareness: Students must be cautious of "friend" requests or messages from strangers, as online identities can be deceptive.
Permission for Photos: Always secure consent from others before posting pictures that include them.
Discouraged Group Chats: We strongly advise OIS students against creating or participating in large, unsupervised online groups.
When granting children access to online platforms, it is crucial that parents actively guide and support them through these spaces, taking primary responsibility for their child's online behaviour.
Please understand that while we occasionally contact parents about online issues or concerns that have been raised, the school is limited in the action it can take. Therefore, your support in following up on these concerns is essential.
Biking and scootering to school
If your child bikes or scoots to school, please discuss the following essential safety rules with them:
Bikes must only be ridden on the roads, not on footpaths.
Always look both ways at corners before crossing the road, especially when on a scooter.
Ride in a single file.
Students on bikes are required to wear a helmet.
Students who cycle to school must be familiar with the road rules, just as we are when driving a car. We highly recommend you take the time to check the route your child takes and discuss necessary precautions. While we strongly encourage students to use the quieter back streets, we understand some use the high school bike route. Regardless of the route, all students must adhere to the road rules at all times.
Only one week to go until the end of term one! Let’s stay positive and ensure that students get enough sleep so they’re ready for learning the next day.
Rebecca Meek