O.I.S Newsletter - 6 March, 2026
Tēnā koutou katoa, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Bula vinaka
It is hard to believe we are already over the halfway point of the term!
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the swimming sports this week. We also had a number of girls involved in a Fern Fever day today, with Year 8 off-site and Year 7 here.
At OIS, we are committed to providing many opportunities for students to participate in winter sports, such as hockey, netball, and basketball. Our local clubs also provide football and rugby. We enjoy seeing our students immerse themselves in these opportunities.
I am a firm believer that students who participate in a team activity get to experience more opportunities. Engaging in team sports is important for more than just physical fitness. Playing sport often means being part of a team, which allows for building skills in a whole range of areas, including:
Cooperation and sharing
Resilience
Goal setting and building relationships
Learning to lose
Children can develop their life skills as well as learning all the techniques involved in the sport.
There has been a wonderful tone in the playground and classrooms this week. We are encouraging our students to show courage—standing up for what is right, having the confidence to do the right thing, and knowing when it is best to walk away.
Students have also enjoyed starting their second round of technology sessions, with some brilliant outcomes already beginning to come together.
A huge shout-out to our staff for their ongoing commitment to ensuring that Oamaru Intermediate is a place of positive, fun learning opportunities. They truly go above and beyond to ensure that we have a wide range of opportunities, both cultural and sporting.
On Friday, 20 March, our staff will be involved in a Teacher Only Day, where we will be working with teachers across North Otago. This is an incredible opportunity for us to come together to connect and learn. School will be closed for instruction.
Finally, thank you to the wonderful parents who have put their hands up to help manage or coach our sports teams. With so many children playing sports and participating in other activities, we can't do it without your support. On a similar theme, thank you to the many parents who are supporting classes at the Year 8 camps. This is a wonderful experience for our students, and we are so grateful for our whānau support in ensuring our students get to camp.
Rebecca Meek
Principal