I’m going to go off topic, but you’ll like it because you don’t have to do any work
Has anyone heard this one...
So my husband…
So when I was young…
So as a single mum…
So, this is going to sound dumb…
So remember, mrs. Pigou, when the middle school had just begun?
Remember when it was just you and Adamson?
Remember the fun, the games, and chats?
Remember the drama, and you stating the facts
That we’re pioneers, and there’s no going back
Remember the times we wandered off track?
But never that far, because you hold the map
And you told us that
So long as we’ve packed for the downs and the ups,
If ever we found ourselves soundly in muck
There is always someone who can get us unstuck
But it’ll cost us
20 bucks!


And now the schools is all grown up
We find ourselves upon the cusp
Year 13, almost done
And through it all there was just one
(Oop, Don’t tell Adamson!)
We one-hundred-percent dig you,
Mrs Pigou
You’re the igloo
On our iceberg in a big blue ocean
Of teenage emotion,
Bringing devotions with Big Truth
And as we got to know you,
You made our drama easier to go through,
It’s as though you were put here
By the big guy upstairs
With your mix of love and ‘don’t’ care
To help prepare us for the next years
And even when someone else sits in your chair
We’ll still pay the fare (which isn’t much)
to hear you swear
when we call you up,
Worth it for
20 bucks!

And hey, we'll pick the tunes For your UE boom,
Cos there's always room
on the Playlist to take this music
And use it to make this last day the
Best yet
Reset the mood,
Out of your seats, and walking about the room,
And when I stop the tune,
Look inside you, and share,
What brought you here? Or whom?
Because even through the hard words,
When we’re hurt
You make us feel heard
And soon, you'll be singing to new music
That you've picked
But this,
This relationship,
It sticks.
Richmond view was just the prelude
And it'd be rude
not to show up to see you
when life’s tough
Cos we know it only costs us
20 bucks!


How can we describe the way we can confide
Those feelings we try to hide, which you always seem to find
Or when we really need a cry,
How you can be relied on to be sitting at our side?
You are able to find the light and teach us how to shine
We hope these years were as kind
As you were to each of us
As our mentor, teacher, leader, preacher
With a a sense of humour, a fashionista,
When we needed ya,
you stepped up
You’ve bailed us out when we got stuck
And all it costs was…
20 bucks!


And although words may not feel like much,
It’s hard to think what could be enough.
How can we express the feelings left  when someone leaves?
It’s hard to guess where we go next and what we need,
BUT:
When life has chewed us up and spat us out
When our cup is full of doubt
When rain brings about  a sea of muck
When we’re down and out on luck
When we’re bowed and we get stuck at the bottom of the ruck
When we’re proud but times get tough
We know the cost to call you up
Say it with me!
20 bucks!

Welcome back to what is always an exciting term, Term 4.  Be sure to keep an eye on the school calendar for dates such as Prize Giving and other events.
We celebrate the enrolment of our 300th student this week with a planned celebration on Friday.  We will meet on the court, take a drone pic of the school and eat cake!  As our numbers continue to grow, so does our waiting list.  Our roll cap is 345 causing year groups to fill and be closed as they reach a certain threshold. I suggest, if you have children under 5 you enrol them early to secure a spot.  While we grow, our focus remains on quality of both relationship and learning/growing.  God has blessed us.

Thank you to all who helped at the RVS Support Crew Disco.  I popped in and loved the amazing atmosphere, the huge number of kids and Mrs Crossley's dancing, over $500 was raised - thank you again RVS Crew.

Continue to pray for our Y11 and 12 students as they head into NCEA exams.  Y11 and 12 students, I say to you, do not shy away from a month or so of delayed gratification & hard work.  Pay now, play later as the saying goes.  The feeling of having applied one's self after the exams have finished, the feeling of knowing you have done all you could is one I want you all to know.  Reach out for help if you need it and remember to ask your loving Heavenly Father to be with you.
​
God bless

Dave Pauling
​Principal

I love the spring, surrounded by new life.  Daylight savings begins on Sunday and generally, so does the hay-fever season.

Our flag has flown at half mast since news of the death of our Head of State, Her Majesty The Queen.  Whether you are a royalist or not, one can only be inspired by true, humble servant leadership.  At no point did The Queen hide the fact that Jesus Christ was her rock and guide and the fruit of her first allegiance is undeniable.  It is comforting to know our Lord is impartial, He loves and knows you and I as much as he did our Queen.  As decided by our government, all schools will be closed this coming Monday.

​Board of Trustees Elections
The 2022 triennial elections have finished and I wish the thank all of those who stood.  It was a very close race.  I wish to welcome to the BoT Christie Rentoul and James Galloway, I am looking forward to working with you.  We also welcome Mike Ponder back onto the BoT.  Mandy Li and Inus van der Westhuizen were close behind and I thank you both for standing and being willing to offer your service.  
The new Board of Trustees will take office early next term and begin by electing the BoT Chair as per normal.  Please continue to pray for our governance team as we continue to walk the path of careful, Jesus-led stewardship.

Alistair Crawford
As mentioned in last weeks notices, we are privileged to have Alistair join our team on a Monday in the position of student/staff counsellor/support person.  He will be available for students, particularly from Y7-13, and staff as per the the requirement of the Ministry of Education.  Here is a little more about Alistair:

Kia ora.
My name is Alistair Crawford. I am writing this as an introduction to you at Richmond View who I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting.  Jacqui (my wife) and I have four children. The youngest two attended Richmond View some years ago. Back then I was a truck driver and had been in the industry from the time I left Marlborough Boys in 1980.  Jacqui and I are members of Connect Church (formally the Blenheim Baptist Community Church) and have both served in the children’s ministry and youth for many years. I recently have stepped down from the children’s ministry but still assist with the youth.

In 2014 I became a qualified counsellor through Bethlehem Tertiary Institution and was capped in 2015. As a teen I failed school cert English and now have a bachelor’s degree in counselling. Two significant things got me through the study and exams.  Faith and Grace.

Since then, I have been in private practice - Barnardo’s, Bread of Life as a counsellor and Women’s Refuge as a co-facilitator in the Wairau Program. I also work at Redwoodtown School as a 24-7 youth-worker.
During the past six years at Redwoodtown School I have learnt a lot about myself and children. There is always more to learn. I like to work with PACE. Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy. It’s never just play.  

I enjoy time with my family, motorbikes, Church, books and animals. Quite fond of food too.

​Blessings Alistair Crawford (BCouns) MNZAC

Exams
Last week our Year 11 and 12 students had their preliminary exams as part of their preparation for the NCEA exams at the end of the year. I would like to congratulate them on the excellent attitude and effort that they made. We were blessed to have the support of Mrs Aileen Ambler who supervised the exams and it was great to hear that she found our students a pleasure to oversee. 

This time of the year is a good opportunity for you to talk to your son or daughter about how they went in the exams and about the next steps they will take to prepare. It is never too late to get a good programme of revision in place and as always, our teachers are available to help with any questions that come out of this work. As a parent, you can help by providing a quiet space for your son or daughter to revise, that is free of screens and other distractions. Encourage your son or daughter to share their plan with you and then remind them of the benefits that come from quality revision. 

Please reinforce the importance of getting the basic practices of school right - attending on time, being in correct uniform and being prepared to learn.  There are now just under five school weeks (and two weeks of holiday/revision) left for our seniors before they go onto study leave on November 3rd and I wish them all the best as they prepare for these assessments.

Dave Pauling
​Principal

Only a week or so until spring!  I have been in education for over 20 years and I don't recall prolonged season of illness-related disruption like this ever before.  Your workplace will be similar I imagine, with our staff illness rates never below 15-20% since COVID hit in mid Term One.  That is five months of hard graft for all.
I want to point out the result of the hard work, commitment and flexibility of the staff here at RVS, depicted in the Ministry of Education supplied graph below.  The diamonds are our school's attendance compared to the region and the rest of the country.  Many schools have been shutting or sending class groups home regularly due to staffing issues.  We have remained committed to staying open to continue teaching and learning, and also to minimise disruption for families.  Congratulations RVS staff.

RVS Staff 2022! (12 people missing from this picture)

Prize-giving and Other Dates 2022
​Our school now has 299 students and just under 50 staff.  I have always been in favour of a whole school Prize Giving as it is a wonderful celebration time.  Unfortunately, this is not possible in our current auditorium.  The estimated number of attendees would be between 600 and 700, if most students also had an adult or two come along.  The only venue in Marlborough that size is the ASB Theatre.  The ASB Theatre is not an option this year but this may well be an option for the future. We will consult early next year on what you would prefer as a community going forward.

This year we will need to split our Prize Givings into three: Junior, Middle and Senior.  The dates for these are as follows:

Senior School - Wednesday 2nd November - 6:30pm (early due to exam leave)
Junior School - Monday  12th December - 5:00pm
Middle School - Tuesday 13th December - 6:30pm

We are aware that some families have students in several areas of the school.  As mentioned, this is a trial and we will look further into how we do Prize Giving and other whole school events in early 2023.  More details regarding these prize-givings will be sent out in Term Four.

 - The final day of 2022 for Y0 to 10 students will be Tuesday 13th December. 
 - Y11-13 students will receive information regarding study leave and exams via Mr. Adamson
​ - The first day back for T1, 2023 will be Thursday 2nd February 

Leadership Structure
After much research and discussion, the Board of Trustees has decided to add a Deputy Principal to the leadership team of Richmond View School.  At the moment, there is a Principal and three Assistant Principals.  Each of the Assistant Principals oversee Junior, Middle and Senior schools.  The structure will remain the same in that regard, only there will be two Assistant Principals and one Deputy Principal.  Julian Adamson and Malanie van der Vyver will continue in their roles as Assistant Principal's of Junior and Senior Schools respectively, unless they choose to apply to become DP.  Regardless of the outcome, they will remain in charge of their respective areas.  

The BoT made this decision based on the needs of the school as we grow.  A Deputy Principal:
 - Is the clear next  delegate when the Principal is away or unavailable
 - Is a good support for staff, parents and the Principal.
 - It important for further career pathways among staff
​ - Is a strong figure in upholding the culture and ethos of the school
We will advertise for this position.  Both positions (Deputy Principal and Middle School Assistant Principal) will be advertised soon and will be available internally and externally.  
​

Building work on the north side of E Block is progressing well.  This block of 2.5 classrooms is well underway and due to be finished ready for the first day of 2023.  These will be Y11-13 spaces and the area surrounding the classrooms will be a Y11-13 space only.  

Mrs Struthers and her team are beginning the RVS SUPPORT CREW funded mural at the end of B Block.  The mural was designed by Mrs Struthers and her art students.  It will feature Te Waiharakeke (Marlborough's) mountains and rivers while pointing to God as the creator of them all.  

​Board Elections
It is encouraging to see such strong candidacy for our election.  I encourage you to pray and vote.  We have traditionally had a strong voter turnout for the RVS BoT election and it would be good to see this again.  

​Student Prefects Beginning in 2023
1 Peter 4:10 - As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

At Richmond View School, becoming a Prefect is not a reward for excellence, or a position of authority to rule over others, rather it is an opportunity to use the gifts God has given us to serve and bless others. It comes with training and personal development opportunities and a high level of trust from the teachers and senior leadership of the school. It also comes with the expectation that the Prefect will always try to act with personal integrity and to serve and bless those around them through their leadership.

In 2023 we intend to appoint four Prefects, one for each of the areas of the Honours Programme:
Serve and Lead (Serve and Lead Prefect)
Move (Sports Prefect)
Create (Arts and Culture Prefect)
Think (Academic Prefect)

These roles are open to any student in Years 12 or 13 in 2023. An application process will take place at the end of Term 3 and into the beginning of Term 4. The criteria for selection for each role are as follows:

The prospective student:
 - Is in year 12 or 13 in 2023
 - Upholds the values of RVS to the best of their ability, especially in their Christian character.
 - Has a passion for the role that they are applying for and desires to support others through their work
 - Is reliable and trustworthy 
 - Shows strong servant leadership potential

Final decisions on appointments will be at the discretion of the Principal.  More information to follow.

Final Thoughts
We maintain that RVS aspires to always be Christ centred and student focussed.  This makes us different.  More detail regarding this aspiration can be found in our Special Character Statement, penned in 2001 when the school was officially integrated via an agreement with the government.   You can read this statement by clicking HERE.  Re-visiting this statement, God's word, and other such important directional authorities keep us safe from mission creep, keep us true to our calling as a school.  This gives great comfort in the face of change, comfort in times of wider un-rest.  

My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the flooding at the moment.  Also those who have been affected by illness, particularly COVID or the ongoing effects of COVID.  May Richmond View School continue to be a place that brings comfort, growth, learning and stability to all those connected, particularly our young people.

God bless,

Dave Pauling
Principal

​___________________________________________________________________________________________

Tēnā koutou katoa

I hope you had a fantastic Matariki weekend and you are staying warm.  It is good to know we are past the shortest day and while there is plenty of winter yet in front of us, at least the days will slowly become longer.  We need light.  Sunlight is great but Christ's light from within is by far the ultimate.

Property
As we grow in number, so does the property we learn and grow in.  There are several completed projects and more on the go at the moment.  I thank our Proprietors, Kevin Dickens, Doug Clark and Glenroy for their ongoing commitment to seeing our space develop as an amazing, warm, spacious place for our young people to learn and grow.

You will have seen the completion of the new Y0/1 block near the school field, now known as 'K Block'.  We are only waiting on paperwork now to be able to use this classroom.  We plan to open this block this Friday at 10:15am TBC, all welcome.  This will include a walkthrough. 

We have also had both courts painted with the new, long awaited basketball poles going in this week.

Work has now begun on the new Y11-13 space on the north-east corner of the property adjoining the Art/Tech room.  Two full classrooms, a study area, several meeting rooms and a nice outside area.  We expect to be in this space from the first day of Term 1, 2023 and have great need for it.  

Work in and around the RVS edible garden also continues with Mr Silas Silva building this great looking fence and two more garden beds.  The development of this space is ongoing and overseen by our Enviro-school council and Mrs. Silva.

Staffing
We are still seeing sickness in our community and it certainly effects our staffing.  Very few of the people who are away ill at the moment have COVID. Our staff have continually stepped in for each-other and our relievers have been an amazing help.  This has been the case all year to date and I commend the commitment of our staff keeping RVS open for almost right throughout COVID season.

We’ve got some exciting news to share with you in regard to staffing in the Junior School
Mrs. Powell is returning from maternity leave and will be joined by Mrs Connor to teach in room 6 from the start of term 3.
Koru class will be moving to K-block any day now. As you might have noticed, Mrs van der Berg is expecting her second child and will be taking maternity leave part way through next term. Mrs Russell will be taking over from her in the Koru class for the remainder of the year. She will be working closely with Mrs van der Vyver and Mrs Turrell in the Kea class next door which also starts early next term. 

I have also moved back to my old office beside the library, Mrs van der Vyver and Mrs Marwick are now in the office I was in and Mrs Pigou can be found in the Library AP space... Musical offices.

New Website
You may have seen the new RVS website by heading to www.rvs.school.nz.  It looks amazing and I wish to thank Kath Taylor for her amazing work.  The older RVS website is now myrvs.school.nz and can be accessed directly or through the new site under 'My RVS'.  
We wanted a simple landing site for the general public and a fit for purpose information site for parents/caregivers, hence the change.  myrvs.school.nz will remain the main information site and will also undergo development.

Honours Program
It was a pleasure to see more students receive Honours Badges recently in an assembly.  HP is a great space for students to try something new and to have an opportunity to learn perseverance, time management, and many other valuable skills. 

Hospitality
I love my job...  Look what turned up on my desk from one of Mrs. Andrew's students this week.  Amazing!  We are slowly expanding our resourcing in this area and it is an exciting, growing area of the school.

Body, Mind , Soul
I wish to thank all of those who came along to the Body, Mind, Soul evening on Monday night.  I wish to also thank members of the RVS Crew for their organisation of this, a GREAT event.  Last but not least, I wish to thank our three speakers Laura, Mandy and Adele.  Thank you for your time, for stepping up and delivering in such an amazing way!

Look at the news, local and/or international, one could be forgiven for feeling uneasy at best, even fearful at what we see happening in our world.  I wish to remind us all of the hope that is found in Christ.  This school is centred around Hope in Christ and it is such a good thing!  Please pray that as a school community, as staff and parents, we will remain continually focussed on that hope and that His hope in us is a balm to others.

I will send out a confirmation of our classroom opening and walkthrough pencilled in for Friday, weather and sign-off permitting.

God bless,

Dave Pauling
Principal

​---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kia ora koutou,

Term Two, 2022 is upon us and we are looking forward to it.  We begin our term on Monday morning as a whole school in the Auditorium, something we have not done for a very long time.  It will be GREAT to be together again.  There will also be a Principal's assembly in the Auditorium on Friday afternoon at 2:20pm.  Family are welcome to come, please wear a mask inside the foyer and auditorium if you attend.

The Easter and ANZAC period were great times to reflect on the peace we have.  Peace first and foremost in our inner-most being through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Peace like no other, devoid of circumstance and not based on our performance, but His act of love.  
ANZAC then reminds us of the peace we have here in this beautiful region and the cost of this.  The ability to learn, grow and develop without the war and corruption some countries face.

                    'May our mountains ever be, freedom's ramparts on the sea'

Looking forward to a term of learning and growing in gratitude for what we have and what we have yet to attain.


COVID-19
Last term was an incredibly difficult one for many but we thank Jesus for His help through it.  The final five weeks of last term saw 1/3 of our students and close to a half of our staff suffer from COVID-19.  The peak of infections here at RVS was in Weeks 9 & 10, so we feel confident that we have seen the worst for now.  Thank you for your patience, communication and understanding through it.  There are a few changes now relating to COVID at RVS this term.

 - I have removed the COVID information page as most of it is no longer relevant apart from isolation times.  Your family must still isolate if someone contracts COVID in your household.  

 - As mentioned, school-related covid numbers are low compared to last term and our program will resume as close to normal as possible.  We will continue with our cleaning schedule and use sanitiser while the country is at Orange Level.

 - Masks are still recommended by the Ministry of Education.  We encourage their use in classrooms but they are no longer mandatory, apart from in the auditorium for assemblies.  Y5 and up (for those without an exemption) will still need to wear them in the auditorium as will parents who visit until further notice.

 - You are welcome in the classrooms in the mornings as we were used to before Red Level.  Please do not enter if you are unwell, and consider wearing a mask.  We do like parents visiting in the morning but please be gone from the classroom by the morning bell and if you are getting out of your car, do not park in a drop off zone. 

While on the car park, please do not let your children ride scooters or run in the pick up area after school.  We need your help to keep this area safe.

​Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
We are looking forward to meeting and talking with you all over the next two weeks.  You can book these times online and the link was sent via the RVS News email.  Please book in.  These times where we meet are so important for our learning partnership.  

BoT Election
The Chairman of the Board Mr. Mike Ponder and I  wish to congratulate Mr Simon Green to the RVS BoT beginning this term.  Voter turnout for the election was good and all three members who stood received voter support.  We look forward to having Simon work with us as we continue to prayerfully consider the governance of RVS.

Staffing
I would like to welcome to the staff Susie Johnson as our new Office Manager starting mid Term 2.  As our school has grown, so have the demands on our administration and finance with 250% more to deal with than in 2017 to help paint the picture.  Maria will spend less time in the office and more time working with finance and supporting me. 
The short list for the role saw several top candidates.  Susie comes with huge skill and experience and we are excited to have her with us.  

Building work
As we continue to grow, more infrastructure is continually required.  The Ministry of Education does not fund capital works for state integrated schools like RVS.  The money for new buildings must come from the the proprietor, Elim.  The Blenheim Elim Church Trust borrow to build buildings for Richmond View School and charge attendance dues to cover these costs.  None of the attendance dues comes to the school.  
The quality of the buildings that Glenroy Housing are constructing are exceptional, and are VERY economic, both to build and to run thereafter.  I thank Phil Vile and his team for their amazing work.  Materials and timelines are particularly hard hit with COVID supply line issues so please continue to pray for our contractors and our proprietor as we continue building RVS.
At the moment we have our new Y0/1 classroom being built.  This will complete the buildings needed for our junior school.  A hallway has also been adda it the end of the A-block to connect the new class to the A-block toilets, also providing better fire egress and access to A-block without walking through a classroom.
We still plan to begin work on 'F' block, a 2.,5 classroom annex to the science lab before the end of the year.  This will be a Y11-13 space.  
I will hold an evening presentation at some point to update you all on next steps before too long.

God bless and see you soon,

​Dave Pauling
Principal

Kia ora Camp Parents

I am watching the situation regarding next week's camps closely, but wanted to hear your thoughts.  At the moment, COVID numbers are increasing, particularly in Auckland and other main centres.  There are good plans in place for students going on camps but some families still may feel nervous about the situation. 
We still feel cautiously confident about going and will only call off a camp if we feel there is localised school or campsite related risk.  RVS COVID information can be found HERE.

Below are two quick questions to help me get a better picture of how you are feeling as a community.  Please only fill this out if you are a Y5-10 or Y12 parent/caregiver.  If your child is going on more than one camp, please fill it out more than once.

Thanks for filling in the survey.

​Dave Pauling & Team

Kia ora RVS Community.

We are well underway here at RVS preparing for the new school year.  We are planning for another period of possible disruption and want to do the best we possibly can to see students safe, and learning no matter what comes.  I am most excited by the keenness in the RVS staff to do what it takes to see learning needs met in these uncertain times.

I am excited and VERY grateful to those who contributed to what is now a near finished court!  The RVS CREW and all those who contributed have made the dream a reality and it will be ready for students on day one.  Quality basketball/netball poles have been ordered and will be installed soon.  Mr Newton is seen here breaking it in...

We have also sealed the area by the chess board.  Looks GREAT!

Music Academy
Due to several factors, the RVS Music Academy will no longer be happening.  We apologise for any inconvenience.  I wish to thank Stephanie Ham particularly and all of those who have helped with this over the years.  I hope that we will be able to see a return of the Academy when the time is right.  

Covid-19 update
You will have heard in the media of the move to the red light setting and how this may relate to the school environment.  We wish to keep our staff and students safe even though we are aware that adding masks to school life will create some initial difficulties. 

​Information continues to come in and I will need to update you again as I receive more.  If you have questions or have significant concerns, please get in touch.  Rest assured, we will be doing all we can to mitigate illness in our school in order to function the best we can, for as long as we can knowing how important this is to livelihoods and our children's education.  

I request that you only enter school buildings if you need to and if you do, you scan in and wear a suitable mask.  It is also very important that:
 - If your child is sick they are kept home
 - If your child or anyone in your family tests positive for Covid, I am made aware as 
​    soon as possible
​
We will be continuing to sanatise and clean as suggested by the Ministry of Health in classes.  Drinking fountains are out of action so please ensure your child has a named drink bottle. 

We are asking for vaccine information via the office only to help us with our use of venues such as the Lines Stadium to help us plan.  At no point will students be excluded from education due to vaccine status.  We are pleased to see that camp venues are considered an extension of the school when used exclusively, meaning we continue to plan for camps to go ahead at this stage.  We will keep you updated.

God bless,  & don't panic, He has us in his hand.

​
D Pauling
Principal

The information below is directly from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education:
--------------------------------------

​Advice about face coverings in educational settings.

Masks can reduce the risk of infected people spreading COVID-19.
At the Red setting masks – rather than any other face coverings – must be worn when indoors from February 4, 2022, by students in years 4-13, and teachers. 
This includes any staff member working to provide, or support education in year 4 and above.
The mask must be attached to the head by loops around the ears or head to cover the nose and mouth properly.  
Teachers are required to wear a medical-grade masks such as the widely available blue disposable masks that many New Zealanders are already wearing.
Students year 4 and above are required to wear a mask including a well-fitting reusable fabric mask (3 layers are recommended) or a medical grade disposable mask.
There are a number of exemptions to wearing a mask including if you have to communicate with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, or the person has a physical or mental health illness or condition or disability that makes wearing a face covering unsuitable.
Masks are not required to be worn in schools by staff or students, for years 1 – 3.
For children under six, public health recommend that the focus should be on getting children to cough and sneeze into their elbow, and wash and dry hands / hand hygiene.
Further information on requirements and exemptions: Unite Against COVID-19(external link)

FAQsCan children, young people or teachers wear masks at schools or early learning services if they wish to?
Yes. Any children, young people or teachers who wish to wear masks wrapped around the nose and mouth at schools or early learning services may do so if they want to. They are entitled to make this decision and should be supported to do so.
At Red, masks must be worn by ākonga receiving education in Years 4 and above and any staff member working to provide, or support the provision of, that education.
Masks are not required to be worn in schools by staff or students, for years 1 – 3.

Do all children and young people have to wear masks at schools or early learning services?
No. It is not mandatory for children and young people who are in early learning services or in school for years 1 – 3, to wear masks at any framework setting.
At Red, face coverings must be worn by ākonga receiving education in Years 4 and above and any staff member working to provide, or support the provision of, that education.
In all settings, other public health control measures should be in place, including children and staff staying home if they are sick, contact tracing records, and hygiene requirements.
Public health recommends that the focus for children under six is on getting children to cough and sneeze into their elbow, and wash and dry hands / hand hygiene.

Do all teachers have to wear masks at early learning services and schools?
No. It is not mandatory for teachers to wear masks who are in early learning services or in school for years 1 – 3, to wear masks at any alert level.
At Red, masks must be worn by ākonga receiving education in Years 4 and above and any staff member working to provide, or support the provision of, that education.
In all settings of the framework, other public health measures should be in place, including children and staff staying home if they are sick, contact tracing records, and hygiene requirements.

Do all children and young people need to wear masks on school transport, or transport provided by early learning services?
No. Currently it is not mandatory for children under year 4 to wear masks on school transport or early learning service transport. This includes buses or vans chartered or used by schools or early learning services to carry children, students and staff.
Children and young people in year 4 and above are required to wear masks on school and public transport.

Do all children and young people need to wear masks on public transport?
Children and young people in year 4 and above now also need to wear masks on public transport, as well as school transport.
​
Who is exempted from wearing masks on public transport?
Children in years 1-3 are not required to wear masks on public transport.
There are a number of other exemptions from having to wear a face covering on public transport. including for people with a physical or mental health illness or condition or disability that makes wearing a face covering unsuitable.

Kia ora Koutou RVS Community

We look forward to seeing you all back shortly!  I pray you have managed some memorable family time and are enjoying the kiwi summer.  2022 remains uncertain in regard to COVID related implications but we will keep you informed regarding offsite activities, such as camps, and any changes to onsite requirements as they become known.  As I write this, the guidelines remain the same as they did in the orange level at the end of last year. See HERE for more details.  Hebrews 6 speaks of Jesus being the hope that anchors our soul & brings security.  As Christian parents and staff in a Christian school, we can carry and exemplify that hope to our children  through Jesus in these uncertain times.  

I wanted to mention a couple of things as 2022 gets underway.  Firstly, I am excited to welcome the following staff to our team:

Mr Peter Olliver (Classics, Social Sciences, Christian Studies)

Mrs Jenny Olliver (English)

Mr Ryan Peters (Maths, Business Studies, Accounting)

Mrs Colleen Petaera (Y7&8)

Mrs Janet Guard (Music & English)

Mrs Cheryl West (Careers and Learning Pathways)

Amazing people to add to our already amazing, committed team.  I thank our Heavenly Father for bringing us the people He knows we need.  

Buildings
​There are four projects currently on the go here at RVS.
1 - The construction of the New Entrant (Kea & Koru) class, due to be finished by T2)