Thursday 16 June
School resumed today. Quite a few children are absent – best wishes to all as you continue on the recovery path. Thankfully school is in great condition and we have a full contingent of staff. Remember to send along named bottles of drinking water for your child as our drinking fountain taps will be turned off.
Two quotes: “If it feels like you’re going through hell – keep walking” (Nigel Latta talking about earthquake recovery).
When everything falls to dust, vacuum.
Variety Club have funding for children
- Check their website
Wednesday 15 June
1.29pm – School is definitely re-opening tomorow – Thursday 16 June. All utilities are working. We do not have drinking water. Children and staff are asked to bring their own bottled drinking water. We do have a small supply at school but need as many people as possible to be self-sufficient. Thank you.
Again, best wishes to all of you – I realise that many of our families are in hugely stressful situations again. Kia kaha and best regards.
Tuesday 14 June
5.42pm – I have checked with two neighbouring schools – Banks Avenue and Shirley Primary - and we are all looking at opening on Thursday morning provided the final checks go okay (sewage flow and the boiler safety). It is likely that everyone will need to provide their own drinking water. We will provide a number of bottles. Even if the Ministry decides to send a tanker of water to school it will still need another three days of testing before we can use it. Our caretaker, Mr Timms, will be disconnecting all the school drinking fountains.
12.15pm – A board of trustees member (Andrew Button) and I have inspected the school this morning using a Ministry of Education checklist. Cracks are bigger, there are some new cracks, and the liquefaction has come back – a bit in the adventure playground and quite a few areas in the playground. We are waiting for an engineer’s inspection this afternoon. If sewage is okay we will re-open on Thursday giving teachers one day to clean up. If there are sewage issues we will be longer. We will post a message as soon as we decide upon our opening date. The school computer system is working so messages can be sent to principal@sis.school.nz or gsiave@xtra.co.nz.
Liquefaction is back on the fields
Monday 13 June
Kia ora koutou.
Wow! Two significant shocks today – We managed to get all children away safely. A big thanks to the staff again, and also to the parents and caregivers. The smooth evacuation process shows that perhaps we are all getting a little too used to this scenario. Many of our families will be without power and water, and I know that liquefaction and flooding has come back for many.
When we left school there was no power or water. School cannot restart unless we have power, water and sewage systems connected.
School will be closed on Tuesday 14 June. The Board of Trustees will be checking the school over as per Ministry of Education recommendations (refer to their website if desired). Please listen to the radio or check this website for updates. We will endeavour to change the telephone message.
The PTA meeting planned for Tuesday evening is postponed.
You are welcome to email me gsiave@xtra.co.nz if required. If you have decided to leave Christchurch please let me know or leave a message on the school telephone system.
Take care, look after each other.
Geoff Siave, Tumuaki/Principal