Ag Day 2020 Update - We're on !

With the government's announcement that Auckland is moving back to Alert Level 2.0, our Ag Day can go ahead albeit split over two days to ensure we don't have any more than 100 gathered at the same time. On Thursday judging will be for goats and chickens, on Friday judging will be for lambs and calves.

It is wonderful to think that we are going to be able to go ahead for the students. As we all know, the year has been very challenging and there have been many events cancelled due to Covid. That we are able to go ahead means the time and effort students have put into raising their animal will be able to be showcased.

Whilst not all students will compete in this year's Ag Day, those students not-competing will have the chance to watch their friends compete and on Friday, after the calves and lambs have been judged, all students will join in on a tabloids afternoon.

At this stage the weather forecast isn't looking to be on our side so we will have marquees and gazebos set up on the field for shelter.

This newsletter outlines for all families how the two days will look. Please read it carefully so that you understand how Ag Day will operate this year. Please especially read the Questions and Answers section at the end.

As the year has been so disrupted FOTHS and the school are keen to organise a day next term when we can all come together as a community for some fun. To that end we are keen to hear any suggestions our parent community may have as to what we could do.

Ngā mihi nui,

Kevin and FOTHS team

It is important that we adhere to the government's gathering size restrictions. Accordingly, this year we cannot have our normal open gate policy.

The number of family support people for students competing is limited to three regardless of how many children in the family are competing. The support people include both adults and siblings. As an example, if a mum and two pre-schoolers are coming along, that is three support people and no-one else can from that family can attend.

To speed up the signing in process, please complete this web form with the names of people who will be supporting your family. Once we receive this information, the school will make up name badges for those people and these can be collected from the school office.

Before entering the school grounds, all support people must come through the school office, scan the Covid-19 Tracer QR Code or sign in via the school's VisTab. Once that is completed, you will receive your name badge and this must be worn at all times while on the school grounds.

Please note, only family of students competing can attend the day.

Students are to bring their animal in through the field gate by themselves unless their parent has already signed in at the school office. Teachers and organising committee members will be present to assist students tethering their animal.

Waratah standards will be placed in the ground at 4 metres apart for calves to be tethered to in order to prevent the spread of Mycoplasma Bovis between calves. Please remember to ensure your child's calf's NAIT tag is in their ear and the calf has its own drinking container.

After morning tea on each day there will be a prize giving and once that has been completed the animals must be taken home by parents. 

If your child and their animal were entered and are now not competing, please let Birdie Dell know via office@tehihi.school.nz

FOTHS will be running a sausage sizzle each day. The sausages and drinks will be available to family support members during judging and available to students at morning tea on both days.

Sausages $2.00

Bottled Water $1.00

Soft drinks $2.00 (only available on Friday)

We will not be taking orders for these, they are available for purchase on the day. For parents of younger children can you please put their cash in an envelope with their name and what they would like on the outside of the envelope.

If for whatever reason you are unable to keep your chickens after Ag Day and would like them re-homed, please contact Claire Muirhead at westmuir@xtra.co.nz

Thursday

Friday

If my child isn't competing do they still come to school?

Yes, it is a normal school day. Students who aren't competing must be in school uniform.

Does my child have to wear school uniform if they are competing?

No, only children who aren't competing have to wear school uniform.

Will the buses still run?

Yes, the school buses will run as normal both Thursday and Friday

Can I come and watch even though my child isn't competing?

No. We need to keep numbers of people other than students and school staff under 100 so only those students who are competing can have two family support members.

My children's grandparents want to come and we have two children competing. Can we come as support for one child they come as support for the other child?

No, there is only two support people per family.

Will there be the normal Ag Day stalls and activities?

No, there will just be the sausage sizzle and drinks for sale, nothing else.