Tēnā koutou katoa
We think and talk about you all a lot as staff – missing your smiling faces!
A quick update from me, however!
COVID
It was very gracious of the Government to make their updated COVID announcement yesterday morning in time for our Ilam Governance Team meeting last night! Perfect timing for us! Obviously there are lots of different opinions “out there” around the wisdom (or otherwise) of easing up on the restrictions which have been in place and served the country well for so long. What the Government changes are doing is giving permission for an easing up of some restrictions – which, in theory, would clear the way for us to re-commence meeting together at Ilam School once again. However, the Governance Team’s perspective is that it is too early to be easing back on our current situation for church gatherings. Omicron has not yet peaked in Christchurch – infection numbers are clearly surging currently – so until evidence tells us that it has peaked, we don’t think it wise to re-examine our current meeting guidelines for Ilam. That means that, for now, we will stay meeting in various locations in small groups and maybe, too, think about Zoom options for getting together on a bigger scale. I hope that you’re not too disappointed by that – but, hopefully, the end of the current outbreak is in sight, so it won’t be for too much longer.
Easter
As you will be aware if you go near any supermarket – Easter is not far away (along with Easter buns and eggs). Because there is no Easter Camp this year, for some time the staff has been planning how we can create our own “Ilam Family-Friendly Easter”. So, this is just a heads up of what is planned at this stage – although how each event takes place may depend on COVD (of course!!).
Thursday 14 April (Maundy Thursday) – youth evening meal, thinking about Passover
Friday 15 April (Good Friday) – Family Walk and Stations of the Cross (hopefully all together). Theme: ‘Thorns’
Saturday 16 April: IBY “Big Day Out”
Sunday 17 April (Easter Day) – Family service (at the school outside?). Theme: ‘Stones’
