Day Seven

Wairakei School is still closed. At this stage we have been told that school is closed until (and on) Friday 4 March. We will not know until later this week, when school officially starts back again.

I hope all of our Wairakei families are coping okay, and managing to do something useful with their time. Some of you may be helping with the clean up, baking, looking after other children, boiling water for other families etc. Here is a photo of a friends 2 year old daughter, who is helping her daddy clean up the liquefaction their own own backyard. She also got a wee lesson on what causes liquefaction (using the sandpit).

I do not encourage hiding details of the earthquake from our children. Children are very resilient, and actions/talking can only be beneficial for our children. I cannot stress this enough.

It has been fantasitc to receive emails from some of the Room 10 families. Some families have moved away temporarily and enrolled their children in schools around the country. Some families are getting comfort by staying with friends/family, or supporting others by having people stay with them. Some families are coping by stay where they are and doing things, such as, baking/cooking for others, digging liquefaction, or keeping the elderly or lonely neighbours company.

One of the amazing things that has stood out since last Tuesday, is the overwhelming capacity of love and caring we have for others, and how people all over the country (and world) have offered their help. We just need to look at the student army, fonterra, contact energy etc...amazing!

Kia kaha!