School notes

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

Okay, just a couple of notes for school starts and finishes.

A lot of the roads in Havers, Hastings, Flaxmere and beyond, are 30kph at school drop off and pick up. Te Mata Rd, from Our lady of Lourdes (between St Hill Ln and Lenon Gr) to Durham Dr, Campbell St, from Duart Rd to Porter Dr, Iona Rd from Middle Rd to Margaret Ave, side streets and back streets.
Please respect these speeds. Traffic is not as it was when you it so went to school. It’s way worse. Cars are bigger, faster, more powerful and drivers seem to be less patient (or skilled). And kids are more plentiful and definitely less road safe.

Kids are crossing the road wherever they can dash though, even if there is a pedestrian crossing right next to them. And there are three in the one school block, outside HNHS.
Kids are riding their scooters and bikes on the wrong side of the road. No, it’s not safer. It’s far more dangerous because drives aren’t looking for them there. And they are hard enough to see when they are where they should be. It’s also illegal. And more kids are driving. Kids who are cutting across and doing U turns in peak traffic. Or driving with other kids in the car, when they aren’t allowed to. Or driving with no seatbelts on. Or cellphones in hands. Or puppies on laps. Yes, I see you.

Talk to your kids. Tell them when they are making bad decisions about driving. Just because they can drive doesn’t mean they have to drive to school. If they live in zone they can still walk with their friends. Tell them to ride on the left, not the right. And wear helmets. Their brains, while still quite mailable aren’t fully developed, to make good safety decisions alone, and they sure as heck aren’t unbreakable.

If you live and work in zone, how about walking with your kids. Model what you want from them. Show them how to travel safely.
Take that extra time together. I don’t often have that option, but maybe you do. At least occasionally.

Also, I’m not one for gender or clothing shaming, but…parents of daughters, you might not realise it, but when your daughters HNHS uniform skirts are barely longer than their blouses, the split up the back isn’t. I’m not the only one who got an eyeful this morning.

I don’t normally care what people wear, as long as they are comfortable, but it is a uniform, not a unique form. When we wear a uniform, it’s not just about being a number, or saving parents from having to buy wardrobes full of new clothes. It’s certainly not cheaper. It’s about representing something other than ourselves and our fashion identities. Save the flashing fashion for after school wear.