8 September 2021
Kia ora,
Firstly, this newsletter has been delayed due to waiting for the Secretary of Education to send the advice late yesterday and the need for our 9am staff meeting this morning to clarify processes for returning to school on Thursday (tomorrow).
You’ll be aware that all of New Zealand (with the exception of Auckland) is moving to Alert Level 2 from midnight Tuesday. Our thoughts and positive wishes are with everyone in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland.
Extensive wastewater testing and the numbers of people getting tested across the country has given the Government confidence that it is safe to allow a shift down to Alert Level 2 across most of New Zealand.
We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back onsite on Thursday morning. Today we will be continuing to support the ākonga who have been onsite at Alert Level 3 while we prepare for re-opening to all on Thursday.
At Alert Level 2 there is low risk of community transmission and it provides us with a lot more opportunities to engage and connect with others. However, there are still a number of public health requirements we all need to follow.
Please do continue to monitor your health and do not send your children to school if they are not well (and please seek advice about getting a COVID test).
For us, all the required safety precautions for Alert Level 2 will be in place which include following all the recommendations from the public health experts. This means we will regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, encourage everyone to frequently wash their hands and cough and sneeze into their elbow.
While physical distancing is not a requirement in schools, we will be doing our best to keep students from congregating in very large numbers and keeping spaces well-ventilated.
Based on our experience in class with essential workers’ children over the last week, the classroom gets quite draughty and cold at times. PLEASE PROVIDE REALLY WARM CLOTHES / layers maybe a good option and a beanie is a good idea.
Face coverings are not required to be worn in school. The Director General of Health has recommended that children 12 years+ wear a face covering at school – just as older children are required to wear face coverings in some other places. The decision to wear a face covering is up to you and your whānau, whatever your decision it will be respected. Where an individual chooses to use a face covering they should supply and wear their own, and to do so safely. This option applies to younger children too.
Public health advice for those under six is getting children to cough and sneeze into their elbow and wash and dry hands. The use of masks is permitted but not actively encouraged.
PLEASE FILL IN THIS MASK WEARING FORM so that teachers know what parents/caregivers have decided with mask wearing at school. https://bit.ly/maskwearingovs
The teachers/principal have decided not to wear a mask within class or the staffroom, but will wear a mask if meeting with a parent/caregiver inside. Our support staff have not been asked at this stage. We are required to respect all choices.
If you are not sure what all the rules are for alert level 2 when you are out and about, then the following information may be useful to you:
- COVID-19 Alert Levels summary table
- COVID-19 Alert Levels detailed table
- We require you to scan the code if you enter the school grounds. Should you not have a phone with you, a clipboard is available with parent name/time outside Room 3.
- In the interest of health and safety please do not come onsite unless it is absolutely necessary to do so.
Physical distancing of two metres is recommended for parents and caregivers, from people they don’t know (to align with public health measures outside the school grounds). Guidance suggests parents should also be encouraged to wear a face covering.
The exception to this will be the parents of Year 0 and 1 students who may need to be supported to get to class. Parents are then requested to remain outside the room. If a message needs to be given to the teacher then we encourage you to email the teacher, use Seesaw or phone the office. For those parents attending new entrant visits to R1, please wear a face mask inside the classroom.
- Students are not to share food at break times.
- The MOE has advised that drinking fountains can remain on, but we strongly encourage bringing personal/named drink bottles as children tend to slobber all over the fountain. This is not able to be monitored effectively.
- Students who were supplied with an ipad or device are to return this to Mr Brock at school on Thursday. If your child had a hardpack they may keep this at home but they can bring to school any special work that they may have done.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s kaiako or me if there is something you need assistance with. See you Thursday!
Ngā mihi
Terry Brock
Principal
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