Dear Parents/Caregivers
We are really looking forward to having all students and staff back at school. At Alert Level 3:
- There is a medium risk of community transmission – and active but managed clusters.
- Schools are open part time from Wednesday 17 November.
- The Ministry of Health has advised that the risk of transmission within education services is relatively low if public health measures are followed.
There are already a very large number of mitigations in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools at Alert Level 3, but to further support the return of more students to onsite learning, Cabinet has agreed the following measures:
- Year 4 to 8 students and staff who teach Year 4 to 8 students will now be required to wear face coverings when indoors, as an added layer of protection (unless they have a disability or health condition that makes this unsuitable).
- for those in Years 0 to 8, schools should keep children and staff in stable groups and wherever practicable keep physically distanced from other groups, when inside and outside (recognising incidental contact may be impossible to avoid)
- drop offs and pick-ups will make use of different exits and entrances to reduce the risk of congestion
- schools should undertake teaching outdoors as much as possible.
Guidelines are clear that all schools from Year 0 to 8 should keep students and staff in stable groups and wherever possible distanced from one another inside and out. Starting from Wednesday 17 November students may attend on the following days:
- Monday and Tuesday - Junior & Senior students onsite (beginning week 6, Monday 22 November).
- Wednesday and Thursday - Middle & Intermediate students onsite (beginning this week Wednesday 17 November).
- Friday - whole school distance learning until 12pm.
This will mean every student has 2 days onsite and 3 days learning from home for all students who choose to attend. When students are off-site, distance learning programmes will continue. Please note that on the days staff are physically at school they will not be responding online to students. Hard packs will still be made available to all families in Year 1-4.
Kidzclub (before and after school care) will not be running.
Preparing for a return to school:
You can help prepare your child/ren by talking to them about :
- School is a safe place but will look different than normal to keep everyone safe
- No parents/visitors will be allowed on site at anytime so plan a drop off and pick up routine
- Good hygiene practices which includes everyone coughing into their elbows
- Regular hand washing and drying
- Sanitizing hands, all children will be required to sanitize on entry and exit to classrooms
- Respecting others space and not getting to close to each other
- No games where they touch one another at break times. As part of the return to school we will be teaching some distance games children can play
- No sharing of food
- Please do not bring in any balls, toys etc from home
- Having their own named drink bottle - water fountains are closed
- All students in Year 4 to 8 must wear a mask when entering and exiting the school site and anytime they are indoors.
- All students must be in full school uniform including a school hat. Due to time out of school, non regulation sandals/ shoes or hats are acceptable at this time if you do not have any that fit.
Very importantly, please keep your child at home if they are sick, even if it is a slight sniffle, sore throat, cough or fever. We will send anyone home immediately if they show any symptoms.
School site - Drop off and Pick up
Strict contact tracing protocols will also be in place throughout Alert Level 3 so that we know who is at school, who our staff and students have been in close contact with and we can take appropriate measures to keep everyone safe. We need your support with this as follows:
- No entry will be given into the school site for parents/caregivers or visitors under any circumstances at any time. Organise a place outside the school gates to collect your child after school
- For students in the junior school (Year 1 and 2) an email outlining drop off and pick up protocols will be sent. Please contact Kate Deane if you have any questions
- For students in the full time bubble an email outlining drop off and pick up protocols will be sent. Please contact Steve Harper-Travers if you have any questions
- Entry and exit to the school site is as follows and children must only use their assigned gate:
- Monday/Tuesday - Junior School (Year 1 and 2) Maraetai Drive Gate and Senior School (Year 5 and 6) through Craig Road
- Wednesday/Thursday - Middle School (Year 3 and 4) Maraetai Drive Gate and Intermediate School (Year 7 and 8) through Craig Road.
- We ask all parents to wear a mask when dropping and picking up students and to not congregate. Please social distance and a school QR code will be available to sign in at gate entrances.
- All Year 4 to 8 students must be wearing a mask on entry and exit to school.
- Please do not drop children at school before 8:30am and pick up time is the usual 3pm bell.
- There is no entry to the school office. If you need to speak to the school office please call on 5366 570 between 8:30am and 3:30pm. If you need to contact your child’s teacher please email.
- During the school day we will be running staggered break times to avoid mixing between teams. We will be maximising time outdoors during the school day so please apply sunscreen to your child in the morning and this will be available throughout the day.
Thank you for your on-going support to ensure we keep our school community safe and we look forward to welcoming the children back from Wednesday 17 November.
Kind Regards
Mark Keenan
Principal
