7 February, 2022
Kia ora koutou
We are really excited about seeing all our tauira (students) back on site tomorrow.
I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on how we will be working together under Phase One of the Red Traffic Light system.
Firstly, we have students on site who have life-threatening allergies to peanuts. We are asking that students, staff and whānau don’t bring products with peanuts to school. This includes muesli bars, peanut butter and baking/ biscuits with peanuts. Thank you for your support with this.
Coming in and out of the school
Students in the Years 1 – 6 communities should come in through the front door and the door in 1C.
Students in the Years 7 – 13 communities should come in through the Dance Room and make their way straight up the stairs.
Avoid using the lifts unless you need to as we would like to keep them available for people who have accessibility issues.
Parents and Caregivers – please drop your child off outside the school, unless you are a new family and/or need to come onsite to help settle your child. You will need to wear a mask and scan in if you are coming on site.
Visitors and whānau please sign in using school apps or the ipad at reception. There is also a QR code you can scan with your COVID app for your own records.
Masks
All staff, students from Y4, whānau and visitors who come on site are required to wear a mask unless they have a medical exemption. Mask wearing will enable us to maintain on-site learning for as long as possible as it decreases the number of close contacts (staff and students) who have to isolate and slows the spread of Omicron. Thank you to our community for supporting this.
Learning Advisors will support regular breaks outside or on the balconies to support students who might want to have a break from wearing a mask.
Trust Licences
We will encourage students to head outside at morning tea and lunchtime as they won’t be wearing masks to eat. Please fill in the Trust Licence form if your child is Year Seven and older.
Here is the link to supporting information and the form Trust Licence Form
Students can use their Trust Licences from 2021 while we work through the process of issuing the Trust Licences for 2022.
Hygiene
We will have sanitising stations placed around the school and will monitor our ventilation system to ensure it is working within recommended guidelines to keep students and staff safe.
Please keep your child at home if they have any of the following symptoms:
- New or worsening cough
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Fever
- Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
- Sore throat
Confirmed Case in the School
If there is a confirmed case in the school then we will communicate with the school community via email, school apps and social media. We will follow the advice of the Public Health Unit, which might mean we shift to online learning while we investigate close and casual contacts. If your child is a close contact then they will need to self isolate immediately and get tested. In Phase One the isolation period is 10 days. In Phase Two the isolation period is 7 days. If your child is a casual contact they will need to monitor for symptoms for 10 days.
You will be informed via email if your child is a casual, non or close contact and what the next steps are. If your child is a close contact then the Public Health Unit will work to support your whānau.
Accurate attendance marking is vital in supporting this process so please call the school on 377 7773, or use School Apps to let us know if your child is away.
We could have large numbers of staff away if they have to self-isolate or become unwell. If this situation arises then we may need to move groups of students onto online learning. I would like to acknowledge the mahi (work) that staff are doing at the moment as they upload their resources and programs into Google Classroom and Seesaw so we can immediately support students who might have to learn from home.
Our school values the strength of our community and our relationships with whānau. Through our whānau, I believe that our community can work together to keep each other safe and well. Please keep talking to your child’s Learning Advisor or Community Leader if you have any concerns or questions.
Please find below information detailing how to get support if you have to isolate at home.
Please also find an opportunity for free Music lessons for secondary students who have dyslexia.
Ngā mihi nui
Anita
More support for people who are affected by COVID-19
Self-isolating at home because of COVID-19
Many people will be able to manage self-isolation with help from friends and whānau, but there is help available if you need it – both with health support and access to food and other essentials.
· What to expect when self-isolating at home | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
· COVID-19 positive – managing your symptoms | Health Navigator NZ
If you know anyone in your community affected by COVID-19 and who may need help, such as food and other financial assistance, Work and Income has a range of supports available for individuals, families, employers and self-employed people affected by COVID-19.
Work and Income support
The beginning of the year can be a tough time for parents who are faced with many costs and it is important you are aware of what assistance you may be able to get from Work and Income. These are available to people on a low income as well as those on a benefit.
· Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
· School and Year Start-up Payment (for people getting Orphan’s Benefit or Unsupported Child’s Benefit)