18 March, 2022
Kia ora koutou
Thank you to all our whānau for the support you have shown the school during these uncertain times. Yesterday I was at a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Education and they shared the following data. The total number of cases in Canterbury / Chatham Islands schools and early childhood centres is 9689. The mathematical modelling is predicting the peak to hit Canterbury next week and then plateau out over the following two weeks. The average on site attendance across Canterbury is around 64%.
At Ao Tawhiti our on-site attendance over the last week has averaged 60%. We have a lot of students working from home and I would like to acknowledge the work done by staff to support online learning. I would also like to thank families for their support of their children who are working online.
At present we have 60 active cases within our student and staff community. They are spread across all the school levels. If we start to have groupings within friendship groups or Home Bases we will contact families individually so they can closely monitor their child for symptoms.
Our teacher aides and support staff have been hit hard with six staff away with Covid. We have four Learning Advisors away as well with Covid and another three who are isolating as household contacts. Thank you to families for working with us as we manage the staff absences.
You might have read in the media that schools will be given RAT tests. These tests are for staff and students who become symptomatic. If your child becomes symptomatic during the school day we will ring home and ask you to collect your child. We will give you RAT tests to take home with you. We will not be administering RAT tests at school. We also continue to have bulk quantities of masks, including the smaller masks for younger children.
Thank you for continuing to keep the school informed and for keeping your children at home if they are unwell. If you have children at home who are Year 10 and younger, the Ministry has online learning programs which can supplement the school’s programs.
Here is the link for the learning from home packs Learning from home packs
We also have hard packs from the Ministry of Education and they are being stored at reception for parents to pick up. Thank you to Jean Serjeant for donating all these resources to the school.
Remember we now have a dedicated email address for any Covid related questions. Covid@aotawhiti.school.nz
Be in touch with me, or your Home Base Learning Advisor if you have any questions or need extra support.
Please see below for available opportunities for students for Term Two – a school LaserStrike competition and Winter Sports.
Take care
Ngā mihi nui
Anita
Below is a link to the permission slip if your child is interested in taking part in Laserstrike. Please make a copy of the slip before you fill it in. When you have completed the form you can drop it at the school office or email megan.gould@aotawhiti.school.nz