PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Parents

It is great that we are back to Alert Level 1 as this means we will be able to go back to the ‘new normal’ for Term 4. Our hope is that we will achieve a full term with no COVID-19 interruptions. This will be a first for this school year.

The key messages that were given in the Prime Ministers announcement on Monday were:

Public health measures will also help to reduce transmission of illness:

• maintain your good cleaning and disinfecting practices
• keep encouraging good hygiene standards
• people who are unwell should stay away, and seek medical advice
• everyone should get tested if recommended to do so by health professionals.

Face coverings are not required on public transport at Alert Level 1 but continue to be an option for individuals.

The Ministry of Education have identified that this is what we need to know in Alert Level 1

1. Schools are open and must operate safely.
   At Alert Level 1 the virus is contained in New Zealand but not overseas. We need to have systems and practices in place in case COVID-19 reappears in our community.
    
2. There are no restrictions on personal movement at Alert Level 1 – all children and staff should be at school.

The only people who will need to stay away are:

• those required to self-isolate
• individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result (most people will be able to go back to school/work while waiting for a result)
• children, students and staff who are unwell.

3. Testing remains a crucial component in preventing an outbreak.
   If a child or staff member is sick, they should stay home. If they have cold or flu symptoms they should call their doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested. If recommended to get tested, they should do so.
    
4. Schools will close for cleaning and contact tracing if there is a confirmed case who was infectious when at school.
   The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health will lead this procedure and the school community will be informed through the normal communication channels – school email and school website.
    
5. Please continue to support contact tracing through using the school QR Code posters 
    
6. There are no restrictions on numbers at gatherings.
   Schools, like workplaces are not considered to be gatherings. Physical activities including cultural and sporting activities, practices and events can go ahead.
    
7. Fundamental public health measures continue to apply:

• Hand hygiene
• Cough and sneeze etiquette
• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces.

8. There are no restrictions on domestic travel.
   People should avoid using mass transport if sick, awaiting a result from a COVID-19 test or required/recommended to self-isolate.
    
9. Face coverings continue not to be required when in school.
   This includes school transport and charter buses hired by the school to transport students and staff to and from school. Anyone who chooses to wear a face covering in any setting should be supported to do so.

For our school the following related procedures are in place:

• Attendance
• Contact Tracing
• Breaks
• Drop Off
• Pick Up
• Health and Safety Measures
• Student Injury / Illness
• Student Wellbeing
• Student Equipment
• Gatherings

Attendance

• The Ministry of Education (MOE) expect all students to be back at school beginning Monday 12 October
• Students who are not well should stay home. Parents are asked to contact Healthline/family GP that day and to contact the office as to what advice they were given in regard to their child’s illness
• Anyone who is not well cannot enter the school
• Use the school website to notify us if your child will be absent
• Students who are late go directly to their Home Group learning space
• Parents do not need to sign in students when they are late

Contact Tracing

• The Ministry of Health (MOH) QR Code is displayed for contact tracing
• This MOH QR Code is for your records. The school has no record of who uses the MOH QR Code

Breaks

• The normal break times will begin
• 10.25-10.35 – read and feed / 10.35-11.00 – play
• 12.40-12.50 – lunch eating / 12.50-1.30 – play

Drop Off

• Drop off is from 8.00 am
• Students will be welcomed into the quad at 8.15 am
• Students dropped off before 8.15 am will wait by the office
• A staff member will inform the students when they can enter the quad
• Students can continue to be dropped off in the drop off zone
• Parents can walk their children to their learning space after 8.15 am
• Students arriving by bus or foot enter the property via the school driveway and the entry by the office block
• Students will walk directly to their Home Group Learning Space to hang up their bag.
• Students can enter the learning space or play in the quad until the bell goes at 8.50 am
• The school bottom field and playground, and the front field, are closed before school

Pick up

• Pick up is from 2.50 pm – The gate will open at 3.00 pm
• Parents can use the courts for parking
• Parents can meet their children in the quad and walk them to their cars
• The gate for drive through pick up will open at 3 pm
• Bus and Lake House Cafe students will continue to gather in the quad and be guided by teachers to their pick up points
• No students are to be on the junior playground between 2.50 and 3.30 pm

Health and Safety Measures

• Hand sanitiser will be at the entry to learning spaces and soap, water and drying facilities in bathrooms
• Parents entering and leaving learning spaces are asked to sanitise their hands
• All shared work surfaces, door handles and toilets will be disinfected and cleaned regularly
• In an emergency, normal evacuation procedures will be followed

Student Injury / Illness

• Parents will be contacted and will need to arrange to have their child collected within thirty minutes
• Parents are asked to contact Healthline/family GP that day and to contact the office as to what advice they were given in regard to their child’s illness

Student Wellbeing

• Student wellbeing will continue to be monitored throughout the day by the teachers.
• If teachers have any concerns they will contact parents

Student Equipment

• Water: Please ensure your child continues to have a bottle of water
• Drinking fountains will be available
• Students bring their devices if they normally do
• Students can bring sports equipment.

Gatherings

• Parents can attend Home Group prayers
• Team prayers can restart as teams determine. Parents can attend
• School prayers will restart on Friday’s beginning at 9 am
• Choir, Kapa Haka, cultural group etc. will restart at the discretion of the organisers
• School organised sport activities can restart
• Out of school sport activities will be determined by individual out of school sport organisations

While we are returning to the ‘new normal’ we ask that parents be mindful that there will be a period of transition into this level. Further information as to how Term 4 will look for our school will be in the next Principal’s Message.

Take care. Stay safe.

Ka manaakitia koutou e te Atua

Alister Bridgman

Principal