An update – Welcome Back (Alert Level 2) to all Years 0-10 students

Tēnā koutou e te whānau

 

I hope this letter finds you and your whānau safe and well. We have moved to Alert Level 2. We have UPDATED THE NEWSLETTER sent out to you last Friday. 

 

We welcome Years 0-10 students back to school this Thursday 18 November 

We are delighted to be able to welcome all Years 0-10 students back onsite under Alert Level 2 this Thursday 18 November until the last day of school on Thursday 16th December. We know learning kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) is the best option for children and young people. It’s important for them to connect with their friends and teachers, and it helps their social, physical and emotional wellbeing. We believe that this is in the best interests of our students, teachers and whānau. Our staff held preparation meetings yesterday and today, and we will be ready to welcome ALL students who are ready to return.

School hours for students

• School hours are 8.50 am – 3.00 pm for all Students. 
• Students will use their usual entrance and exit gates. 

Schoolwide Organisation

• Our students will remain in their usual learning groups and they will stay separated.
• All students need to return Chromebooks back to the school office this week (PRIORITY ACTION).
• All students need to bring their own food and drink every day from home.
• Drinking fountains will not be available but students will have access to designated taps for water. 
• The School Canteen will be open from Monday 22 November.
• External visitors (including parents and caregivers) are encouraged to wear a face mask at drop off and pick up times, and for any other reason – must sign in at the school office. 
• If your child is going to be absent from school, please follow our usual school process.
• School buses will run as usual.
• Our school playgrounds are open.

Health and Safety public health measures are in place. 

• All on-site staff meet the vaccination requirements.
• Face coverings are NOT required in Alert Level 2 – but are encouraged from 12 years +
• The cleaning staff will disinfect and clean surfaces daily.
• We will practice physical distancing where possible.
• Sanitising products and contact tracing registers will be used in all spaces.
• Classrooms are well ventilated and students will learn outside as much as possible.
• Hygiene practices will be observed when using PE, Sports and/or Musical instruments and after using the playgrounds.
• Singing will happen outside.

Learning Programmes

In the first instance, we will use face-to-face time at school

• for teachers to reconnect with learners;
• for learners to reconnect with each other;
• to check in on the well-being of learners;
• for interactive discussions and collaborative, hands-on activities that support the online learning programmes; and
• to provide one-on-one or small group time for vulnerable students.

Gatherings

• All events involving bringing others onsite are cancelled.
• Unfortunately, parents/caregivers access on-site remains limited.
• External visitors (including parents and caregivers) entering our school grounds must go to the Office where they will sign in using the school VisTab and the COVID-19 Tracing App.
• External visitors (including parents and caregivers) who enter a school learning space must complete the Contact Tracing Register.
• All Years 0-10 prize giving assemblies will be held in an online format. 
• The Year 4-10 camps are cancelled.
• School and team assemblies will be held online.

Our Hauora/Wellbeing Team

• We do have access to counselling and medical services on site.
• Please contact the office for further information.

Remaining at home

We support whānau choice to remain at home during this time. 

• Our school-owned Chromebooks must be returned to the school office by midday Thursday 9 December (PRIORITY ACTION).
• Our online learning platforms are still available on our RAS school website.
• TVNZ Home Learning and Papa Kāinga TV schedule learning programmes daily on TV.
• The Ministry of Education website provides a wide variety of learning resources.  (https://learningfromhome.govt.nz)
• Hard packs will be available by request from the office once they arrive from the Ministry of Education.

What you can do to help

• Stay at home if you or your child is sick.
• Avoid catching up with other parents, children and whānau at the school gates.
• Wear a face covering and maintain a two-metre distance from people not in your household bubble.
• Get advice from your doctor if you or your child has complex medical needs (and please get in touch so that we can support your child to return onsite, wherever possible).
• Avoid having playdates inside with children from other families at Alert Level 3.

Finally, we encourage you to talk to your children about what the return to school looks like. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact me (07-8258140) or your child’s teacher by phone or email.  We look forward to seeing you back at school next week.

 

Ngā mihi – Whaea Louisa