COVID-19 Community Bulletin August 2020 #2

COVID-19 August 2020 Community Bulletin #2:

Preparing Students for Level 2

Term 3, Week 4, 12 August 2020

The purpose of this bulletin is to help each family manage their child’s transition to Level 2 at school.  For our new families this will be your first time. For this to be as smooth as possible, we will use the same protocols as last time to keep all of our children safe and supported at school. We have already sent home Bulletin #1, which focuses on how to keep yourselves informed as this situation evolves.

The key areas that we will be promoting for Level 2 include:

• Regular use of sanitiser by all those onsite, as well as thorough daily cleaning routines
• Minimising interactions between student groups during the school day, including before and after school
• Restricting adults onsite to staff only, except at drop-off / pick-up times, where strict guidelines must be followed
• Keeping onsite times from 8.30 am – 3.10 pm (unless attending After School Care)
• Recording contact tracing details of all visitors

 Our goal during Lockdown 2 is to keep most of our usual school routines in place to support a sense of normality. There will be a few new routines which we will weave into our daily school life, due to Level 2 Health and Safety guidelines that we must meet. We encourage students to be at school.

To assist us, we ask that every parent/caregiver reads the guidelines below. Familiarise yourself with these.  Talk your child through the simple routines that they need to know about – don’t ‘overload’ them with what you are having to do! Understand the requirements that you will need to follow if you are coming onsite.

Be assured that our teaching team will be watching out for the wellbeing of every child during this transition to Level 2. Likewise, we encourage you to keep in touch with us about any concerns that you have – no problem is too small. Simply email your child’s teacher, who will respond as soon as possible.

ASC will continue to operate unless or until there is a change to Level 3.  This would result in immediate closure of the programme, as directed by OSCAR, in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines.

Unfortunately we have had to postpone this week’s Mihi Whakatau, which was scheduled for Friday.  We will keep you informed of a future date.

Level 2 is obviously a bit of a setback for NZ, but we will get through this together. We are more prepared this time, having been through this before and together we will remain resilient and positive in our resolve to get through each new challenge.

Nga mihi

Jan Otene (Principal)                           Mark Williams (Board Chair)

ALERT LEVEL 2 – GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• If your child is unwell in any way they MUST stay at home – NO EXCEPTION.
• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms (eg. sore throat, runny nose), must be tested and not return onsite until they have been medically cleared to return. The usual response time is 24-48 hours.
• PLEASE have your phone switched on and be prepared to collect your child quickly if we ring you.
• If you or anyone in your family/bubble/close contacts either has COVID-19 or has been in close contact with someone confirmed as having COVID-19 you MUST telephone the Principal immediately (04 939 0186 or a/h 021 215 8000), and self-isolate at home. Health officials must be informed by the school and we would follow their advice and management. The school would need to be closed immediately for at least 72 hours, whilst contact tracing and sanitising is undertaken. Students would need to remain at home.

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

We will ensure required Health and Safety protocols are followed to keep our community safe. However, we take no responsibility for any person in our school community either contracting or transmitting COVID-19 to any other person.

PARENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP INFORMATION – ALERT LEVEL 2

• During Lockdown Level 2 the earliest that children will arrive onsite is 8.30 am, they will then report to the designated flag and go straight into their classroom. We will not be using the hall or quad as a waiting area, as this would mix all year levels together.
• In order to minimise contact with others, we ask that you choose the Option below that best supports your child when they arrive/leave school each day. It is quite alright to change the option you use, on a daily basis.
• We are very aware that some of our students, such as those in Whero, may be more settled if a parent is allowed to bring them into the school grounds. For this reason we have created Option #3 for these families (see below).
• For Option #3 ONLY we will use a staggered end of day pick up – parents may arrive from 2.30 pm to collect their child. Please follow the process below for this.
• We ask that all children and adults leave the school property immediately at the end of each day during Alert Level 2.
• The only adults to enter any of our school buildings will be staff. For exceptions to this rule, please telephone the school office (939 0186), to discuss this prior to arrival.
• All onsite visitors must report to the school office on arrival, use hand sanitiser before completing the contact tracing register and maintain a distance of 2m from others at all times.

OPTION #1

Your child will walk between school and home without an adult needing to accompany them onsite.  On arrival, your child will walk directly to their classroom door via the quad and walk into their classroom.

OPTION #2

You will drop-off/pick-up your child outside the school property.  Please keep 2 m from other families at the crossing and as you wait for your child.  On arrival your child will walk onsite by themselves to their classroom door via the quad and walk into their classroom without an adult.

OPTION #3

Drop-Off:

Your child requires an adult to accompany them to their external classroom door.  Maintaining a distance of 2m from others at all times, enter via the quad and walk directly with your child to the external door closest to their classroom. For the first few days, a staff member will greet you from the door and accompany your child into the classroom. If there is a queue, please line up ensuring a 2m distance from those in front or behind you.  Once children become settled into this routine, we may remove the meet/greet person and parents will leave their child at the designated door and wave goodbye to them.

Pick-Up:

Your child requires an adult to accompany them from their external classroom door. You will come onsite at the arranged pick up time and wait outside your child’s external classroom door. A staff member will bring your child to the door and release them to you. If there is a queue, please line up ensuring a 2m distance from those in front or behind you. You will accompany your child directly off school property via the quad, maintaining a 2m distance from others at all times.

OTHER

If these options do not work for you and your child, please email principal@rewarewa.school.nz so that together we can find a solution that will work.

WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO BRING TO SCHOOL IN THEIR SCHOOL BAG

• All of their food and a water bottle for each day – all leftovers will be sent home in lunchboxes
• You can choose to provide your child’s own sanitizer if you wish as we know some students may be allergic to some products. Please inform their class teacher of this.

STUDENTS BASED AT HOME DURING ALERT LEVEL 2

We expect that parents of these students will actively support their children with their learning using any/all of the following options:

• Own offline/online programmes e.g. TV Channel 7 may be on offer again.
• At this stage, school online tasks (using Seesaw/Hapara) will not begin until Level 3.
• We will be in touch with our special needs ORS families if/when attending school is not an option for their children.
• No school devices will be available during Alert Level 2.