COVID-19 UPDATES

Kia ora koutou

Further to the announcement over the weekend, Auckland has moved into Alert Level 3 and the remainder of New Zealand has moved into Alert Level 2 from 6 am Sunday 28 February.

You will already be familiar with alert level requirements with detailed information also available on the Education website. We have included further information re devices at the bottom of this email.

A reminder of what this means for the School at Alert Level 2:

1. Schools are open to everyone, and all children must attend.
   
   At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained but there is still risk of community transmission. It is safe for children and staff to attend school and for school hostels to be operating as there will be appropriate measures in place, including for children and staff vulnerable to severe illness.
   
   
2. Learning will be onsite with distance learning offered in some circumstances.
3. Schools are not classified as gatherings and a range of events and activities can go ahead. For most day to day activities at schools, the rules for gatherings do not apply. Under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Order, schools are exempted from physical distancing requirements when people are there to receive, provide, or support education services. However, as soon as your event or activity brings people onsite who are not there for education purposes, including students, parents and caregivers, then the rules for gatherings do apply. This would include performances such as school plays, cultural events and sporting activities.
4. Schools will close for cleaning and contact tracing if there is a confirmed case who was infectious when at school.
5. Face coverings are not required at school or on any school transport.
6. Sick people must stay at home. They should seek medical advice if they have COVID-like symptoms and get tested if advised to do so. If that person displays relevant symptoms of COVID-19, tests positive for COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, they must self-isolate.
7. We must ensure that we have a contact tracing system in place, as well as ensure staff and Year 13 students sign in and out. This includes displaying QR code posters at our entrances, attendance register and visitor register.
8. Fundamental public health measures continue to apply at every alert level:

• Physical distancing (not touching and not breathing on each other at Alert Level 2);
• Hand hygiene;
• Cough and sneeze etiquette;
• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces.
• Think and plan carefully before you go ahead with any activity that brings a large number of students together and/or spectators are involved.

Some events may need to be cancelled or postponed when we are at Alert Level 2. Inter-regional travel is possible but only where you are confident the appropriate measures will be in place at the host venue, including requirements for gatherings.

We worked exceptionally hard as a team last year when we moved to Alert Level 2. Our Health and Safety plan will be reviewed and reshared with staff.

Devices

In case we move into Alert Level 3 or 4, it is crucial that your daughter’s have access to an online learning device (not a mobile phone). We will have a limited number of devices available if we advance alert levels. Please ensure that your daughter has access to a device.

Online Learning

Please check with your daughter that she knows how to access her Schoology lessons and Education Perfect. All staff have been asked to check that their students are familiar with conferencing and accessing courses.

Athletic Sports – cancelled 3 March 2021

At this stage, our Athletics Day for full school has been cancelled. A postponement date for competitive athletes will take place next Monday. We have called for updated registrations this week.

Connections Programme

Year 9 programme will still run on Tuesday afternoon.

Week 6 Events

International Women’s Day Breakfast will continue as scheduled on Monday, March 8th, as well as Year 9 Parent-Teacher interviews on Thursday, March 11th.

Please note that full school will finish at 1.30pm on March 11th to allow for parent interviews.

EOTC (Education outside the classroom) trips will still take place this week. Please note that any adjustments to the planning has been factored in.

Summary

Given the short notice of the change in Alert levels in Auckland, and the rest of NZ, it is important that we follow the rules as outlined.

Stay safe – keep calm – be kind.

Ngā mihi

Marie Gordon

Principal