Wow, what a great start to life back at school!

We opened our new performance area ‘Whare Tapere’, we have a new junior class, new soccer goal nets and lots of plans! Our shade sails are being installed now as well (the posts at least as they stay down in winter in case it snows).

Our students are settled and I think, love to be back in routine. I am a little tired as I am not lunchtime fit!    It’s amazing the fitness you lose!   Even the students look tired at the end of a game at lunchtime. We do play competitively though 😉

A huge thank you to all of our community. We appreciate you following our procedures and being role models of social distancing. Thank you for signing in when entering the school. Some of you are bringing your own pen to sign in with, I have started this habit when going out and about. To help you even more, we have a tracing section on our Skool Loop app. Please feel free to use this daily. If you do, there is a must do, IF ENTERING THE OFFICE OR A CLASSROOM, PLEASE STATE THIS IN THE REASON BOX AND REMEMBER BOTH THE OFFICE AND A CLASSROOM ARE ONE IN AND ONE OUT. Thanks so much again, I know this is all a hassle but it is teamwork and team mentality. Let’s be role models to our students that rules are important. It is confusing for students when adults break some rules and not others. It makes them think rules are optional and can be a reason children break them at home, school or in the community (i.e. they saw a parent or adult breaking a rule).   

Children and young people attending school when they are unwell; WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE RULES? This came from the Ministry today. I hope it helps clarify for you. Very hard for the runny nose option, but these are the guidelines. 

Public health advice regarding sick children and school attendance has not changed in the COVID-19 era. Children who are unwell should not attend school and they should not return to school until they have been symptom free for at least 48 hours. This applies to infectious respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, and vaccine preventable diseases. 

COVID-19 like symptoms will be very common over the winter and the vast majority of children with those symptoms won’t have COVID-19.  So, the advice to parents whose children have symptoms of cough, fever, sore throat and/or runny nose and sneezing is for them to keep their child at home until they have been symptom free for 48 hours. If they do see a GP or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 and they are swabbed then the child will need to be isolated at home until they have their result.  They can return to school if their result is negative and they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

Bring on a Covid free NZ!

Check out the next post, some awesome work from our tamariki. Also, check out our facebook page!!!!

Dallas Wichman
Principal