COVID-19 UPDATE 1 March 2021

Kia ora koutou

As most of you will know by now we have once again moved to Level 2. This will be in place for a week at this stage.

Please be assured that school is still a safe place and students are required to attend school. The wellbeing of our students is our number one priority. At all times we will be following the most up to date advice from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.

Here’s a reminder of how our kura looks at Alert Level 2.

School is open to everyone, and all children must attend unless they are unwell.

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 as there will be appropriate measures in place.

If your child is unwell, please keep them at home and let the school know.

Children who are generally unwell and come to sickbay need to be checked immediately by Office Staff and a determination needs to be made as to whether they need to go home.

Teachers or children who are unwell with respiratory symptoms immediately go home, and call Healthline or their GP.

Cleaning and Hygiene

Under Alert Level 2 hand sanitiser will be provided in every classroom. Hand sanitiser stations will be set up at the designated entry and exit points of each classroom and Students and Staff will use this as they enter or exit a room.

Cleaners will complete daily cleans in line with the Ministry of Health guidelines.

We will be limiting the number of adults on site.

Under Alert Level 2 parents and caregivers will not be allowed in classrooms and may only enter the site to visit the office. We wish to encourage a drop off and pick up only approach to restrict the number of ‘adults on-site’. Where possible there should be one person designated for pick up and drop off.

We have a contact tracing system in place.

If you need to come on site please email or phone the office. If this can not be done due to unforeseen circumstances please come to the school office to register as a visitor and resolve your enquiry.

If you are on site you must come to the office and sign in and/or use the COVID tracer app to scan the QR codes which will be up on the school gates and in the office - even if you are there for a few minutes. If you need to drop off something for your child please leave it at the office.

Grounds closed to students for play before 8:15am and after school.

We need to ensure that we keep students safe so they need to have supervision. Our grounds can be used after 3.30pm.

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.

We will, however, take extra precautions and will not be holding assemblies while we’re in alert level 2.

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.

As always, stay well and look out for each other.

If you have any questions please email me principal@ahipara.school.nz

Arohanui,

Lisa Murray

Acting Principal