Principal's Patch
Kia ora e te whānau
Another short newsletter, to keep you up-to-date with the information we are getting from the Ministry of Education, and with what is happening at school. There is an important notice further down this newsletter about the PTA Fair Container Sale happening TODAY from 1-4pm in the staff carpark.Based on Ministry advice, we are cancelling assemblies and whole school, indoor gatherings until further notice. This means that students will work mostly within their team and hub, rather than in close-contact events with the whole school. We will still run house games on Fridays, and the games will be focused on non-contact activities that are outside.
Hand-washing routines are a big part of each day, as are regular reminders about coughing and sneezing.
There are currently no requirements for mass closures of schools. Saying that, we are preparing for closures, should they be required. We will keep you closely informed about this. Until that happens, we are determined to carry on as much as normal as we can!
Thank you to the 256 whānau who completed the 'how connected is your household' survey - this has given us a pretty good picture of how connected many of you are, and will allow us to plan accordingly. Should school close, we will be putting learning options up on our website, and these will try to cater for the range of differently connected situations that you are all in. We also recognise that many of you do not want children at home on devices all day, and we are looking at a range of different options.
Are you and your children members of the Christchurch City Libraries?
We strongly urge you to join your children up to the library - and learn how to use the online library facilities. We are aware that libraries in other jurisdictions have closed, and so accessing books online may be an important option to consider.
Do you have the phone numbers/contact details of your children's friends' caregivers?
Connect up online now, with your child's friend's caregivers!If we do go into school closures, supporting children to stay connected through parent supervised platforms may be helpful for some families.
Reminders from the Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education page containing the most up-to-the-minute information for schools and whānau in relation to Covid-19
Deputy Secretary of Education - Katrina Casey - speaks to Radio NZ on Monday about Covid-19: Ministry's advice on whether to send kids to school
Who needs to self-isolate?
The Government announcement at the weekend requires anyone who has arrived from overseas after 1am on Monday 16 March to self-isolate for 14 days, and to register with Healthline (0800 358 5453). The exception is people arriving from specified Pacific countries (“Category 2” countries as listed here), who do not need to self-isolate if they are not unwell.
People who arrived from overseas before 1am on Monday 16 March are not required to self-isolate, unless they have travelled from South Korea or Iran. Travellers from those countries need to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of their departure and register with Healthline.
People living in the same house as travellers that are required to self-isolate, need to minimise contact with them (avoiding being closer than 2 metres apart for more than 15 minutes). However, they are not required to self-isolate themselves.
Encouraging student attendance
We know that some parents have concerns about their children attending school at the moment, some of which may be due to what they are seeing in the media about other countries.
There’s a simple rule here – if students are unwell (whether or not their illness relates to COVID-19) they should stay at home. Students who are not unwell should continue to attend school.
While we are seeing large-scale school shutdowns elsewhere in the world, in New Zealand we still have no community transmission. Consequently, any decisions about school closures will be made on a case by case basis. In the meantime, unless students are unwell themselves, then parents should keep sending them to schools and early learning centres as these environments continue to be safe and the best place for them to continue their learning.
Schools will continue to be provided with the latest information and guidance from the Ministries of Education and Health so that Principals and Boards can make well-informed decisions based on their particular circumstances.
Kia kaha koutou!
Sandy and the team.
PTA Update
The Beckenham Te Kura o Puroto Twilight Fair might be cancelled but you still have a chance to win one of the amazing prizes at the RAFFLE. Buy a $2 ticket at the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto grounds every morning before school starts and when it ends or tomorrow and Wednesday at New World St Martins from 3.30 to 6pm. Sale END on 20th of March at 3.30pm.
Remember all proceeds raised go towards sports uniforms & digital technology for the Children of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto! We are so grateful to you all, and to the generous donors who provided $1400 worth prizes for this event:
#2 SHELF home+gifts Voucher & Soy Melts, Green tea Blend (Novel Cafe South Library), Shits about to get dainty Crockery Coffee Mug, Nadia Lim’s Fresh Start Cookbook from My Food Bag, Handmade Peg Apron & Wooden Pegs. VALUE: $170.00
#3 Dinner voucher for 4 people. Courtesy of The Coffee Club Spitfire Square. VALUE: $150.00
#4 St Martins Pharmacy Gift Basket. Courtesy of St Martins Pharmacy. VALUE: $100.00
#5-7 Gift Baskets. Courtesy of FreshChoice Barrington. VALUE: $100.00 each
#8 Family pass to Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools. Courtesy of Hanmer Springs - Thermal Pools & Spa VALUE: $89.00
#9 Family pass to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Courtesy of Willowbank Wildlife Reserve.
VALUE: $81.00
#10 Voucher from HAPA & 2 x Admit One for Deluxe Cinemas. Courtesy of Hapa at the Tannery/BNZ Centre & Deluxe Cinemas (The Tannery). VALUE: $66.00
#11 Large Gift Basket from the Fudge Cottage. Courtesy of The Fudge Cottage, New Zealand. VALUE: $59.90
#12 The Birdwood & Industria Store Cuppa Coffee Cup. Courtesy of ‘The Birdwood’ & Industria Design & Gift Store (The Colombo). VALUE: $50.00
#13 Voucher from Banfield’s Butchery. Courtesy of Beckenham Butchery. VALUE: $25.00