Kia ora e te whānau
As you will all be well aware by now, and to quote Dr Siouxsie Wiles, we've hit 'another loop-de-loop on the COVID rollercoaster' and we are now operating again at Alert Level 2.
At Alert Level 2, school remains fully open for teaching and learning.
I'm conscious that we may have some new families who have started in the past couple of weeks so I'm re-sending the information from last time with ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE - the end of day finish times:
NE (Koru) AND Y1/2 (Kahikatea) children will finish at 2:45pm. This will allow for them to be collected and move away from the front gate area before the rest of the school is released. If you have children in both the junior and Y3-6 parts of the school, the junior teachers will hold your child in the hub until 3pm and bring them out then.
Year 3-6 (Kōwhai and Pōhutukawa) children will finish at 3pm as usual.
Year 7/8 children and staff are going to Wainui on camp tomorrow morning, albeit with additional contingencies built in for their health and safety.
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 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.
Distance learning will be provided for those required to self-isolate, those individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result, or those choosing to remain at home because they are vulnerable to illness.
If you believe that your child fits the above criteria, please let the office know and we will contact you regarding home learning options.
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 an 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 includes performances such as school plays, cultural events and sporting activities.
This means that we will return to our protocol of parents dropping and collecting children from the gate rather than coming onto the school site.
We will have staff at the main gate, and at the Park entrance to school so that you can hand children over to them, rather than coming onto the school site. Please remember that social distancing is important at Alert Level 2. This is particularly important at pick-up time in the afternoon so please try not to congregate in groups at the gate. If your child is able to travel independently, please encourage them to do so. If you can wait for them on the other side of the crossing, and spread out a little, that helps too.
4. Schools will close for cleaning and contact tracing if there is a confirmed case who was infectious when at school.
The Director of Education will work closely with us and health authorities should this occur.
5. Face coverings are not required at school or on any school transport.
This includes charter buses hired by the school to transport students and staff. Anyone who chooses to wear a face covering at school will be supported to do so.
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 have a contact tracing system in place.
If you have to come onto the school site, please ensure you sign in at the office as usual, AS WELL AS using your COVID app if you have one
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.
Note that our drinking fountains will be unavailable at Alert Level 2, so every child does need to have a named water bottle at school every day.
Stay in Touch
If you need to contact your child's teacher - email is the best option at Alert Level 2. You can find all of the teacher and admin email addresses HERE
If you need to contact Jacky in the office - email office@beckenham.school.nz or phone 337 1404
To contact Rachel in accounts, contact accounts@beckenham.school.nz or phone 337 1404
We will continue to keep updating you as more information comes to hand.
We've got this!
Ngā mihi nui
Sandy and the Team!
