School Newsletter – 13 October 2020

Term 4, Week 1 — School news

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents

Welcome back to school in Alert Level 1, our new normal at this time. We are so pleased to be able to operate at this level and long may this last. 

I do hope that you all had wonderful times during the holiday period for family fun and activities. Teachers have worked very hard during this year and I know that they welcomed a break without additional online learning requirements. Thank you to the community for your positive response and working with the school through the various alert levels this year. 

Change to Alert Level 1

At Kohimarama School our protocols will be as indicated in my COVID update communication of Friday 9 October namely; 

• If you or your child are sick, you should stay home (phone Healthline or your GP and get tested if you have cold or flu symptoms). 

• Continue to regularly wash with soap and dry hands, sneeze and cough into elbows. 
• Regularly disinfect shared surfaces. 
• Support contact tracing efforts by using the QR Code for the NZ COVID Tracer App. (see item below for more information).
• Maintain stringent self-isolation of those who display relevant symptoms of COVID-19, test positive for COVID-19, have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, or have been overseas in the last 14 days – Ministry of Health information for self-isolation.

At school we will be maintaining the high levels of hygiene practices and cleaning that have been in use throughout the Alert Levels.  This includes: 

• Sanitising hands when entering and exiting the classrooms 
• Hand washing often 
• Correct cough etiquette 
• Cleaning of surfaces including desks, chairs and shared equipment each day 
• The drinking fountains will continue to be closed at this stage so bring your own drink bottles to school.

School hours have returned to usual, 8.55am – 3pm. We would encourage you to maintain entry to the school knowing that the classrooms are accessible from 8.30am onward. There is no organised supervision of children prior to this time. We welcome you into the school at the end of the day to collect children. Our learning continues right up until the bell goes at 3pm. Please respect students and teachers at the important end of the day processes and keep noise around classes to a minimum by maintaining a suitable distance.  The normal day programme including break times will be instigated for the whole school to take breaks together.

Our sushi lunches, Friday pizza and ice-blocks, sports practices and the use of the school hall by outside groups have all recommenced. Thank you to the PTA for being adaptable and supportive of the school’s COVID response and working with us to manage the risks.

I thank all those parents for using the NZ COVID Tracer App when entering the school. While we are doing the right things, it is important that we continue to pay attention to the right information. Misinformation is designed to create panic, fear and confusion. Check your source. Get the real information from the Ministry of Health or Unite Against COVID-19 websites. The Ministry of Education also provides information for schools and early learning services including specific information for parents and caregivers.

Year 7&8 Camp
Our Year 7&8 students, their teacher and brave camp parents are at Camp Adair this week. While the weather has not been the best they are fully involved in the camp programme. 

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Election
Kohimarama school is an official polling place on Saturday. Please feel free to vote at the school. 

The Kohimarama Way – Honesty

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