17 February 2021
Dear Parents
You will have heard the Prime Minister inform the country that we are moving to Alert Level 2 on Thursday 18 February. Schools are open for all students.
The key principles for Alert Level 2 are to:
- reduce the risk of someone getting infected in the first place
- ensure we can identify and contact anyone who becomes infected
- understand that Level 2 is not business as usual.
The key message is ‘Play it Safe’. All students are expected to return to school, however;
- If your child has a health condition that means they are at a greater risk of a severe illness, you may keep them at home.
- If your child is sick you must also keep them at home.
- If your child becomes ill during the day the school will contact you to collect them.
What are the requirements for schools as outlined by the Ministry of Health?
- All schools are open.
- Enabling good hygiene practices – regular washing and drying of hands and good cough and sneeze etiquette remain fundamental to preventing spread of illness such as colds, flu and COVID-19. We will be reinforcing these practices at school and we encourage you to do the same.
- Cleaning – Additional cleaning of table surfaces, high touch areas, handles and resources will be cleaned during the day and as much as possible.
- Hand Sanitising – We have purchased a large stock of hand sanitiser: learners will be asked to use it each time they enter and leave the classroom. Handwashing will be carried out throughout the day before food and after using the bathroom.
- Physical Distancing – Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Health (MOH) have advised as much as practicable, physical distancing is a good precaution to prevent the spread of disease. In an Alert Level 2 school environment, this means children, young people, and staff maintaining a physical distance so that they are not breathing on or touching each other, coupled with good hygiene practices (coughing into your elbow, handwashing and drying) and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.
- There are situations where physical distancing is not possible, such as some sporting activities. In these situations extra emphasis on handwashing and drying (or cleansing with hand sanitiser) before and after activities and regular cleaning of equipment is very important.
- Playgrounds – The use of school playgrounds can resume but in a managed way.
- Parents and visitors on site – We would prefer that you kept your entry to the school at a minimum. Anyone entering the Kohimarama School site must scan the QR Code using the COVID Tracing App. If you enter your child’s classroom you must use the manual sign in sheet. There is to be only one visiting adult in the classroom at a time.
Our school protocols are attached. Please read this as it relates to;
- Staggered entry and exit from the school
- Entry and exit points for students.
- The process for parents to enter the site and a classroom
- Social distancing while on site (2M)
We do expect that all students will be returning to Kohimarama School on Thursday 18 February. The protocols are attached.
A Google form is attached to this letter. It asks you to indicate if your child(ren) is not returning to school on Thursday.
It is most important that this form is filled in and returned to school. We would appreciate a quick response, no later than Thursday 18 February at 7am .
Reminders
- Complete the Google form immediately and no later than 7am on Thursday 18 February if your child(ren) are not returning to school.
- Please ensure you read the school protocols before returning on Thursday 18 February
Yours sincerely
Paul Engles
Principal
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