As we head into the final term of the school year it is timely to explain what our term will look like within alert level 2, as this is the level we are currently in. Term 4 is a busy term with a number of school events that usually include whānau and friends coming onsite. At level 2 this will look quite different. This article may not make for positive reading (it includes a number of things that parents will not be able to attend), but it does allow us to give a clear picture of which events will happen and how they will happen in our current alert level.

For Amesbury School, alert level 2 means reducing the number of people gathering together onsite, to ensure the safety of everyone at school. For students and staff there are no distancing requirements onsite, but for parents and whānau there are restrictions around distancing and contact tracing. The Ministry of Education recommends that schools take a precautionary approach and avoid holding events and gatherings until we return to alert level 1. As such, we will not be hosting events that bring parents and whānau onsite to school during level 2. Below is a list of the events currently planned for Term 4. If we move to level 1 these events will all run, and will operate under our usual conditions of parents and whānau all being invited to be involved. The information below shows what will happen if we stay at our current alert level, with some events sadly not running, and some events running but without parents and whānau being involved. 

- Year 3-6 school athletics at Newtown Park - Thursday 21st October. This event will go ahead at level 2. It is held at a large outdoor sports arena with plenty of space for distancing. Historically we tend to have a small number of whānau coming along to watch their tamariki. This will still be possible, given the capacity in the arena for distancing. We will ask whānau not to enter the stands, and instead to stay on the pathway and slopes around the outside of the running track. We also ask you to distance yourself from other whānau, students and staff, and we strongly encourage the use of masks. Whānau will also be required to scan in using the Covid tracer app.

- Mihi Whakatau - week 2. This event will not be held in alert level 2. We will look to hold a welcome for all families whose children started school in terms 3 and 4 once we move to alert level 1.

- Parent information session - week 2. This event will not be held in alert level 2. We will look to hold an information session for all families whose children started school in terms 3 and 4 once we move to alert level 1.

- School disco - week 2. This event will not be held in alert level 2. We will look to hold this disco once we move to alert level 1.

- Junior athletics carnival - Tuesday 2nd November. This event will go ahead for students and staff, but in alert level 2 whānau will not be able to come and watch. This event is being held at school and certain sections of our school grounds are currently out of action, meaning people will be crowded into fewer sections of the ground. We will be unable to adequately distance people in these areas, and so we are reducing the number of people at the event to keep it safe for students and staff.

- Amesbury community celebration gathering - Friday 12 November. This event was to be a celebration of our cultural diversity, including food, dance, sport and Kapa Haka. This event will not be held in alert level 2.

- Junior swimming carnival - Thurs 18th November. This event will go ahead for students and staff, but in alert level 2 whānau will not be able to come and watch. It is indoors and is being held at Keith Spry Pool, largely in the learner pool which does not have a large area for spectators. We will be unable to adequately distance people and so we are reducing the number of people at the event to keep it safe for students and staff.

- Inquiry 3 learning celebration - Monday 22 November. This event will go ahead for students and staff, but in alert level 2 whānau will not be able to come and be involved. It is indoors and will include a large number of whānau. We will be unable to adequately distance people in these areas, and so we are reducing the number of people at the event to keep it safe for students and staff. Students will share their learning with students from other hubs, and for the celebration aspect in the hall where Amesbury Awesomeness awards are given out, we will live stream / record the awards.

- Beach Education - Tues 23 and Wed 24 Nov (Koru); Thurs 25 Nov (Pōhutukawa); Wed 1 December (Harakeke). These trips will go ahead, but in alert level 2 only people who have signed up to help as whānau support will be able to join the event. All support people will need to show evidence of being vaccinated (at least one dose). 

- Kapa Haka Festival - Sunday 28th November. This event will not go ahead at alert level 2. It will only take place at alert level 1. (Please note that our performance Kapa Haka group will complete a full performance at school on Monday 13th December.)

- Year 5 and 6 camp and Harakeke overnight camp - Week 7 of the term. These camps will run at alert level 2. Parents who attend the camp as helpers will need to show evidence of being vaccinated (at least first dose). All teachers will be vaccinated.

- Koru day trip to Awesome Bounce on Wednesday 1st Dec and overnight school stay on Thursday 2nd Dec. The day trip and the overnight stay at school will go ahead at level 2. 

- Year 6 transition trip into town - Thursday 9 December. This trip will go ahead in alert level 2. Teachers on the trip will wear masks where appropriate. Tamariki are very welcome to bring their own masks and wear them when they wish to, but this is not a requirement. When planning the trip with the students, the need to stay away from crowded spaces and stay outdoors where possible will be taken into account.

- Year 6 graduation dinner - Monday 13 December. This event will go ahead in level 2. If we are at level 2 for this event, we will run the dinner for students and staff only, and livestream / record students' speeches for whānau. We will also add in a trip to Awesome Bounce as part of the evening, to compensate for whānau not being able to attend. 

- School celebration assembly - Monday 13th December 9:30 - 10:15am. This will include our full Kapa Haka performance, several dance performances, and celebration of our school sports teams and all ICAS participants. This event will go ahead for students and staff, but in alert level 2 whānau will not be able to come and watch. It will be live streamed and recorded.

- Water play fun - Monday 13th December 11:30 - 12:30pm. This event will go ahead for students and staff (weather permitting), but in alert level 2 whānau will not be able to come and watch.  

- School farewell assembly - Tuesday 14th December 9:. This event will go ahead for students and staff, but in alert level 2 whānau will not be able to come and watch. It will be live streamed and recorded. This will include celebrating all leavers, all Amesbury Awesomeness winners for terms 3 and 4, and our Year 6 leadership and award winners. 

- School sausage sizzle picnic - Tuesday 14th December 11:30 - 12:30pm. This event will go ahead for students and staff, but in alert level 2 whānau will not be able to come and join in.

We appreciate that some of these arrangements will be disappointing for students, whānau and staff. Wherever possible we look to bring our school community together, and our usual approach is to open up events to parents and wider whānau. However, Covid-19 has caused considerable disruption to our usual way of life, and we are looking for ways to keep as many events running as possible whilst keeping our tamariki and community safe.

Warm regards, 

The Amesbury team