I am so pleased to hear the Prime Minister announce the drop in alert levels. Auckland moved to Alert Level 2 at 6am Sunday 7 March. The rest of New Zealand moved to Alert Level 1 at the same time.

It has been great to see several days with no new community cases. However, as Dr Bloomfield has clearly stated, new cases are still possible and we need to continue to act with caution and do the right thing to keep our community safe.

This document provides information on where you can go to get help, including financial support, as well as details about the different categories of contacts.

With new variants and changed requirements for contacts of cases, New Zealand’s COVID response seems to be more complex and sometimes it isn’t clear what “the right thing” actually is.

The Basics Still Work.

We have a large amount of control over how we can prevent the spread of COVID-19. Even with the new variants of the virus, the most important things we can do remain the same:

For our school we will: 

• display QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer app
• keep our visitor register, attendance register and timetables up to date to help with contact tracing if needed
• be monitoring for illness and asking anyone who is unwell to remain at home, or to go home
• encourage people with relevant symptoms to seek medical advice through Healthline (0800 358 5453) or their GP and get tested for COVID if recommended to do so
• reinforce the importance of good hand washing and drying
• reinforce good cough and sneeze etiquette
• clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly

Your whānau will also have good practices to follow to keep yourselves safe: 

• Check in using the NZ COVID Tracer app everywhere you go (the sooner you get notified that you were at a location of interest, the easier it will be to keep yourself and your whānau safe)
• Switch on the Bluetooth function on the app (go to the dashboard in the app to do this)
• Always stay home if you are unwell and seek advice from Healthline (0800 358 5453) or your GP
• Get tested if recommended to do so. Testing is free to everyone in New Zealand!
• Wash and dry hands thoroughly and frequently
• Practise good cough and sneeze etiquette• regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home
• Wear face coverings on public transport
• For those of you who think you might have been at a location of interest at the specified time, follow the instructions on the Ministry of Health website or if you are unsure what to do, contact Healthline (0800 358 5453) for advice about getting tested

Get Your Information From Good Sources 

• The Ministry of Education provides us with specific advice for what needs to happen in schools and early learning services. Some of the rules are different for schools, early learning services and workplaces than the rules you need to follow when we are out and about with people you don’t know. The main one is we have different physical distancing requirements than the general public. That is because we have good systems in place to prevent spread of COVID.
• The Ministry of Education also has information for parents, caregivers and whānau.
• The Government’s Unite against COVID-19 website is the main website to go to get great advice.

As a community we need to avoid the complacency which New Zealanders tend to quickly move into when we are at lower alert levels. Please do continue to scan QR codes and monitor closely for illness within your whānau.

Our focus as always will be to support the learning, safety and wellbeing of our children and we continue to be here to support you too.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or me, if there is something you need assistance with.

Ngā mihi

STEPHEN HARRISON
Principal

At Alert Level 1:

Schools Are Open and Must Operate Safely.

• At Alert Level 1 the virus is contained in New Zealand but not overseas. We need to have systems and practices in place in case COVID-19 reappears in our community.

There Are No Restrictions On Personal Movement at Alert Level 1

• All children and staff should be at school.
• The only people who will need to stay away are:
  • Those required to self-isolate
  • Individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result (most people will be able to go back to school/work while waiting for a result)
  • Children, students and staff who are unwell.

Testing Remains a Crucial Component in Preventing an Outbreak.

• If a child or staff member is sick, they should stay home. If they have cold or flu symptoms they should call their doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested. If recommended to get tested, they should do so.

Continue to Contact Trace

• If a new case does appear in our community, our contact tracing processes will support the speedy identification of close contacts of the confirmed case. Please continue to check in to our school using the NZ COVID Tracer app including when they are doing pick-ups and drop-offs. Alternatively please sign the paper register, located at both gateways.

There Are No Restrictions on Numbers at Gatherings.

• Schools, like workplaces are not considered to be gatherings. Physical activities including cultural and sporting activities, practices and events can go ahead.

Fundamental Public Health Measures Continue to Apply:

• Physical distancing – keep a safe distance from people you don’t know while out and about
• Hand hygiene
• Cough and sneeze etiquette
• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces.

Face Coverings Are Not Required When in School.

• This includes school transport and charter buses hired by the school to transport students and staff to and from school. Anyone who chooses to wear a face-covering in any setting will be supported to do so.

School Event Updates:

• School assemblies will continue as planned. A reminder that we have a full school assembly on Friday 12 March, 2021
  
• The Senior School Duathlon will be held on Wednesday 10 March, 2021: 10:00am – 12:30pm. (Postponement 11 March)

Contact Tracing

All parents and visitors to our school will be required to register as they enter the school grounds. This will be required each time you want to enter our grounds. Please allow time to complete this requirement.

At Cotswold School this can be done in one of the following ways:

• Using the NZ COVID Tracer App - scan the QR Code on the school fence/gate.
• Using the Paper & Pen Form located on a desk outside both the front and back gates.
  

• We are encouraging parents to say goodbye to their child(ren) at the gate - great for building independence and responsibility in your child(ren).

Morning Entry:

• The Cotswold Avenue and Martbern Crescent gates will both be open.

• Gates to open at 8.30am
• While parents are free to enter the grounds, we are encouraging you to say goodbye to your child(ren) at the gate - great for building independence and responsibility in your child(ren).
• Once inside the grounds children are to move to their classroom, using the hand sanitising units before entering the classroom.
  
• Parents please use the hand sanitising units before entering classrooms, school office, hall or library.
• No adventure playgrounds or sports equipment to be used before school. (this includes pre-school children). Please note this rule has been in place for a number of years for the safety of our children.
• Parents needing to speak or meet with a teacher should do so by prior arrangement - make contact with teachers via email in the first instance or contact them by phone via the school office - telephone: 03 359-8035.
• Hand sanitise prior to entering any buildings.

Afternoon Exit

• Both front and back gates will be open.
• We are asking parents to wait for their child in one of the following places:
  • On the court area in front of the school hall.
  • On the field side of the hall.
  • On the senior court areas.
  • On the main pathway between the office and the main gate.
• Please do not stand by the classroom doors or windows. 
• No adventure playgrounds or sports equipment to be used after school. (this includes pre-school children). Please note this rule has been in place for a number of years for the safety of our children.
• A grounds clearing bell will ring at at 3.15pm with gates being closed shortly after.

Student Absence

A reminder that when your child is absent from school the school must be notified. You can do this by:

• Using our online form - https://form.jotform.co/cotswold/absence-form; or
• Leaving a message on the absentee line 03 359-8035 option 1. Please state your name, your child’s first name, surname, their room number and reason for their absence.
• Absences can also be sent via the Cotswold School app. Download the School App for free on iPhone or Android. Open the app and search for Cotswold School.

We have put these procedures in place to ensure the safety of our staff and students. We ask for your support in abiding by these and also reinforcing these with your child(ren).