‘E ako ana, ā, e tipu tahi ana tātou’ - Learning and growing together.

Kia ora koutou

We were pleased, as I'm sure you were, to hear the Prime Minister's announcement this afternoon that we will be moving to Alert Level 2 at 11.59pm tomorrow night and that schools will open for all students on Thursday.

Congratulations to families for once again taking on the challenge of distance learning over the past  weeks, working alongside teachers, supporting children's learning and making the most of this time together. 

We are very aware of the challenges many families have faced, with parents juggling childcare, working from home, while trying to supervise children's home learning. Parents and caregivers have done an amazing job and staff have been impressed with the learning that has been going on.

It was great to see how quickly teachers and students readapted to this different way of teaching and learning. Along with staff, I have been really impressed with the efforts and achievements of children during this time.

A big thank you to Denise Hannagan our Learning Support Coordinator and Tracy Ruddenklau, Teacher Assistant, for managing our 'bubble' at school during Level 3. This has allowed all teachers to continue with their home learning programmes, daily Zoom sessions, 1-1 conferencing, emailing, planning, reviewing and giving feedback on work completed by students. Thank you to our dedicated Teaching Team supported by their Teacher Assistants for the time and effort that they have put into on-line learning for our students during Level 3.

We are really looking forward to seeing everyone back at East Taieri on Thursday. Children transitioned back to school so well after our last lockdown and we are sure that this time will be the same, as we know that students are keen as we are, to get back to some sort of normality. We realise that some families and children may be anxious about returning to school and you can be assured that children's wellbeing will be our priority. Our focus will be on welcoming our children back and ensuring that they feel safe and secure before we get back into our normal teaching and learning programmes. Teachers have a wealth of resources to support children's transition back to school.

Explorers

Please note: Explorers will not be operating under Level 2 conditions. Natalie and/or Jaala will be in touch with alternative arrangements.

Natalie will be in touch tomorrow with families who have been due/or are due to start school in the next few weeks, to confirm arrangements under Level 2 restrictions.

The following information outlines some of our guidelines as we head back to school on Thursday.

PUPIL ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

• Unwell children and adults are not to enter the school.

• Parents are encouraged to drop their children at the main gates - Cemetery Road entrances and school carpark gate entrance. There will be a staff member monitoring entry at each gate. Gates from the field will be locked.

• The name of any parent who comes onto the school site will be recorded - to enable contact tracing.

• Children are NOT to arrive at school BEFORE 8:30am (unless they are attending Kelly Club). If bus children arrive before 8:30am they will head straight to their classroom.

• Children must go to their classroom upon arriving at school. They can then stay in class, or play in a designated before school play area - teachers will inform children of where these are.

• Some children may be anxious or reluctant to leave parents at the gate. If this is the case, parents may bring their child to the classroom door, do the hand over, and then leave the school promptly.

• Children who show signs of sickness will be sent home.

• Latecomers are to head straight to the office

• The bus bell will be rung at 2.40pm and the bus will be leaving school at 2.45pm

• To avoid congestion at the gates children from the Junior School will be taken to the school carpark gate with their teacher at 2.40pm. Older siblings will leave at this time as well. Could parents please let us know if they cannot collect children at that time. Those who cannot be collected early will stay with their teacher until 3pm.

• Middle and senior school students will leave at the normal time of 3pm.

• Kelly Club staff will notify you of their safe arrival and departure process
  

CLASSROOM PRACTICE

• It is unreasonable to expect children to maintain a safe distance from each other and from the teachers 24/7.

• The wearing of masks is optional.

• We will do our best to educate the children that for the time being, closeness could spread sickness but we will not police this unreasonably.

• The classroom should operate as normal with the following exceptions:

• Children will line up outside the classroom after interval and break times and after being anywhere else in the school - e.g. library, CRT, etc

• Hand sanitising or washing at the beginning and end of each session is essential. Such practices should also happen when the children use other areas in the school such as the Owhiro Centre, the playground and the library.

• Teachers will ensure there is a supply of hand sanitiser, soap, tissues available in their classroom. Surface will be cleaned with disinfectant regularly during the day.

• We will be having staggered intervals and lunchtimes to limit interaction between different areas of the school.

• Each child will need a named drink bottle - no drinking fountains to be used

• No sharing of stationery - each child needs to have named pens, pencils, glue sticks
  

• Children are to use hand sanitiser as they enter their classroom

• There will be no reading books sent home during the first two weeks back at school

DISTANCE LEARNING

Distance learning is for Level 3 and 4.

• Teaching and learning will be available at Level 2 via a reduced number of distance learning options.

• Once school restarts, all general use devices lent out must be returned and put back to use in the classrooms. They should be cleaned upon return.

VISITORS

• We need to keep a record of all we come in contact with.

• Visitors will be discouraged to visit school until we settle down. They will be asked if possible to use the phone or email to communicate with school staff.

BUSES

• School buses will be running as normal in the mornings

• When bus children arrive at school they will go straight to their classrooms

• Afternoon buses will be leaving school at 2.45pm

• If there are any changes to bus arrangements for your child please contact the office

WELLBEING

• We need to work together to alleviate anxiety.

• Some of the children will be anxious to return to school. It is important for the school staff to acknowledge this and provide opportunities in the first few days for children to share their fears and concerns

Please let us know of any concerns you may have as we transition back to school. I am happy to receive your views and guidance.

Ngā mihi nui

Jennifer Horgan