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

Kia ora Koutou

Our grateful thanks to the Daniell family who have donated a playhouse to the school. Ross, our caretaker is going to paint it, making it a great playground addition for our children.

During the weekend we were notified of four students in the Middle School and one in the Senior School testing positive for Covid-19, two of whom had already been in self-isolation.

With the COVID-19 changes that took effect last Saturday, it means that several students and a staff member are back at school today which is has made a really positive start to the week for everyone.
Please see the information below for changes that took effect from last Saturday 12 March.

Changes to isolation requirements

From 11:59pm Friday 11 March isolation requirements for positive cases of COVID-19 and their household contacts will be reduced from 10 to seven days.

This change has been made due to up-to-date public health advice: there is a decline in infectiousness of Omicron over time and in most cases, transmission occurs within seven days.

Evidence also shows that the risk of re-infection within the first three months after someone has had Omicron is very low. For this reason, recovered cases will no longer need to isolate again if they become a household contact within 90 days of having the virus. This has been extended from 28 days.

From 11.59pm Friday 11 March, all cases and household contacts who are currently isolating can end their period of isolation after Day 7. Those currently in isolation will not have to complete their Days 8, 9 and 10 of isolation.

Please see the information below for changes that will be in effect from Saturday 12 March.

Cases of COVID-19

Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate for seven days.

Day 0 is the day symptoms began or the day the test was taken (whichever came first). Cases will isolate for a full seven days and are free to return to normal activities on Day 8, if they are not symptomatic.

Household contacts

Household contacts are required to isolate for the same seven days as the case.

They can return to their normal activities on the same day as the first case in their household, so long as all test results have been negative, and they are not symptomatic.

Household contacts should continue to self-monitor for symptoms up to Day 10.

Household contacts will be required to take a self-administered rapid antigen test (RAT) on Day 3 and Day 7 of the case’s isolation period.

If symptoms develop at any time during isolation:

• the usual advice remains in place to undertake an additional RAT
• if the test is negative and symptoms persist or worsen, test again 48 hours after that negative test
• if symptoms resolve there is no need for a further test until the required Day 7 test. If this is negative, they can return to daily life on Day 8.
• More information can be found on the Ministry of Health website

It has been great to see teachers adapting classroom programmes and having activities outside, making the most of the good weather - see photos below of last Friday's Junior assembly and Play is the Way games.

Stay safe and healthy and enjoy the long weekend ahead.

Noho ora mai

Jennifer