An adjusted summary of Alert Level 2 information, sports arrangements for Term 3 and IMPORTANT Senior School information for NCEA Options.

Included in today’s update:

1. An adjusted summary of some essential Alert Level 2 information.

2. Sport Arrangements for Term 3.

3. Important Senior School Information, including webinar links for NCEA Options.

A summary of some essential Alert Level 2 information

Children at higher risk of severe illness

Students are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home. Parents, caregivers and students will need to work with their child’s school to develop a plan to manage a safe return to school.

Face Masks

The Minister of Health will advise the school on Thursday regarding the use of face masks.

Washing and drying hands

Hand sanitiser will be available at the entry to classrooms and in shared spaces. Soap, water and the ability to dry hands are provided in bathrooms.

Physical distancing

Children, young people and staff should be far enough away from each other so that they are not breathing on or touching each other, coupled with good hygiene practices and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces. There does not need to be a specific measurement but where practicable and reasonable 1 metre can be used as a guide, particularly between adults. The physical distancing of 2 metres is recommended for parents and caregivers, from people they don’t know (to align with public health measures outside the school grounds).

Cleaning

The school will disinfect and clean surfaces daily where practical. Disinfectant is found in all classrooms.

Limits to gatherings

Schools, like workplaces, are not considered to be gatherings.
If however, KingsWay brings others onsite, e.g. hiring out of the Events Centre, use of buildings by community groups, or events like school productions and school balls, then rules for gatherings and other public health measures will apply.

Physical and cultural activities/playgrounds

Physical education classes and break time activities can include access to sports equipment, including playgrounds, but hygiene practice should be observed before and after playing with equipment. There will also be regular cleaning of shared equipment such as balls, sticks etc.
Physical distance is not possible in 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 emphasised.

Contact tracing

Contact tracing remains a priority through our visitor register, timetable and attendance register. The displayed QR code can be used for the NZ COVID Tracer App.

Visitors

To support contact tracing, we will record all visitors who are onsite for a period of time, including parents and caregivers, in our visitor register (as is usual practice but also to assist if contact tracing is necessary).
For onsite drop-offs and pick-ups, if the parent or caregiver uses the App, we won’t need to capture you in our visitor register.
For parents and caregivers who cannot use the App, please sign the register at the school reception.
Volunteers can be used at Alert Level 2 in class as long as they are meeting all the public health requirements and will be recorded in the visitor register. A visitor register will be kept for at least two months.

Teaching across groups

Teachers are able to teach more than one group/class of students.

Libraries

Libraries can be operated as the virus does not survive for long on paper and cardboard (less than 24 hours), so books and other paper and cardboard can be put aside overnight and used the next day by other students. Books with plastic sleeves should be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe before re-issuing the next day.

External students onsite

Other schools’ students can come onsite during the week and for school-run out of hours’ programmes. External providers can come onsite including for example other teachers and team coaches/managers. These people will need to follow the school-specific Health and Safety plan.
If parents and caregivers come into the classrooms or other teaching spaces to observe, current rules for gatherings at this alert level apply.

Shared supplies

Shared supplies and equipment can be used if students and staff are undertaking regular hand washing and staying away if sick.

Music, instruments, singing etc.

Practices, rehearsals and performances can go ahead – physical distancing of 1 metre is recommended where practicable, including singing and using wind instruments.

Drinking fountains

Water bottles are encouraged.

2. Sport Arrangements for Term 3

Lunchtime within school sport will resume as soon as we are back at school (3v3 Basketball in SS, Volleyball in SS and Handball in MS). College Sport have indicated that there will be no interschool sports competitions until, at the earliest, 7th Sept.

3. Senior School Subject Selections

Dear parents & caregivers,

As communicated last week, due to the ongoing disruptions caused by COVID-19, we will be holding our Senior School Options Evening online this year. This document contains further information that is relevant to this time, including links to resources to guide you in this important decision-making process. We encourage you to prayerfully consider subject selections in line with the God-given gifts, talents and interests students are blessed with.

Timelines – Important dates

Tuesday 25 August:

• Videos and webinar links are published to the school community
  
• Options Booklet available online
• Kamar portal opened for subject selection

Wednesday 26 August (1 – 9pm):

• Faculty webinars for Option Subjects Level 1 – 3

Monday 31 August (4 – 6.40pm):

• Year 10 Option Subject Webinars

Thursday 10 September

• Deadline for course selections made through online Kamar portal

How to make your course selection

The Senior School Options Booklet will be made available from Tuesday 25 August on the school website - 2021 Options Handbook. This contains specific information about faculties and every subject offered. The overall process of how to select options online can be found on page 8. You can also watch this video here from Mr Bennett as he guides you through the process of how to make your subject selections for 2021.

NCEA Information

The following links outline details on understanding NCEA. Click on this link to see the information from Mrs Coles NCEA Information 2020 which gives guidance and also has links to other useful sites. The videos on these links give verbal explanations on this information:

Part 1: How does NCEA work?

Part 2: Further Information

Part 3: Changes to NCEA in 2020

Faculty Information

The table available through this LINK lists the Faculty information to help you make informed decisions. Subject specific webinars will be available by clicking on the links in this document at specific times noted. You will be able to speak to teachers and ask further questions. The Faculty Pathway Information videos have been prepared by Heads of Faculties to give a general overview of subject information, including what subjects you need to take to have the correct prerequisites for Year 12 and Year 13 courses. Should parents have further queries following these Webinars, they are able to contact Heads of Faculties, listed on page 3 of the Options Handbook.

If you have any queries relating to the above information please contact Daniel Bennett or Rene Ames daniel.bennett@kingsway.school.nz; rene.ames@kingsway.school.nz.

A pdf of the Senior Options plan overview can be found below to download.

Kind Regards

Graeme Budler
Executive Principal