As we head into winter with the possibility of snow days, here is our school procedure for early closure, delayed starts and any snow evacuations.

BEING PREPARED FOR WINTER: SNOW CLOSURE INFORMATION

The school may be closed entirely or for part of the day when it snows overnight or during a school day.

1) SNOW OVERNIGHT

The Principal of MAC, in conjunction with principals of local primary schools, will decide whether to delay the start of school or to close the school. The first announcement of such a decision will be on Radio Wānaka (92.2) at 7.00am.

Updates will be announced every fifteen minutes on the radio and by 7.15am the college website, Facebook page, Instagram feed, and the office phone’s recorded message will be updated with the latest information. The Wānaka App will also be informed.

If there is a delayed start to school, please continue to check these communication channels in case there is a later decision made to close the school for the day.

2) EARLY CLOSURE OF SCHOOL

If school closes early due to snow, local radio stations, MAC Facebook, Instagram, the MAC and Wānaka Live websites, and the college voicemail will let people know. Whānau teachers will also email parents and caregivers informing them of the decision. Students will be released from school in a managed way:

· A bell will be rung for students and teachers to go to their whānau classrooms.

· Parents will be emailed by the whānau teachers to inform them of the evacuation.

· Parents will need to contact the whānau teacher with instructions for the release of their child (these will be recorded).

· We will not release students until we receive instructions from parents and caregivers.

· Students being picked up from school will be instructed to wait in the gymnasium until they are collected by their parents.

· Hostel students will be released from their whānau to the hostel.

· Students who drive: once parental consent has been given, whānau teachers will issue a car release form to the student.

· Remaining students whose parents do not provide instructions will be taken to the library where staff will try to contact their parents and, if necessary, the emergency contact listed on the student record (please consider adding someone within the local Wānaka area).

REMEMBER

· Discuss this procedure with your child(ren) and come up with a plan, especially if they drive to school.

· Check your emergency contact on the parent portal and consider adding a contact in Wānaka.

· Listen to the local radio stations, check the school’s website, social media, and The Wānaka App for updated information.

· Check your emails regularly.

· Avoid phoning the College as the office will be extremely busy.