20 March 2020

Kia ora koutou

To avoid overloading you with information we will email out an update twice a week, most likely on Tuesdays and Fridays. If anything significant occurs between those times we will email out additional updates. All updates will be added to our website. Useful information will also be posted on our Website and Facebook page. On our website we have added a link on the bottom of the homepage that will take you to all the latest information.

· COVID19.org.nz is a website set up by the NZ government with everything you need to know about COVID-19.

· If you have questions specifically about what we are doing at school please come to the office to talk with me. Our classroom teachers’ priority is keeping their children calm and their programmes running smoothly, and they need to focus on this during the day.

With so much information and misinformation swirling around about COVID-19, we wanted to share with you what will happen if we were to have a case in our school community. We have been planning for this and are in a position to respond quickly.

· As soon as a case is confirmed in our immediate school community (eg. a student, staff member, or member of their household), the Medical Officer of Health and Ministry of Education will inform us about this, and we will work together to get quick and clear messaging out to you

· If there was a case confirmed of someone in our school, we will likely be asked to close temporarily by the Medical Officer of Health. This will allow time for close contacts to be traced, appropriate testing to be undertaken, and a careful clean of the school to be undertaken.

· If our school does need to close temporarily, we have a plan in place to support student’s learning.

We know COVID-19 feels scary and of course people are concerned for the wellbeing of their children. Please be assured that with no case confirmed in our school, your children are safe here.

Good hygiene is a priority at our school, and we are reinforcing this regularly with all students and staff. We know that practicing good hygiene is still the best thing we can all do to prevent illness and if you, or your child, is feeling unwell, please stay at home.

A diagram has been developed by Dr Siouxsie Wiles to assist when considering symptoms.

What it tells us is:  

A dry cough and a high temperature are common to both flu and COVID-19

Sneezing is not a symptom of COVID-19, however if someone has COVID-19, then sneezing can spread droplets containing the virus.

We are getting the most up to date advice and guidance so that we can confidently make informed decisions about the safety and wellbeing of our school community.

As a school we are continuing to focus on teaching and learning, and keeping your children safe and happy at school.

If you haven’t yet updated your contact information please email the details to principal@belfast.school.nz If your child is unwell at school it is important that we have the correct details and can contact you promptly. It is also important that you pick up your child as soon as possible.

Noho ora mai – stay well

Sue Elley

Tumuaki – Principal