COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Communication from the Ministry of Education
Communication to the Rangiora Borough School Community.
This article will be continually updated when new information is published from the Ministry of Education.
19 August 2021
Face coverings are a vital tool to reduce spread
Only leave your home if you need to, and please wear a face covering when you do. We know of instances where people have picked up Delta simply by walking past someone with it.
Face coverings are required on public transport and domestic flights, in taxis and ride-share services and at any business operating at Alert Level 4 (supermarkets, pharmacies etc.). Those aged under 12 remain exempted from having to wear face coverings.
Locations of interest – rapidly growing
With new cases announced today – 10 cases in total – the number of locations of interest will continue to grow. For those in Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula, please encourage your community to keep checking the list on the Ministry of Health website.
Only essential services or business can open
In Alert Level 4, only essential businesses and services are operating. This means that parents and caregivers may be required to go to work, rather than work from or stay at home. These people will need to make their own childcare arrangements.
People must only leave their homes for essential purposes
You can only leave home to shop for groceries, access necessary healthcare, get a COVID-19 test, exercise in your local area or go to work if you are working in an Alert Level 4 service and you cannot work from home.
Fundamental public health measures continue to apply at every alert level
• Physical distancing
• Hand hygiene
• Cough and sneeze etiquette
• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces
Testing remains a crucial component in preventing an outbreak
If people have cold or flu symptoms they should call their doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested. If recommended to get tested, they should do so.
Stay within your personal bubble
At Alert Level 4 people must stay home and keep within their immediate household bubble. There may be extended bubbles where there are shared care and custody arrangements.
Agencies you can contact for assistance
Many families may find it tough going back into Alert Level 4. It can be challenging having children at home, being cut off from family and friends, trying to making ends meet and have high stress levels.
For people with disabilities or autism and their support people, the Explore 0800 000421 phone service available to provide advice or support. This includes advice or support around challenging behaviours. To access this service, you don’t need a referral and it doesn’t matter whether you’re new to Explore, currently on their waitlist or you’ve worked with them previously. The service is available Monday to Friday 9.00am–5.00pm. When you phone the 0800 number you will be connected with an administrator who will then book you an appointment with one of the specialists.
If you or anyone you know wants some advice or support over this time here are some further options that might be useful.
Support services that remain open:
- Women’s Refuge 0800REFUGE or 0800 733 843
- Shine 0508 744 633
- Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797
- Oranga Tamariki call centre 0508FAMILY
- CADS 0800 367 222
- Narcotics Anonymous 0800 628 632
- Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 229 6757
- Lifeline 0800 543 354 or free text 4357
- Youthline 0800 376 633 or free text 234
- Samaritans 0800 726 666
- Outline (LGBT) 0800 688 5463
- Depression Helpline 0800 111 757
- Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865
- The Fono West (Social Services) 09 837 1780
- Counselling Free Call or Text 1737
- Healthline for COVID-19 health advice: 0800 358 5453
Work and Income services centres are closed. However, you can apply for assistance via MyMSD or phone the contact centre on 0800 559 009.
If you know someone who needs financial assistance, please tell him/her to call the free government helpline 0800 779 997 (8am–1am, seven days a week).
If you know someone is feeling anxious, frustrated or needs a listening ear, they can call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor. It is free 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
______________________________________________
2020
Alert Level 2
Midday Wednesday 12 August 2020
Kia ora koutou
As you are all now aware from midday today we are moving into Alert Level 2. We have updated our procedures from communications from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education. Attached is our updated Procedure Plan for Alert Level 2.
Please familiarize yourself with this document.
The important points to note are:
OSCAR Programme is still open – 7 till 8:30 and 3 till 5:30pm. Parents are to continue with sign in and out procedures. Please enter at the small King Street gate.
Parents / caregivers are to kiss and go at the gates from 8:30am onwards. Staff will be on gates to meet children.
Parents / caregivers are to avoid being on school grounds, if you wish or need to be on site you must sign in at the office / gates, through the office ipad, or clipboard, COVID tracer app or on the School App COVID Check-in.
No parents / caregivers in classrooms please .
‘There is no bubble concept at Alert Level 2, so there are no restrictions on groups of students mixing with others’.
The restrictions that RBS have put in are:
Staggered finish to the day starting at 2:50pm.
School still split into different morning tea and lunch times.
Playgrounds and park are open. We will discourage children from contact games and activities.
Lunch boxes, named drink bottles and reading folders are to remain in individual student bags. Drinking fountains are turned off.
Physical Distancing will be in place and monitored as best we can. Masks can be worn by children if parents wish them too.
Cleaning and hygiene practices will be discussed, taught and implemented again under the guidelines from the Ministry of Health.
Any child that is sick is to stay at home, or they will be sent home immediately if they show any symptoms.
More information on Student Led Learning Conferences and reporting to parents / caregivers will follow as we devise a plan to meet the restrictions of Alert Level 2.
No large gatherings of 100 or more will be held at School. Whole School Assemblies have been cancelled at this stage. Music groups and Kapahaka will still occur as they are gatherings of under 100.
Contact the office (by app, email or phone) if you have decided to keep your child/ren at home at Alert Level 2. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child/ren’s wellbeing and academic needs.
Thanks for your ongoing support.
Alan Sutton
PDF - at the end of the this article for easier reading
First day back in Alert Level 2
A huge THANK YOU to our school community for your co-operation and preparation for today’s return to school.
The entrances worked really well and everyone is in class and settled and very happy.
We have an excellent 92% attendance today.
Regards,
Alan Sutton.
Reopening at Alert Level 2
Tuesday 12 May
Wahoo!!! We are opening!
We are so looking forward to seeing all the children back on Monday 18th May.
Attached to this newsletter is the Procedure Plan for Alert Level 2. Please familiarize yourself with this document.
The important points to note are:
· OSCAR Programme is open – 7 till 8:30 and 3 till 5:30pm. Parents are to continue with sign in and out procedures. Please enter at the small King Street gate.
· Parents / caregivers are to kiss and go at the gates from 8:30am onwards.
· Parents / caregivers are to avoid being on school grounds, if you wish or need to be on site you must sign in at the office.
· No parents / caregivers in classrooms.
· ‘There is no bubble concept at Alert Level 2, so there are no restrictions on groups of students mixing with others’. The restrictions that RBS have put in are:
o Staggered finish to the day starting at 2:40pm.
o School split into different morning tea and lunch times.
o Playgrounds and park are open.
o Lunch boxes, named drink bottles and reading folders are to remain in individual student bags.
o Physical Distancing will be in place and monitored as best we can.
o Classroom layouts will have changed.
o Cleaning and hygiene practices will be discussed, taught and implemented under the new guidelines from the Ministry of Health.
· Any child that is sick is to stay at home, or they will be sent home immediately if they show any symptoms.
· There will be no Mid-Year Report. A celebration of learning and conferences will be held in Term 3 with a date to be decided.
· No large gatherings will be held at School, for example Assemblies, Kapahaka, Music groups and clubs. These will be reinstated later.
Contact the office (by app, email or phone) if you have decided to keep your child/ren at home at Alert Level 2.
Please be aware that due to all staff being onsite, online and home learning will be limited.
Thanks for your ongoing support.
Alan Sutton
Friday 8 May 2020
Kia ora koutou,
Once again, we wish to thank all parents, caregivers and whānau for their efforts and perseverance over the past 3-4 weeks.
Yesterday we all received the good news that we might be moving to Alert Level 2.
If this announcement is confirmed on Monday 11 May, we will be ready to welcome all students and staff back to school on the Monday 18th May.
In the meantime, online and home learning will continue until further notice.
Our present ‘Bubbles’ will continue uninterrupted next week.
Preparation for Alert Level 2 in our school – Please discuss and reinforce with your children.
· The key words under Alert Level 2 are ‘Safe and Sensible Practices’.
· The school has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitised over the past two weeks and extra cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting will be carried out daily.
· The school environment will be safe environment for children, staff and visitors if we:
a) Ensure that any students or staff stay at home if they are sick. We will send anyone home if they show any symptoms of being unwell.
b) Practice sensible and safe distancing.
c) Ensure that staff and students cough into their elbows, handwash and hand sanitise regularly.
d) Reinforce the fact that we need to have ‘some breathing space’ at Alert Level 2.
e) ‘Play Safe’ – this means no touching, no tackling or fighting (even pretend) in the school or the park.
f) Ensure that all students have a named personal drink bottle as our school drinking fountains / taps are out of bounds and turned off.
g) Ensure that children don’t swap or share food or drink at Alert Level 2.
Nga Mihi, have a great weekend.
Alan Sutton
Principal
Tuesday 5 May 2020
Kia ora koutou,
We wish to thank you all for your co-operation and patience over the last 2 to 3 weeks.
We are receiving emails from parents and caregivers on the decisions around the shift from Level 3 to Level 2, and what this means for a return to the school environment.
At the moment we do not have any official word from the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Health.
As soon as we have further information it will be shared with you, however we know there will be no changes until at least 48 hours after the Prime Minister’s announcement.
Until such time the status quo remains as for Level 3, where the current bubbles cannot be altered.
Kindest regards,
Alan Sutton.
Principal
Tuesday 28th April
Level 3 Lockdown Notice
Reopening the School
Tena koutou,
The Prime Minister has announced that New Zealand will move to Alert Level 3 today.
This will mean that some staff and students are onsite tomorrow at Rangiora Borough School as confirmed from 10am today.
The remainder of students will work from home online or with a hard pack as provided.
All children/ families that are not attending school must stay away from school grounds.
Teams will continue to send out online learning for both at home and at school pupils.
Families that have enrolled their children into in-school bubbles will be provided with more information regarding procedures and guidelines following this communication.
Nga mihi,
Alan Sutton.
Tuesday 21st April
Newsletter - Term Two Week Two
Reopening for Level 3
Kia ora,
Yesterday the Prime Minister has announced that ‘New Zealand will move to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm on Monday 27 April’.
The Leadership team and staff are currently working through the logistics to reopen the school for Wednesday 29th April.
Teacher Only Day is Tuesday 28th April.
“So here’s a reminder of the principles for Level 3 when we get there.
1. Stay home. If you are not at work, school, exercising or getting essentials, then you must be at home, the same as at Level 4.
2. Work and learn from home if you can. We still want the vast majority of people working from home, and children and young people learning from home. At-risk students and staff should also stay at home, and they will be supported to do so. Early learning centres and schools will physically be open for up to Year 10 for families that need them.”
3. Bubbles can be extended to support work and learning from home.
Our school is opening in Level 3 for parents / caregivers that need their children to return to school.
During the eight days that children that need to be at school will be grouped into bubbles of 10 with one staff member. They will be separated from other bubbles of 10.
Children will be unable to make physical contact with each other due to Ministry recommendation of remaining one metre apart.
All children will continue their online learning at school.
The school day will look very different for children and we ask you to prepare your child/ren for this change.
· Playgrounds will still be closed and children will be asked not to bring scooters or bikes to school.
· Bubbles will remain at school during 8:55am to 3pm.
· There is no before or after school programme.
· There will be strict guidelines for all behaviours within the school and within bubbles. Such as no physical interaction, maintaining 1m distance, no sharing of equipment, learning related to home based / online programmes, rigid timeframes of working versus breaks, and no socializing between bubbles.
· There will be no specialist remedial programmes at this time
Depending on how many students need to return, the school does have a capacity of space and staffing for these children.
We are asking all families to please fill in the survey to indicate your family’s intentions.
Priority for attendance physically at school will be given as followed:
· Essential Workers where there is no child care provisions available at home.
· Students that have been directed to attend due to special verified circumstances
We need a commitment for all eight school days, as there is no provision for opting in and out due to the formation of bubbles for health and safety purposes.
The Prime Minister encourages all other children to remain at home working on their provided programmes. As a school we are committed to continuing to enhance the whanau / school relationship whilst in Level 3. If you require devices or more hard copies of work can you please indicate in the survey.
We look forward to your survey replies.
Survey link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RBSLevel3reopening
Dates & Plans
At this stage we have been provided with the following outline plans by the Ministry of Education.
Wednesday 15th April- Home and Online learning commences.
Monday 20th April - Cabinet/Government- will review the Alert Level for NZ.
Tuesday 21st and Friday 24th April - Inspection of school site for cleaning and maintenance planning.
Monday 27th April - Public holiday Anzac Day.
Tuesday 28th April - Teacher Only Day.
Wednesday 29th April - First day back at school students that need to supervision.
Nga mihi,
Alan Sutton.
Monday 13th April 2020.
Newsletter - Term Two Week One
Kia ora,
As we learn to exist in a positive manner in these exceptional times in lockdown, I wish to share with you the known and tentative dates ahead.
I also wish to acknowledge the tremendous teamwork taking place within our school and wider community.
Many thanks to our:
· Teaching Staff for their preparation of online and work packs distributed to our students/parents and caregivers. We are well placed to support this phase of learning as a pre-runner to returning to school.
· Thank you to our Support Staff for your ongoing support and help
during this difficult time.
· Thanks to our BOT for their ongoing support and governance of RBS.
· Thank you to our wonderful parents and caregivers for their positive parenting and nurturing of our Tamariki through these difficult times.
This week we will see the first sessions of our at home learning programmes. Please encourage and engage your children in the programmes on offer. You will see programmes including the basic Maths and Literacy skills, mixed with a blend of active and hands-on tasks.
Your teachers and team-leaders are here to support you in this important task. If you have a question or you need to clarify some work, please contact them by email or text between 9am and 4pm.
Each home and context is different so try to plan out the day to suit your personal needs and those of your children. The work should not be completed in 1 or 2 days, so spread it out over the next 7-10 days and embrace the wonderful array of opportunities on offer.
Dates & Plans
At this stage we have been provided with the following outline plans by the Ministry of Education.
Wednesday 15th April- Home and Online learning commences.
Monday 20th April - Cabinet/Government- will review the Alert Level for NZ.
Wednesday 22nd April- Announcement/confirmation on Alert Level and ‘What it means to Education’.
Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th April - Inspection of school site for cleaning and maintenance planning.
Monday 27th April - Public holiday Anzac Day.
Tuesday 28th April - Proposed Teacher Only Day.
Wednesday 29th April - Proposed first day back at school for some students (details will be provided).
The Minister Chris Hipkins has stated ‘it would be wrong to assume that schools will re-open at Alert Level 3’.
Nga mihi,
Alan Sutton.
Tuesday 24 March 2020
Kia ora koutou
With yesterday’s announcement by Government, we are implementing with our plan to support your child’s learning from home. We appreciate this is a sudden and significant change, and will be heavily disruptive to many people in our community.
For children of essential workers, we look forward to seeing your child here at school today and tomorrow. You may wish to check if you are considered an essential worker - https://covid19.govt.nz/government-actions/covid-19-alert-system/ however those roles include doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and police. We continue to ask that children who are not well, do not attend school.
For all other children, we will be supporting their learning from your home in the following ways:
Through online learning:
· Teachers will be emailing or communicating through an online platform, for example See Saw or Google Classroom.
· Teachers will be setting tasks and activities for the children to complete, some of these activities will need a device and some will not.
· Teachers will be communicating with whanau between the times of 9am - 3:30pm through emails, online learning platforms or by phone as necessary.
· Teachers and staff will be available by email.
· School Office staff will be available on 021 0890 9852.
Your child will be looking to you for guidance about this decision. Parents, caregivers, whānau and teachers will have a particularly important part to play in reassuring children at this time. If you haven’t already done so, you may wish to read the information put together by the Ministry of Education to support your conversations with your children – Talking to children about COVID-19
As noted by the Prime Minister these restrictions are our best chance to slow the virus in New Zealand and to save lives. We all have a clear role here to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The school will be closed to all children and employees from midnight on Wednesday 25 March for four weeks. The two-week school holidays will be included in this four-week period so online learning from teachers will reflect a two week holiday period. Your teachers holiday period will be from Monday 30 March to Tuesday 14 April. At this point we believe a return date to school is Tuesday 28th April. We will clearly communicate if this date changes.
The school will be using many forms of communication to keep you updated. Please check your school app, the school website, your email in-boxes and the Rangiora School Parent Group Facebook page for up to date information.
We will continue to communicate with you over the coming weeks. Thank you for your ongoing support of our school staff and school community.
Ngā mihi
Alan Sutton
Principal
21.03.20 - WaiSwim Lessons at Dudley Pool
Dudley Pool have cancelled all swimming lessons for children during school time. No swimming lessons for our RBS students.
20.03.20 - Waimakariri District Library Visits & Dudley Swimming Pool
All class / hub / tech trips to the Waimakariri District Library have been cancelled by the council. No RBS Classes will be visiting the Library.
At this point still waiting to hear from Dudley Swimming Pool to see if they are cancelling our swim lesson in school time for next week.
19.03.20 - Newsletter that went out on the school app.
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau
Update on the COVID-19 Communication from Rangiora Borough School.
A number of our students are now beginning to ask a range of questions regarding the current ‘COVID-19’ situation and are developing an awareness by listening to adults talk and also through the regular daily media up-dates that dominate our news. The provided following links may be of use for you to help educate your child/ ren and answer any questions that they may have:
‘The Ultimate Kid’s Guide to the New Coronavirus’.
Also, the Nanogirl video clip shares a great explanation for kids about coronavirus too:
For those of you unaware, the government has put together a new website, specifically for anything and everything COVID-19 related. Please follow the link:
https://covid19.govt.nz/
Learning at Home
Here at Rangiora Borough School, staff have planned for and are in the process of finalising the back-up plans necessary for your child’s learning to continue at home should we experience school closures. There will be a range of activities for children to do that is both online and offline. Our senior students already use google platform for their learning which will make the transition for them even easier. We do recognise that some families might not have access to no or enough devices for all child/ren, or limited Wifi access and we will provide a range of hard copy resources for them.
At school, we are continuing to focus on the prevention of spread through educating students about positive personal hygiene:
· Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and drying thoroughly - before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet
· Covering coughs and sneezes with clean tissues or with an elbow
· Putting used tissues in the bin
Thank you for your continued support during this period of uncertainty.
Kind regards,
The Leadership Team – Alan, Jo and Heidi.
First communication: Monday 16 March 2020
Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to a range of other illnesses such as influenza. Having any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have COVID-19.
Symptoms include:
- fever
- coughing
- difficulty breathing.
Preventing the risk
You can take some simple steps to help stop the spread of diseases like COVID-19:
- Avoid close contact with people with cold or flu-like illnesses.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing.
- Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with water and soap and dry them thoroughly:
- before eating or handling food
- after using the toilet
- after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose or wiping children’s noses
- after caring for sick people.
Go to the Ministry of Health website for more information about preventing the risk:
COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) guidance – Ministry of Health
What to do if you're concerned
If you have the symptoms and have recently been to a country or area of concern, or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19, please call Healthline's COVID-19 line, with translators and interpreters available 24/7 in 150 languages:
- Free call 0800 358 5453
- +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS
If you intend to visit your GP or after-hours medical centre, phone ahead to let them know.
More health advice and virus prevention information is available on the Ministry of Health website:
COVID-19 health advice for the public – Ministry of Health
Advice for unwell students
Anyone who is unwell should not be at an early learning centre/kōhanga reo, school/kura, or tertiary provider/whare wānanga.
If you have a particular concern about your child or yourself, Healthline has a dedicated line for COVID-19 enquiries with translators and interpreters available 24/7 in 150 languages:
- Free call 0800 358 5453.
- +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS.
If you intend to visit your GP or after-hours medical centre, phone ahead first to let them know.
COVID-19 is now a notifiable infectious disease and treatment for people who have, or who are suspected of having. COVID-19 is publicly funded under the infectious disease exception, to the extent appropriate in the circumstances to manage risks to other persons. This covers anyone in New Zealand, regardless of visa/citizenship status or length of time in the country.
Travel Restrictions
The Prime Minister has announced protective measures to keep individuals, families and communities safe and healthy. All travellers coming from all parts of the world, except the Pacific, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in New Zealand. This self-isolation requirement applies to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and their families.
Online Learning for Rangiora Borough Children
If the school is closed due to COVID-19.
There will be two ways teachers will communicate with parents / caregivers. One through emails that will emailed to parents / caregivers inboxes or through children's email accounts / google classroom. Teachers will supply daily online learning activities for Literacy, Numeracy and fun ideas across the curriculum, for example: drawing, cooking, fitness circuits, or sport skill sessions.
All communication will go out through parents/caregivers email addresses.
Children in the senior end of the school have a personal school email address and google classroom. Senior Teachers will communicate through this platform for students and a follow up email through parent email addresses.
For our junior children, teachers will communicate through parents/caregivers email address.
Some teams have in place See Saw, Class Dojo or Study Ladder. Your teachers will communicate this clearly through emails if your child/ren are using these online learning platforms.
