I have found my way here after nursing in general practice for the past nine years and in the emergency department and outback Australia prior to this. I have a special interest in child health education and have worked briefly as a primary school teacher.

Following on with the COVID pandemic, the emphasis should still be on hygiene and sick days as we head into winter. Please stay home if you are unwell - have a cough, fever, vomiting/nausea to help reduce the transmission of viruses.

I have also received this from the Ministry of Health relating to sick days:

Who needs to stay away?
Unless directed by the Medical Officer of Health, the only people who need to stay away are those who are:

Unwell
Self-isolating (at the request of health authorities)
Waiting for COVID test results

Everyone else should be at school.

Anyone who is a contact of a ‘close contact’ is not required to self-isolate. Close contacts are self-isolating as a precaution only, and will monitor for symptoms.

For example - a staff member who had close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 will be asked by health authorities to self-isolate for 14 days from when they last had contact with the confirmed case. Their family members and other close contacts of the staff member are not required to self-isolate unless they have also had close contact with a confirmed case.

Also, a reminder that students are NOT to call home themselves if they think they are unwell. They are to go to Kahui Rangatahi (Student Services) to be assessed and one of our staff members will make contact home if necessary. Please ensure all caregivers details are kept up to date in case we need to make contact.

If your child is going to be away please call 8540541, press 1 and leave a message on our absentee line OR email absences@rhs.school.nz. Please do this before 8.30am.

It has been awesome meeting students and staff over the last few weeks and seeing the diversity within the school. If you have any queries or would like to discuss your child's health, please feel free to email me at nurse@rhs.school.nz

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