KORERO FROM FRASER

Last night’s COVID-19 update has certainly come as a surprise to us and I am sure most of you in our community. I want to assure everyone that we are in a good position to ensure we can follow the Alert Level 2 guidelines that have been put in place and that under Alert Level 2, learning should continue for nearly all learners as normal.

Teachers, support staff and learners all seem in good spirits today!

In my previous communication I suggested we would be providing more information regarding our changes in timetable and learning programmes. At this time I just want to ensure everyone has the information required for the change in COVID-19 circumstances so we will share more information regarding our timetable changes (and provide face to face opportunities) at a later date. While the changes themselves were about improving learning outcomes the timing of our change was very much about being prepared for the possibility of COVID-19 having an impact on learning again. While we definitely would have preferred Alert Level 1 to have stayed on until the virus had disappeared we do feel very well prepared based on our timetable and changes to learning to offer flexible (both face to face and online) learning to our students. I must reiterate though that all students should still be at school at this time unless they are unwell. The following are the updated and clear guidelines given to us by the Ministry of Education this morning:

•  Alert Level 2 measures are in place from 12pm today

•  At Alert Level 2 it is safe for all students, children and staff to attend school and early learning. There will be appropriate precautions in place.
  

•  Children and staff who are at higher-risk of severe illness are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home (masks, personal sanitiser etc).
  

•  Please be alert to illness and ask anyone who is presenting as unwell to go home, or ask parents and caregivers to come and pick the child up.
  

•  Messaging about good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette to be reinforced.
  

•  Soap and water is very appropriate for washing hands, particularly if hand sanitiser stocks are low.
  

•  For schools, 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.
  

•  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)
  

•  Support your community by displaying the QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App.

Stay safe and well everyone. We have got this so let’s support each other!

Kia Kaha,

Fraser