Message from the Tumuaki
Returning to School under Alert Level 2
As we return to school I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank all the essential workers for their care of our team of 5 million over Alert Level 3 and 4. Cleaners, supermarket workers, hospital staff, police, firemen whoever you are - thank you for keeping us fed and safe so the country can now get back up and running.
We are looking forward to seeing your children on Monday. The staff have had briefings on Health and Safety and the school and classes made ready for our tamariki return. You have a part to play to keep us all safe. Some of these were outlined in my letter and the plan but I want to reiterate them here .
1. DO NOT send sick children to school. Ring or use APP to let us know they are going to be absent by 8:30am
2. Please leave your child at the gate. We are hoping you can help us with this. It is your job to prepare children so they know that you won't be coming in the gate and that they will be OK. The teachers will be in their classes waiting to greet their tamariki.
Staff have a lot to deal with to get routines going, they want to focus on their tamariki. Making sure contact tracing happens properly while they are greeting children could be tricky. We need time to sort our processes to ensure safety. The exception will be the whanau of brand new New Entrants.
If you absolutely have to go to the classroom sign the Contact Tracing form at the door. Bring your own pen!
I am reminded by Eleanor Roosevelt who said "With freedom, comes responsibility”. If you exercise your right to come on site then you add to the responsibility of others . We ask you to please trust us to look after your precious children. We believe our Health and Safety plan is robust if you help us with your bit!
3. Times again for car drop off. DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR
The areas in front of the school on Somerfield and Studholme Street are your drop off zones.
There will be people at the gate directing traffic to keep you to the Drop, Kiss and Go process. Those with the surname starting:
- A- L, drop off between 8:20 – 8:30am and pick up 2:55- 3:05pm
- M-Z , drop off between 8:35- 8:45am and pick up 3:3:10 – 3:20pm
We do start and end the school day at the usual time. Those walking or using wheelies will not be able to go onto the school grounds until 8:30 and everyone needs to been gone (.except the later car pick up) by 3:10pm.
4.. Road patrols will be operating
5. There will helpers in the bike sheds to help our younger tamariki park and lock their wheelies.
6. Communicate with the office through phone or email
We will have different break times during the day. This is due to the Somerfield Street field being out of action while a new court is installed so less space.
Today we move back into the library after repairs and painting has been carried out.
Coming back to school gives us a chance to remember the lessons we learned post earthquakes.
Returning to School - As we return to school I wish to share with you our "beacons of light" - the principles that guide us over the next few weeks and beyond.
1. At Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo we continue to ensure tamariki and staff wellbeing to allow them to flourish and succeed.
2. Our school strategic goals of equity, creativity and relationships continue to guide our work.
3. The school will focus on
- reassuring our tamariki to allow them to have a sense of hope
- recognising and meeting needs
- reconnecting and re-establishing our school culture of learning and wellbeing
To prepare your children to return to school we'd like you to show this very short video.
A special mention to Room 4 today for the work done at home on Rube Goldberg as part of our Building Unit. As well as thanking our teachers and tamariki I'd like to send a "shout out" to the many parents who also may have learned a lot about Goldberg while helping their children!!! Thanks to all of you. Check this out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG-ZqPH-olc&feature=youtu.be
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