Toko School Newsletter
31st January 2022
Kura Tuatahi Toko
Quality learning for all in a caring community.
Kounga ako mo katoa i roto i te taiao e atawhai ana.
Dear Parents and Friends of our school Kia Ora/Bora Da/Konichi Wa/Hello
Welcome back after what we hope has been a wonderful summer for your whānau.
Our team is feeling refreshed and ready to go for the 2022 year and can’t wait to welcome everyone back onsite.
In regard to COVID-19 we have moved fully into the new traffic light framework for all our school and kura activities and events this year. Our plan can be found on our website: Toko School RED settings.
Events and activities
Large hui and gatherings especially when indoors continue to be one of the riskier activities we can undertake. We have therefore reviewed all our events and activities for the upcoming term to ensure we meet the health guidance for Red. We will not be holding school assemblies or our powhiri at the beginning of the year.
Ventilation
We have used the Ministry of Education self-assessment tool to review all our ventilation in readiness for the start of the year. Providing good old fashioned fresh air remains the most important thing we can do in our learning spaces to minimise risk for ākonga and kaiako (and the same goes for you at home). We will also be receiving a CO2 monitor in the coming weeks to further support our ventilation plan.
Omicron and testing
We have all seen the very large numbers of cases overseas and we will very likely see much larger numbers of cases in Aotearoa than we have previously experienced in the last two years. While Omicron is more transmissible than previous strains, most people who get COVID-19 will have a mild to moderate illness and will fully recover in their own home.
However, some of our community who are immune compromised, are ill or have other vulnerabilities, even when they are fully vaccinated, could be more affected by Omicron. So, we all need to continue to play our part to minimise the spread of the virus.
In regard to testing, the health system currently has capacity to process 40,000 PCR tests a day. PCR testing is the most accurate test for COVID-19 and will continue to be used while New Zealand is in the stamp-it-out phase.
Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) will begin to be used more widely over time. They are not as accurate as PCR tests and this means that some people who do have COVID-19 will get a negative test result back. There are currently 4.6 million RATs in the country and 10s of millions ordered.
If you are symptomatic or need to be tested to access a workplace or service, you will be guided at the time on which test is best for you.
Face coverings
Staff and children in Years 4 – 13 must wear face coverings when inside at school when we are at Red. Due to having a combined Year 3 - 4 class in Room 4 we have decided with MOE advice that this classroom will not have to wear masks. However if your child brings one to school they are more than welcome to wear this in class.
Children in Rooms 3, 5 and 6 must wear a mask on the school bus.
Public health advice is that an appropriate face covering will fit snugly and seal well around facial contours. This can include single use, disposable masks (medical masks) and re-usable fabric masks with three layers.
Don’t worry if you don’t have these specific types of masks, as public health experts also say that any face covering is better than no mask.
The Unite Against COVID-19 website also has information on how to make a face covering.
For those of you with children who might be reluctant to wear a mask, there is some helpful advice from Michigan Health, including using simple, specific explanations about why they need to wear a mask, adults being the role models, providing small rewards for wearing them, bringing masks into play such as drawing masks on characters in colouring books, or letting them choose/make the mask.
Vaccination for five- to 11-year-olds
Vaccination including a booster shot, remains an important tool to help prevent the most serious harm from the COVID-19 virus. If children and young adults who have been vaccinated do develop COVID-19, they are far less likely to get seriously ill and less likely to transmit the virus to others.
The free five- to 11-year-old vaccination programme is now underway and more than 100,000 children in New Zealand have had their first dose.
There is some helpful information available to support you on the Unite Against COVID-19 website including How to book a vaccine for your five – 11 year old and some great videos on the Kids Health page that can support you to talk to your tamariki about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Managing cases in our school
We have a good contact tracing system in place so that if there is a confirmed case who has been at school while infectious, we can quickly identify who was a close contact of that person. We will then quickly advise those contacts of what they need to do.
Only if the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education advises to do so, would we consider closing a physical onsite school and moving to distance learning for everyone. At Red we will keep everyone learning onsite for as long as we can.
Please make sure your contact details we have on file are up to date, so we can get in touch with you if needed.
Preparing for COVID-19
You can also prepare for COVID-19, making sure you and your household have a plan and know what to do. This will mean your whānau and community can help each other if needed. Find out more here:
Download the COVID-19 Readiness Checklist [PDF, 121 KB]
What to expect when self-isolating at home
Self-isolating at home because of COVID-19
Many people will be able to manage self-isolation with help from friends and whānau, but there is help available if you need it – both with health support and access to food
and other essentials.
What to expect when self-isolating at home | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
COVID-19 positive – managing your symptoms | Health Navigator NZ
If you know anyone in your community affected by COVID-19 and who may need help, such as food and other financial assistance, Work and Income has a range of supports available for individuals, families, employers and self-employed people affected by COVID-19.
Work and Income support
The beginning of the year can be a tough time for parents who are faced with many costs and it is important you are aware of what assistance you may be able to get from Work and Income. These are available to people on a low income as well as those on a benefit.
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
School and Year Start-up Payment (for people getting Orphan’s Benefit or Unsupported Child’s Benefit)
Help with living costs (including food and rent/mortgage)
Use the links above or call 0800 559 009 to find out more, or to apply.
MoneyTalks can assist with free budgeting and debt help
You can also contact your local community provider. Please find more information here.
Getting ready to return to school
The Ministry of Education has some helpful information on their Parents and Whānau website to support your tamariki to get back to school. There is also a very important reminder about how you can take care of yourself.
While this might all feel a little overwhelming at times, we know that all these measures will help our children return to school, reconnect with whānau and friends and do what they enjoy.
We are also here to help. Please get in touch if you have any concerns or need help in any way.
See you soon!
Kim Waite
Principal
SCHOOL ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES @ RED SETTING
Here is an overview of what to expect when we return to school on Tuesday:
CHILDREN
Children must not bring sports equipment or toys to school from home.
If your child has a brand of sanitiser YOU wish them to use due to allergies etc, please ensure they have that with them also.
- If your child is unable to use sanitiser please contact your child's teacher to inform them
Children must wash their hands before coming to school.
It is our preference that children are dropped off at school between 8.30 and 8.45 if not catching the bus. We realise that for some families this is not possible. Can you please email: office@toko.school.nz if your child needs to arrive at a different time.
At the end of the day the following organisation will apply:
BUS CHILDREN
At 3.00pm children must leave their school bags outside their classroom and collect their bag at 3.20 when the bus bell goes and walk to the bus shelter. Bus children are not allowed in the shelter until this time.
NON BUS CHILDREN
Room1 & 2 and siblings will be walked to the bus shelter to be collected at 2.50
Rooms 3 - 6 will be walked to the bus shelter at 3.00
Mrs Waite/Mrs Fergus/Mrs Hancock or a delegated staff member will be at the shelter to assist with pick ups.
PARENTS
Parents are discouraged from entering the school grounds at this time. We would prefer you to drop off and collect your children at the bus shelter. This means that you are to wait in your car or outside the bus shelter gate, whilst maintaining 2m physical distancing.
If your child has special needs or is Room 1 and 2 and you need to come into school, with your child please do so. Please remember to sign in via the Covid tracer app only.
If you need to come into school we require you to ring first or make contact with your child's classroom teacher. When parents enter the school they must sign in. Parents to bring their own pen. Parents must park out the front of the school. Adults must keep a 2m distance. Parents to do only what is required and leave immediately.
If you or your child are feeling anxious about coming to school please contact your child's classroom teacher. They can arrange to meet you at the gate or make arrangements for you to come in with your child.
If parents want to collect their children outside of the pick up times they must ring ahead and wait at the gate for their child to meet them.
Turnbull Cup has been postponed.
Our school Powhiri has been cancelled.
If possible school assemblies will be held outside. At RED level no visitors can attend this. At ORANGE visitors can attend.
INTERVIEWS ON MONDAY
We ask that you wait for your interview at the outside entrance to your child's classroom please.
Please bring your mask to the interview. We will be conducting the interviews inside with all the doors and windows open and will set the space up so the teacher is 2m from whanau.
The link for the 'homework for parents' sheet is here: https://drive.google.com/.../15O0gyWlUXmXUngd1EMVSa4.../view
If you can't print one off we have copies in the school letterbox so feel free to stop by and grab one. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday
SCHOOLS CAMPS 2022
This is going ahead as planned as we are facilitated by a private provider at a closed venue. But due to the spread of Omicron, we are having to look very carefully at the organisation of our camp and we will continue to work on this over the coming weeks with advise and guidance from the Ministry of Education. We have a higher ratio of parents, than necessary and will now have to reduce this number. If you are down to assist with camp but are happy to withdraw can you please let us know by Wednesday sue.fergus@toko.school.nz.
If we have no parents pulling out, we will have to draw names out of a hat.
Year 3 - 5 Parent Camp Meeting - Wednesday 8th February. This meeting will now be in the hall. If you are attending can you please email: sue.fergus@toko.school.nz so we can organise seating in the hall to ensure physical distancing. If the weather is fine we will have this meeting outside.
YEAR 6 - 8 CAMP
Due to the spread of Omicron throughout the country we have consulted with the Board of Trustees and made the decision that it is not safe or responsible for us to take our Year 6-8 students to a city camp such as our Wellington camp. This camp involves many activities all over Wellington, on multiple sites on each day. Many of these venues are open to the public at the same time as we would be attending.
We are looking into options for an alternative camp in Term 3 or 4 that is site specific and does not put the staff and students at an increased risk e.g Tui Ridge, Forest Lakes, Vertical Horizons to name a few.
We're sure you can understand how tricky it is to plan events at this time. So please bear with us while we work towards planning a camp that will mitigate some of the risks to staff and students but still meet our camp objectives.
PIANO LESSONS
A FEW REMINDERS
Just a reminder that all stationery has been purchased and will be handed out to children on Tuesday. Some parents may wish to cover books, although there is no obligation to do so. Teachers will send home a list of books and sizes in their communication notes in Week 2 for those that wish to order covers.
Swimming
The school pool is open please bring, togs, towel, googles (named) in a bag.
Sunhats
Bucket hats are required to be worn during Term 1.
SCHOOL POOL IS NOW OPEN!
Toko School
Email: office@toko.school.nz
Website: www.toko.school.nz
Location: 1057 East Road, Toko, New Zealand
Phone: 06 7622849
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TokoSchool/?ref=bookmarks