Welcome to: Harlegata Afioga, Alexandra Tupouniua, Nivaan Gounder, Waleena Tuiloma, Daisy Michael, Veronica Michael, Edwina Michael, Jewel Aby, Toni Fiaola, Roman Leatigaga.

Dear Parents

This week we begin the liturgical season of Lent, a period of penitential preparation for Easter. Pope Francis, along with many others, has asked us to use this Ash Wednesday as a day of prayer and fasting for the people of Ukraine.

Blessings to you All
Nga manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa
Julie Paul

Principal

Positive household cases and any household contacts need to isolate for 10 days and follow the testing schedule at Day 3 and Day 10.

If anyone from your household has symptoms please stay home. Do not come to school, do not socialise, but isolate and get a Rapid Antigen Test.

If any child who attends Holy Cross Catholic School is a positive case, please telephone the office and inform us.

If your child is well and is not a household contact we would like to see them attending school for face to face learning.

We will continue to ensure we have all procedures in place to ensure their safety and well being:

• Keeping classes in their team bubbles

• Having two separate breaks to allow for social distancing

• Sanitising hands when entering and leaving the classrooms

• Ensuring classrooms are well ventilated at all times

• All students from Years 4 - 8 wearing masks and the optional wearing of masks for Year 3.

Please follow these guidelines to ensure we all help to keep everyone safe.

Please contact the school if your child tests positive or is a household contact of another family member. Thank you.

If your child is in Year 3 - 8 and requires a device for home learning while they are isolating, please email the class teacher and arrange for a contactless pick up.

If your child is in Year 1 or 2 a hardpack is available to be picked up from the office. Please know your child’s room number and classroom teacher.

Harinui Room 1 and 5 Ms Lang and Ms O’Grady

Aroha Room 9 Mrs Lucre. Room 10 Mrs Pancha, Room 4a Mrs Leaupepe and Mrs de Koning

Arohanui Room 1a Mrs Fromont, Room 2 Ms Skipper, Room 3 Ms Brown

All school rules at our school are to ensure our children are safe and any dangerous situations can be prevented. We ask all parents, caregivers and whānau to support us in reinforcing these.

Jewellery / Nail Polish / Hair

• All students are allowed to wear small stud earrings only.

• No bracelets or bangles, rings or necklaces are to be worn.

• No nail polish on fingernails or toenails

• All long hair should be tied up in school colours; red, white, blue,

or black / brown hair ties.

There will be registered nurses there to give Covid vaccines, including boosters, to those who are due. They can even look up to see if you are due, in case you’re not sure!

This Whanau Fun Day has been arranged for Tamariki (5- 11 year olds) as part of the COVID 19 vaccine rollout. Other vaccines, dose 1, 2 and 3 boosters for adults will also be available.. This will be a fun event for all the whole whanau,including kai trucks, entertainment , prizes and giveaways.

You do not need to book, just turn up on the day and make sure you and your family have face coverings.

See the posters around our school.

Below are Community Connection Service Providers: For families in mandated isolation

Counties Manukau Health have approached us with regard to a Pop Up Vaccination Centre on site. Please click on the link below to complete the form so we can arrange for a pop up centre in our hall.

https://forms.gle/wQ1oSvGuMSKQpUS26

Thank you to all the families who have returned these yellow data forms. We would like all these forms back as soon as possible so we can update our school database.

This is most important as we need to be able to email or telephone parents immediately when there is an emergency or important information to share with them.

We are noticing a growing number of children who are arriving at school before 7am each day. Please DO NOT drop your children off this early as there is VERY FEW STAFF ON SITE at this hour and they cannot be supervised. Children may be dropped off from 8.00am.

Thank you to all the parents who are picking up their children immediately after school. Please remember school finishes at 2.50pm and we are aiming to have all children off site by 3.15pm.

Please do not stop on the yellow lines by the main school gate as this is not only illegal but it is interfering with the vision of those on the Road Patrols. Parking Wardens periodically police this area outside the school and if you park on the yellow lines you risk being sent a parking ticket. We have put cones outside the school gates. We would truly appreciate the cooperation of all drivers.