Newsletter 18 February 2022
Rosehill College
From the Principal,
Tēnā koutou katoa,
As Omicron spreads through the community, we are working to keep your students safe by applying the Ministry of Education guidelines. The Ministry advice is that schools are open for onsite instruction and all who can do so should attend to gain the benefit of face to face learning. If students have to be away through illness or isolation, they are to follow the work that has been set on Google Classroom.
Should a student be a close contact of a confirmed case, you will be contacted. We apply the Ministry of Education’s criteria for a close contact which involve the length of time, location and close proximity to the person who has tested positive. Students wearing masks properly to cover the nose and mouth and fit closely to the face give them protection against the virus.
Watch for symptoms:
- A new or worsening cough
- Sneezing and runny nose
- A fever
- Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
If any develop, get tested immediately and then, stay at home until you receive the result.
Please avoid speculation about anyone’s state of health. Rumours are unhelpful and are hurtful to the person who is the subject. We want to maintain privacy for affected students and whānau and need the assistance of the whole school community to do this.
Some FAQs:
How do we determine who is a close contact?
We use the MOE criteria and their spreadsheet which works out whether a student is a close contact of a positive case.
When we are notified of a confirmed positive case, we check that student’s timetable and ask the teacher about the class location and activity and whether students were being compliant about mask wearing. We talk with the student who has tested positive for information about what they did and who they were with at break times, did they share drink bottles, did they take part in extra-curricular activities. Questions to which responses are sought are:
- Direct contact with respiratory secretions or saliva? (ie, Kissing, spitting, hongi, sharing cigarettes or vapes OR singing, shouting, coughing, sneezing OR contact sports OR play in close proximity)
- Indoor face to face conversation with the case for more than 15 mins (ie, Having a conversation, sitting across a table from someone)
- Non-face to face contact for more than 1 hour in an indoor space (ie, Sitting near someone in class or assembly but not having a conversation or play near someone but not having a conversation)
- Indoor contact in a small space without good airflow/ventilation* for more than 15 minutes (ie, Classroom, indoor licensed space, staff rooms, office, sick bay, toilets, school bus/service transport)
- Indoor contact in a moderate sized space without good airflow/ventilation for more than 1 hour (ie, Gymnasium, hall)
- Appropriate face covering worn by case?
The spreadsheet uses this information to determine whether others are classified as close contacts. While a “yes” response to the first bullet point would indicate a close contact, it would be a combination of responses to the other bullet points.
If a student is a close contact of a positive case, then we will inform the parents/caregivers as soon as we can. We are required to forward the names of close contacts to the Ministry of Health via their Contact Tracing Upload Tool. For those who are not considered close contacts, there is no need to isolate at this stage. If the situation changes, we will inform those who are affected.
Isolation procedures
If a student has to isolate for any reason, they should follow their timetable as if they were in school. Teachers have been asked to post work for the week, starting next week, on Google Classroom. Parents can ask their students to show them their Google Classroom for each subject, so you can see the work that they should be doing. If they say they don’t know the password, it will have been sent by the class teacher to their school email account.
Cleaning procedures
Thorough cleaning continues as normal. Classrooms have hand sanitiser for students to use on entry and departure, and there are cleaning materials in classrooms in case they are needed. Wearing masks, following hygiene protocols and using hand sanitiser give protection. Toilets are cleaned twice during the day as well as at the end of the day.
Will the school move to online learning?
It is a real possibility that we may have to move to distance learning if we do not have enough staff to operate safely for the number of students onsite. This may occur in different stages, for example one or two senior levels rostered home for some days. If any year levels need to be rostered home, there will always be provision made to supervise students at school who cannot be supervised by family or friends. For year levels that are rostered home, the same distance learning programme will be followed regardless of whether the student is at home or needing to be supervised at school. If your student is not able to have an internet connection for the school day, if they are rostered home or need to isolate, please email inquiries@rosehillcollege.school.nz so we can provide a hard copy pack.
Upcoming Events:
- 3 March - Epro8 Engineering Challenge Y11-Y13 @ School Hall
- 4 March - Epro8 Engineering Challenge Y11-Y13 @ School Hall
- 4 May - 12 PEO Paddleboarding Orakei Basin
Dropping Off and Picking Up Students
Would all parents and caregivers please avoid driving into the school’s car park areas to drop off or pick up students before and after school, as it is unsafe to have cars driving through the grounds at those very busy times. Similarly, please don’t stop or park on the yellow lines near our gates as traffic infringement notices may be issued.
Drop students off or pick them up at some distance from the school – the short walk will be good for them!
New Staff Profiles:
Ms Lily Putnam
Kia ora, I’m Lily Putnam. I’ve joined the English Department here at Rosehill College. In 2019 I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Media Studies from Auckland University of Technology and soon thereafter got my teaching certification. Before starting my career in teaching, I’ve worked in recruitment, customer service, and childcare. In my free time I enjoy reading, hanging out with my dog, and recently, I have taken up pottery.
I’m really enjoying my time here at Rosehill College and am looking forward to getting to know my students even better and being there to support and encourage them.
Mr Rastko Mitic
I am a highly motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated educator who wants all my students to be successful learners.
Maths Help Sessions
The Mathematics Department will be running help sessions for students on Wednesdays after school from 3.30 to 4.15pm in C9.
Open to anyone, students need to bring any questions they need help with.
Mrs Joanne Carter
Head of Mathematics
Word The Frontline 2022
There is a spoken word workshop being run by Action Education during Period 5, Thursday 3 March in the school hall.
Spaces are limited to 30 students, so please come and see Ms Simmons (B2) to sign up.
This is a workshop that can open your mind, creativity and support you to find your voice.
Pānui Hakinakina (Sports Bulletin)
We are looking forward to the start of summer sports next week. Good luck to the teams hoping to make the field and court next week.
Now that sign ups are coming to an end we need to start finding coaches and managers for all the teams. Thank you to those parents who have already contacted me. If you think you might be interested please contact me on n.bailey@rosehillcollege.school.nz.
Nicola Bailey
Director of Sport
Trials
In the next few weeks we will start informing students of when trials for the various sports will take place. When students come to trials we will be asking to see their vaccine pass, if they are unable to provide this they will be unable to trial.
Once a student is selected in a team we ask that you send a copy of their vaccine pass to vaccinations@rosehillcollege.school.nz, this email will be kept confidential, please use the following format for the subject SPORT - Last name, First name.
Rugby Registrations
Rugby registrations occur on Tuesday 22 February 5.00-6.00pm at school for girls and Year 9 & 10 boys, while Year 11, 12 & 13 boys and any other girls can register on Thursday 24 February 5.00-6.00pm. Please bring students’ vaccine passes and we ask that you wear a mask while on site.
This won’t be like previous years, there will be no activities running for students.
Counties Swimming & Athletics
Counties Swimming and Athletics will be run differently this year. In order to enter, students will need to provide evidence of their swimming times or running times, jumping heights or throwing distances for each event they wish to enter. They will also need to show their vaccine pass when entering and send a copy to vaccinations@rosehillcollege.school.nz.
Newsletter
If you haven’t had the chance to have a read of our new sports newsletter, check it out at Eye on the Ball.
Keeping up to date
Please follow us on social media. This is where we post updates about trials, training and weekly games. We also like to celebrate our success there.
Follow us on Instagram: Rosehill College Sport (@rosehillcollegesport)
Like us on Facebook: Rosehill College Sport
Pānui Rapuara (Careers Service Bulletin)
Counties Kidz runs a before and after school programme at Hingaia Peninsula School and they are looking for staff.
The position is for before school care 7:00am to 8:30am and after school 3:45pm to 6:00pm. They also run school holiday programmes.
The successful applicant needs to be vaccinated, be Y12 or Y13 and show an interest in working with children.
Please send your CV and cover letter to countieskidz@gmail.com
Field Assistant Vacancy
MacInnes, Read and Lucas Ltd (MRL) are Surveyors and Planners based in East Street, Papakura. Please see the PDF linked below for more information.
Contact us:
Email: inquiries@rosehillcollege.school.nz
Website: https://rosehillcollege.school.nz/
Location: Rosehill College 5 Edinburgh Avenue, Rosehill, Auckland 2113, New Zealand
Phone: 09-295 0661
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosehillcollegeofficial