Raureka School Term 3 Week 6
Newsletter 1 September 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora koutou katoa, Talofa lava, Kia orana,
Here we are at the start of Alert Level 3 with the school technically closed and only students of parents who need to be at work attending.
Thank you all for being so supportive and helping us all try and beat this Covid 19 virus.
A note for those who need to be at school and have registered.
School gates open at 8:45 and then shut again at 9:00. We finish the day at 2:30 when all children should be picked up as we do not have any after school care options available.
Our bubbles are operating well and all children are keeping the correct social distancing and ensuring that they are staying 2m away from other bubbles.
Our playground is closed and tamariki are not able to play games where they may touch someone else. In class the children are still keeping distant from others and they are only using their own materials and staying in the same seat.
We are doing our best to follow the requirements of the MoH and MoE to make sure that we don't pass on any virus.
A huge thank you to all of our staff who are supporting the learning of all children. The home/online learning is still continuing.
Our teachers are working with their bubble at school as well as preparing and marking work on Seesaw.
Thank you to you as parents for supporting us and your children with the home learning.
If your children complete the work given to you there is still the option of using the TVNZ Home learning channel for something extra. See below
Home Learning | Papa Kainga TV
- Home Learning | Papa Kāinga TV is back online and on television weekdays between 9am–1pm.
- Home Learning | Papa Kainga TV is primarily for learners without internet connectivity. It can be accessed on Duke+1 (Freeview channel 18). Those households who have Sky can also access Duke +1 on channel 504.
- For households who have internet connectivity they can access the lessons through TVNZ On Demand. Schedules are published on Learning from Home.
- Households may also need a reminder of how to enable captions – information can be found here.
Mauri Reo, Mauri Ora
- In partnership with Māori Television, we have now launched the Mauri Reo, Mauri Ora Kōanga 2021 series to ensure Māori language learning can continue anywhere, anytime for tamariki during and after Alert Level 4.
- The channel is full of new and engaging content, while also taking the chance to revisit some of the more popular lessons of the show enjoyed by tamariki in the comfort and safety of their bubbles.
- Every episode is presented by Māori language teachers and exponents with support from expert educationalists. Tamariki are encouraged through play, art, song and imagination to continue learning whether they are in a classroom, at home or in isolation.
- Mauri Reo, Mauri Ora Kōanga 2021 screens on Te Reo channel every weekday from 9am to 12pm beginning today. Programmes will also be available online on the Māori TV website and on the Māori+ app.
- The lesson schedule for the Mauri Reo, Mauri Ora Kōanga series can be found.
A reminder that if you need any extra support please do not hesitate to contact the people below.
Access to food
Here’s a fact sheet with information about the many ways of getting food and other essential items. It covers:
- food delivery
- what to do if you can’t get food delivered
- staying safe when getting food delivered
- financial help to buy food
- foodbanks.
Please note, some foodbanks have been experiencing high demand. If there is a need for financial help to buy food, Work and Income may be able to help.
More places to get help
Helplines that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
- Mental Health Crisis: 0800 800 717
- Lifeline for counselling and support: 0800 543 354 or 0800 LIFELINE
- Samaritans for confidential support for anyone who is lonely or in emotional distress: 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions: 0800 111 757 or free text 4206
- Healthline for advice from trained registered nurses: 0800 611 116
- Suicide Prevention Helpline: 0508 828 865
- Counselling Free Call or Text 1737.
Also available:
- Family Services 211 Helpline for help finding and direct transfer to community-based health and social support services in your area: 0800 211 211
- Family Services Directory online
- Unite Against COVID-19: Family and sexual violence prevention for help and support if you’re experiencing family violence or sexual violence.
Take care and look after yourself.
Tama tū, tama ora; tama noho, tama mate.
He who stands, lives; he who does nothing perishes.
Nga mihi
Greg
Information from the Ministry of Education
At Alert Level 3, it is not mandatory to wear face coverings in schools and early learning services.
At this point in time, the Ministry of Health does not recommend the wearing of face coverings for children under 12 years, in general, as it is difficult for them to use them correctly. Incorrect use of face coverings erodes their efficacy against transmission.
In schools and early learning services, there is are a range of measures that will help to prevent spread of illness, including COVID-19. These include:
- staying home if you are unwell and seeking advice about getting tested
- maintaining good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette
- keeping groups very small (no more than 10 children in a bubble), and well-separated from other groups
- keeping physically distanced as much as practicable
- keeping classrooms well ventilated
- maintaining a two-metre distance from others when outside
- well-established record keeping.
None of this however prevents anyone from choosing to wear a face covering. If someone does want to wear a face covering, including in their school bubble, they are encouraged to read the guidance about how to use a face mask safely on the Ministry of Health website.
Public health advice
Here is a statement from the Ministry of Health (31 August 2021):
We continue to look at the evolving evidence around the transmission of COVID-19 in different settings, including educational settings, particularly in light of the new variants to inform the public health advice about face coverings (including masks) for children and young people at school and early learning services.
The two key public health principles that support Alert Level 3 are first to minimise the risk that someone gets infected in the first place, and second to limit the number of possible contacts people have if they do get infected to make it easier to rapidly stop further spread.
When reviewing the evidence for children and young people, we have considered the potential benefits of the role face coverings play in reducing the spread of the virus and any potential harms or risks.
The Alert Level 3 approach in a school environment is designed to limit the number of people that children have contact with based on these principles. Taking into account the other mitigating measures in schools, it is possible to lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission in these settings. Because it is possible to ensure that children are within the same group each day with no mixing between groups, it is acceptable from a public health perspective to have a group of children learning together. Our advice is to limit this to 10 children in each group.
Schools reinforcing good hygiene practices are undertaking regular cleaning and having staff, children and young people are staying away if they are sick. At Alert Level 3, where practicable, physical distancing is in place, particularly between adults.
Overall, we think it is important not to interfere with learning as much as possible, so it's about balancing up the benefits against the potential harms.
Compared to other places, schools and early learning services are not environments where we have seen significant spread of COVID-19. Household members and work colleagues who are in close contact with people with COVID-19 are the most common sources of transmission.
Based on what we know about face coverings and transmission in children, we are taking this balanced approach at this time. If new evidence emerges, this guidance will be revised.
It is also important that parents fully support this approach by doing their bit – keeping children home if they are unwell and seeking medical advice about whether a child may need to be tested, strictly maintaining their family 'bubble' outside the school environment and ensuring great hygiene practices at all times.
Contact Us
Email: office@raureka.school.nz
Website: http://www.raureka.school.nz
Location: Raureka School Gordon Road, Raureka, Hastings 4120, New Zealand
Phone: +64 6 878 9766
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raureka.school