Puketapu School Newsletter
Term 3 2020 - Wednesday 12 August
Empower All People to be Healthy, Lifelong Learners
Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart
From our Principal
Wednesday 12th August 2020
Kia ora whānau.
Last night the Prime Minister advised that Auckland will be heading into Level 3 Covid 19 restrictions and the rest of the country will move back to Covid 19 Level 2 Restrictions. This will currently be in place from midday today until midnight on Friday. We will keep the community informed on any further developments as we will be getting more information through the week.
This morning our school maintained it’s normal routines of teaching and learning and teachers answered questions from our students around Alert Level 2. We will be meeting as a staff after school to go over the Health & Safety key principals and what that looks like for Puketapu School.
Health & Safety
The key principles for Alert Level 2 are to:
reduce the risk of someone getting infected in the first place
ensure we can identify and contact anyone who becomes infected
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PUKETAPU SCHOOL?
KEY POINTS:
At Alert Level 2 it is safe for all students, children and staff to attend school and early learning.
Start of the day - School drop off from 8.30am
End of the day - Students must be off site by 3.15pm
Drop Off & Pick Up - we encourage kids being dropped off at one of our three drop off/pick up zones (Northpoint Church, Dillon Drive Te Ara o Tuna Entrance or outside of School Drop Off/Pick Up Zone) or if they are feeling confident - walking, biking or scootering
Contact Tracing - all parents that come on-site must either sign in at their child's class (for drop off / pick up) OR sign in at the Office (if staying longer)
Hygiene - cleaning hands with soap and water is essential before coming to school and while at school.
Students unwell/sick - If your child is sick, keep them at home.
Learning - our focus on learning and wellbeing continues
Water & Food - Students to bring their own morning snack, lunch and drink bottle (there will be no sharing food and drink fountains will be closed)
Cherish Afterschool Care - this continues under COVID19 Alert Level 2 Guidelines
Cross Country - this awesome event will be postponed until further notice
Masks - they are not required at schools and early learning services at Alert levels 2 and 3.
What time can my child be at school, and what time do they need to be collected or leave?
Students won’t be able to enter classrooms until 8.30 am, so we suggest that students arrive at school from 8.30 am onwards. We will be starting school at 8.55 am and finishing at 3.00 pm. All students are to be off-site by 3.15 pm. We appreciate your support with this.
Can parents and caregivers come on-site at school at Level 2?
Yes – but with contact tracing. All parents who come on site need to sign in, either at the entrance of their children’s classroom (only once if you have more than one child here at school) or in the school office. Please use the government tracing app when entering our school also. Wherever possible, please drop your children off outside rather than coming into school, or even better, have your child bike, scooter or walk to school to avoid congestion.
Please note that parents will not be able to stay for long periods of time at the start or end of each day, and visits to school should be kept as short as possible, please.
Please also ensure you maintain physical distancing, and also follow the necessary hygiene protocols around handwashing and use of sanitiser.
Please also consider having your child use the two field entries (back of the field off Dillon Drive (Te Ara o Tuna) and from Northpoint Church Carpark) rather than the main drop off area. Also, consider using many of the available side street parks.
Schools are open and considered safe
Schools are open and considered safe to do so. The only exception will be anyone that is feeling unwell or sick, and we will send anyone home immediately if they show any symptoms.
Can I keep my child home at Level 2?
Under Level 2, it is deemed safe for everyone to be at school. We anticipate that some families may be reluctant to send their child(ren) to school, and we understand this.
If you DO NOT intend on sending your child back to school for the next two days, please contact the office either by phone, txt or email.
Our school will follow detailed Ministry of Health guidelines to maintain the health and safety of everyone on the school site. This includes regular cleaning, use of sanitizers, handwashing, and reminding and helping children with those important habits such as coughing into their elbows, handwashing and drying. No one at school needs to wear any PPE.
Will students be in “bubbles”?
No. At Alert Level 2 the bubble system is not required. Students and staff will still avoid physical contact as much as possible and keep personal space. The students will be free to move around the school.
Will students be using drinking fountains at Level 2?
No. Please ensure your child has a personal water bottle.
Is the Playground open?
Yes. Our focus will be on washing hands after every break time.
Will students be able to play sports and do PE?
Yes. We will be having sports and physical activity in our school grounds during P.E/Sport lessons and at playtimes. Offsite Year 5/6 interschool competitions have been postponed this week and the Year 7/8 Sports Day has been cancelled next week..
Will there be Student Showcases or large school events?
No, not for Alert Level 2 as we are following the social gathering restrictions. This is why we will not be having our Cross Country this week.
What about Showcase next week?
The current Covid 19 Level 2 Restrictions will currently be in place from midday today until midnight on Friday. We will keep the community informed on any further developments as we get more information through the week.
How can I notify the school if my child is going to be absent?
Please use one of the following processes to advise of your child’s absence:
- email office@puketapu.school.nz
- phone 06 755 0973
- txt 027 755 0973
Will there be before and after school care?
Yes, Cherish Childcare will continue under COVID19 Alert Level 2 Health & Safety Guidelines.
What can we do to support the school and our kids?
Keep any students who are sick at home until they are well. Keep reminding them about the importance of hygiene and washing their hands with soap and water. Ask about their school day and stay connected to us via Facebook and email as appropriate.
For more detailed information at Alert Level 2, you can visit https://www.education.govt.nz/covid-19/advice-for-schoolskura/guidance-for-schools-for-alert-levels-1-4/
If you have any further questions or comments please feel free to email me – nwalker@puketapu.school.nz
Thanks again for all your support and understanding.
Nga mihi
Ngatai Walker
Tumuaki
Netball
From Netball Taranaki:
To safely comply with Ministry of Health Guidelines, ALL netball activity in Taranaki (competitions, trials, trainings, meetings etc) have been CANCELLED effective immediately and further decisions will be made and provided on Monday 17th August.
Thank you for your Awhi
We were humbled by the responses from all around the country.
Kia Manawanui is strong in our community.
Thank You for the Fruit!
Raffle Tickets For Sale
Raffle 1: A cut and colour of your choice, treatment and takeaway product from Section 35b Hair, valued at $250
Raffle 2: One hour deluxe hydrating facial from Face2Face Skin Clinic valued at $110
Tickets are $2 each, on sale at the school office.
Attitude in Kauri
He busted some of the myths around social media - such as "I can delete it" The truth is that once you post, it is there forever - what goes online, stays online.
Duffy Awards
Duffy Awards are given for academic achievement, progress, improvement, or attitude to learning.
- Dayton Ormsby-Turner
- Taaj Prestney
- Lola Parkinson
- Taine McKenna
- Sapphire Kuchler
- Rayne Morehu
- Trisha Chand
- Briar Walthew
- Onaleah Zandbergen
- Parekaiuru Tuturu o te Atiawa
Well done Keanu!
Well done Brooklyn!
Watching the Thunder
At break time we watched the clouds get very dark and roll towards us...
Kia Kaha in Totara
Buddy Reading in Rimu
A new crossing on Parklands
Please would any parents of akonga who walk, bike or scoot to school, remind them that while the old crossing is still visible on the road, cars no longer have to stop. Children should please take extra care when crossing the road and please use the new crossing.
BIRTHDAYS
- Rhikyda Pirini
- Kayden Lucinsky
- Kruize Davis
- Noah Ramsdale
- Justin Ryan Inocencio
- Tiana Byrne
- Dylan Perry
- Hamu Adams
- Lucas Wharram
- Skye Ramsay
- Aidan Stoneman
- Tayte Hancock
- Lyric Falaniko
- Sathveer Chand
- Ava Allan
- Trevahn Edwards
- Maria Wano
- Nusaybah Merdj
- Rynal Prasad
What's On
Due to the current COVID-19 Alert Level, we will keep you posted about events later in the term.
- Thursday 13 August: Senior Kapa Haka (Northpoint Church) @ 0915am
- Friday 14 August: POSTPONED: Puketapu Cross County Fun Run and Walk 9.15am
Next Week (Week 5):
We await further announcements on Friday about the COVID-19 Alert Level, and we will update you if the TBC events are to go ahead or not.
- TBC: Life Ed Bus on site for two weeks
- Tuesday 18 August:
Rotary Reading
CANCELLED: Year 7/8 interschool sports @ Inglewood - Thursday 20 August:
Senior Kapa Haka (Northpoint Church) @ 0915am - Friday 21 August:
TBC: 10.00am Whole School Showcase,
TBC: 2.00pm NZ Playhouse Show "Chilled" (at Northpoint)
Community Notices
Monster Children's Book Fair
If you have any unwanted books that you wish to donate, please drop these off to the school office before Friday 24 August. (Please do not include colouring-in or activity books unless they are in new condition.) To find out more about this book sale, please browse the Facebook event HERE.
Puketapu School
Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973