MENPS News

Kia ora koutou,

With cases rising exponentially and the first case of COVID 19 presenting in school, the role of categorising and tracing contacts is crucial. This will, of course, have an increasingly important role as time goes on and more cases present in our community.

This situation may be anticipated, but the reality will nonetheless be a little confronting. It doesn't, however, need to be cause for alarm, or something we feel powerless against.

As always, collective action (informed by science and the latest public health advice) is our first and best line of defence to ensure that the classroom continues to be a 'low-risk' environment.

The focus at this stage is to significantly reduce onward transmission and the number of close contacts, (who would be required to isolate for 7 days).

So, what makes the difference between a 'close' and a ‘casual’ contact?

As you know, there are a number of layers of protection in place at school to limit transmission and several factors at play when assessing risk according to Ministry of Health criteria, but - for the most part - the answer is simple and straightforward - face-masks.

As you can see, in the event of a positive case, whether they were wearing a mask in class or not has a major impact on the need to isolate for all those around them. Put simply, if a single child in a classroom tests positive and was not wearing a mask (indoors) while they were potentially infectious (within a 48 hour window before symptoms and/or a positive test result), the entire class and teacher will almost certainly need to isolate for a week.

Inconvenient and undesirable as they may be, therefore, teaching your child to wear a mask (at any year level) is not only the best protection for them, but essential to protecting those around them. This isn't a question of legal mandates. It's just common sense.

As we experience an accelerating surge in case numbers, masks are the single factor making the greatest difference between a whole class or even an entire year level being required to isolate (or not).

We understand, of course, that there will be some who are unable to wear them for specific reasons (which as a school and a community, we fully respect, understand and support), but we have found that children of all ages are otherwise generally more than capable of adapting to wearing them indoors as part of their routine.

During the current surge in cases, the bottom line is that if your child can wear a mask, they should, so we ask everyone to take this important step to protect all our children (and staff) from potential exposure and isolation requirements.

Along with vaccination and keeping your child at home if they are unwell, taking action on this is the single most important contribution you can make to our learning community at this time.

Finally, I can personally assure you that the whole community will always be kept fully informed of any and all cases that we experience at school, along with any further information that you may need to be aware of, while respecting the right to privacy of individual families.

Ka kite anō au i a koutou

Alan Jackson

Principal

Confirmed Cases Currently Isolating: 1 (Y6, Rm 4)

Close Contacts Currently Isolating: 3 (Y6, Rm 4)

• Please take pressure off our phone line and support our school office by notifying us of absences using the online form on our school website
• If you are awaiting test results (or receive a positive test result), please inform us of this immediately
• We continue to emphasise the importance of taking a cautious approach if your child feels unwell (even slightly, but especially with a sore throat or cough) by keeping them at home and seeking medical advice

The shop won't be available onsite again until Traffic Light Orange. If you need anything from the second-hand uniform shop, please email us at menpspta@gmail.com with the details and we will try to organise a solution.

Donations needed

Many thanks to those that have been in touch with old / outgrown uniforms. Uniforms can be dropped off at the school office by individuals during school hours - adults must wear a mask, scan in and only remain onsite for the drop off to the office.

New uniforms can be ordered here https://schooluniformcentre.co.nz/mt-eden-normal-primary/

We are hoping you've had a big summer clear out and we would welcome all quality items! Simply drive in the MENPS staff car park and onto the Top Courts to drop off any of the following:

• Books
  

• Toys - no soft toys accepted
• Clothing - no underwear or men's clothing/shoes accepted.
• Jumble Sale - which is everything else!

Please consider whether you would be happy to pay about $5 for it, and use the clothing bin etc for anything ripped, stained, or broken.

Many thanks in advance for your incredibly generous support of our school community,
The PTA Second-hand Stall teams

PS: we'd love a few new team members so please email us (menpspta@gmail.com ) if you'd like to help out with any of these stalls.

Save the date now for the next meeting - 7pm on March 8.

We need help filling a few roles - please email us at menpspta@gmail.com for any of the following:

• Treasurer - Up to an hour a month when there are no functions going on. During event time - working with the Kindo administrator, running receipting money and reconciling.
  
• Kindo admin - helping set up and manage events in Kindo, an easy to use school payment portal.
  
• Poster designer/Facebook updater - suitable for someone with graphic design skills who can draft up adverts/posters for PTA events and keep our school Facebook page alive with photos and info about what’s happening.
  
  

Chairperson Aimee Chikunda

Deputy Chairperson Pam Clifford

Secretary Jane Cunningham

Treasurer Linda Waddington-Miller

Class Coordinator Leader Jane Cunningham

PTA Advisor Scott Optican

Email menpspta@gmail.com | PTA website

Follow us on Facebook and keep up to date with the PTA on Mount Eden Normal Primary School PTA page.

Understanding how important fundraising activities are for schools, Mike and Sarah Robson are delighted to be able to support the local primary school. Residents of Mt Eden for 25 years, they know and love all the neighbourhood and community offers and their two children are both past pupils of MENPS. In 2021 they became the Principal Sponsor of MENPS, supporting the school in its biggest fundraising event, the annual Food & Fun Fair and this support extends to other school fundraising activities.

Are you thinking about buying or selling?
As part of their sponsorship of MENPS, Team Mike Robson donates $1000 back to the school for any property sold within the school zone for MENPS families. Feel free to call Mike (021484288) any time you’ve got a real estate query - he’s always happy to have a chat and answer your questions.

Find out more about Team Mike Robson and why they love living and working in Mt Eden.
www.mikerobson.co.nz