Returning to School 17th Nov 2021
Holy Cross Catholic School Papatoetoe
Our Vision: Learning and Growing in Christ
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia Ora Koutou Katoa, Talofa Lava, Malo e Lelei, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Kia Orana, Hola como Estas, Marhaba, Greetings to you all.
Information Regarding Returning to School and Online Learning
Returning to School and Continuing with Online Learning
Dear Parents/Caregivers
The Government has recently announced that schools are open to all students from Wednesday 17 November, under strict safety guidelines. In response to this, we would like to thank those of you who completed our survey regarding your intention to send your child/ren back to school . This has helped us in determining how best to approach on-site learning. If you have not responded to this survey it is important to complete this to ensure we have an accurate account of student numbers. You need only complete this survey once.
All students will complete online learning tasks whether they are physically at school or learning from home.
When students return to school on Wednesday 17 November we will ensure we have a number of precautionary measures in place for the safety of our children and our school community. These safety precautions are explained below:
All staff are to be vaccinated, provide a negative test prior to returning to school, and wear masks during school hours.
School gates will be monitored in the mornings and afternoons to ensure only students enter onto the school grounds. Gates will open at 8.15am and close at 3.00pm daily. All students must be picked up from school promptly on the last school bell at 2.50pm. No students are to congregate at the front of the school at the end of each day. No after-school care facilities will be available.
All Year 0 new entrant students are to go straight to Rooms 4 and 5. These students can be accompanied to class by one parent who is fully vaccinated,scans in and wears a mask. This parent cannot enter the classroom.
All students from Year 4 to Year 8 must wear a mask. We suggest any Year 3 child might like to wear a mask as our classes are multi age - Year 3 / 4.
All doors and windows in classrooms will be open to provide ventilation.
Classroom bubble sizes will be kept within the given guidelines.
No visiting or combining of classes will be permitted.
Social distancing in classrooms and outdoors will be encouraged.
Alternative spaces will be used as classrooms if the need arises.
Surfaces will be cleaned daily.
Hand sanitiser will be utilised when entering and leaving classrooms.
Two morning tea breaks and two lunch breaks with designated play areas will be created to ensure a reduced number of students are in one space at a time.
All students are to bring their own water bottle as the use of water fountains will not be encouraged.
Any visitors to the school must be fully vaccinated, scan in and wear a mask.
There will be no Breakfast Club or School Lunches available this term.
School fruit will still be provided.
Normal school hours will be maintained: 8.45am - 2.50pm daily. All students who are returning to school are expected to be in full school uniform. Returning students must bring with them their school device to enable them to continue with online learning as well as in-class learning.
We understand these are extraordinary circumstances but we hope to make the transition back to school as easy as possible for everyone. We appreciate your continuing support and if you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours in Christ
Bruce Young
Simple is sacred. In an over-performance culture, the greatest gift a parent can give is a sense of belonging and acceptance - connection is crucial.
In a world full of uncertainties, anxieties and an over-performance culture of never being good enough, the biggest gifts that parents can give to children is a true sense of belonging, hope, courage to dare greatly and the notion that they are ok the way they are.
It is our responsibility to teach them the art of resilience and mindfulness. It is parents who can empower children to help them understand their emotions, accept them for who they are, identify their unique strengths, find their potential and purpose in life, nurture their spirituality and cultivate human connection.
The two most powerful forms of connection are unconditional love and a sense of belonging. They are essential to the human experience. It is what makes us ‘tick’.
True belonging is part of our DNA. We all desire to be part of something bigger than us and to be accepted for who we are despite all our vulnerabilities. We all need to belong to a ‘tribe’, to a ‘cause’, to a community that accepts us for who we are, our authentic selves.
The starting point is our family as the learning platform to practise true human connection.
Uniform Shop
Procedures for Purchasing Uniforms during Lockdown.
- Uniforms will be available between 8.15am and 2.30pm Monday – Friday.
- Come to the School Office and knock on the door.
- Office staff will fit the child with their uniform.
- Parents or Guardian will view the uniform and confirm purchase.
- Parents/Guardians may come into the office and pay using EFTPOS providing they are DOUBLE VACCINATED.
- One person in the School Office at a time.
We apologise if you have to wait but we are following protocols to ensure everyone is safe.
Waterpolo
Congratulaions to former pupils Natalia Rankin-Chitar, Tiaare Ahovelo and Bronson Chungson (pictured below) who have been selected in the NZ Waterpolo Youth Squad to compete in the FINA World Youth Championships in Brisbane, Australia in 2022.
Since playing for Holy Cross in 2014-2016, all three players have continued on with waterpolo achieving great success representing their respective clubs and high schools as top premier players. We wish them well with their New Zealand selection!
