Filter Content
Welcome back to 2022. I hope you have had a wonderful break with whānau and friends. The weather certainly behaved pretty much across the country.
Our team is feeling refreshed and ready to go for the 2022 year and can’t wait to welcome everyone back onsite. School starts Wednesday, 2nd February at 8.40am.
For parents who have already downloaded the SchoolAppsNZ for our school, a reminder for you to please update your subscription group alerts as your child/children will be in a different classroom this year. To our new parents, please download the SchoolAppsNZ - this is a free app that we use as an alternative means of communicating with our parents.
A lot has happened at school over Summer. Staff have been very busy preparing for the term ahead. The main block of our school has been painted and we have turfed our terraced seated area.
NZ Uniforms:
We are aware that New Zealand Uniforms have experienced shipping delays. Please mask up, scan in and have a look at the second-hand selection we have at school.
After School Care:
This service will continue during Red. There will be a few changes so we can keep all staff and students safe.
Red Level at Sacred Heart Cathedral School:
We will continue to be responsive and vigilant to all that comes our way throughout this Red level.
In regard to COVID-19, we have moved fully into the new traffic light framework for all our school activities and events this year. We have excellent health measures in place and we know our students are so responsive when we have to make changes. It is good to know that at the Red setting, we are able to support everyone learning onsite.
A few reminders at RED.
How we stay safe at Red:
If you need to come into school please scan our QR code.
- Wear face coverings this includes all staff and students from Year 4 upwards.
- Year 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 students are to wear a facemask (surgical mask) at school. Students will have to bring their own facemask to school each day.
- Physical distancing is essential.
- Please get vaccinated.
- If you or your child are sick or feeling unwell, please stay home.
- Use hand sanitizer on entry to our school.
- Ensure your child has a water bottle at school every day.
We have reviewed all our events and activities for the upcoming term to ensure we meet the health guidance for Red. The Ministry of Education recommends that we do not have large-scale events. So, we will go back to zoom assemblies as well.
Ventilation:
Providing good old-fashioned fresh air remains the most important thing we can do in our learning spaces to minimise risk for ākonga and kaiako (and the same goes for you at home). We will also be receiving a CO2 monitor in the coming weeks to further support our ventilation knowledge here at school.
To minimise congestion, parents and caregivers are encouraged to do drop-offs and pick-ups from outside the school gate. If you do need to come onto the school site to settle your child, please wear a face covering and scan our QR code.
As a school, we will continue using and encouraging good hygiene practices including:
- regular hand washing/sanitising.
- cough and sneeze etiquette.
- regular cleaning of high touch surfaces.
- opening of doors and windows ensuring areas are well ventilated.
Stay home if sick and get tested:
If your child displays any COVID-19 symptoms please, get a COVID-19 test and remain at home until a negative result is received and they are symptom-free for 24 hours.
Omicron and testing:
We have all seen the very large numbers of cases overseas and we will very likely see much larger numbers of cases in Aotearoa than we have previously experienced in the last two years. While Omicron is more transmissible than previous strains, most people who get COVID-19 will have a mild to moderate illness and will fully recover in their own home.
However, some of our community who are immune-compromised, or have other vulnerabilities, even when they are fully vaccinated, could be more affected by Omicron. So, we all need to continue to play our part to minimise the spread of the virus.
Vaccination for 5 to 11-year-olds:
Vaccination including a booster shot, remains an important tool to help prevent the most serious harm from the COVID-19 virus. If children and young adults who have been vaccinated do develop COVID-19, they are far less likely to get seriously ill and less likely to transmit the virus to others.
The free 5 to 11-year-old vaccination programme is now underway and more than 100,000 children in New Zealand have had their first dose.
Here is some helpful information available to support you on the Unite Against COVID-19 website including How to book a vaccine for your five – 11 year old and some great videos on the Kids Health page that can support you to talk to your tamariki about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Managing cases in our school:
We have a good contact tracing system in place so that if there is a confirmed case who has been at school while infectious, we can quickly identify who was a close contact of that person. We will then quickly advise those contacts of what they need to do.
Only if the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education advises to do so, would we consider closing a physical onsite school and moving to distance learning for everyone. At Red, we will keep everyone learning onsite for as long as we can.
Please make sure your contact details we have on file are up to date, so we can get in touch with you if needed.
Preparing for COVID-19:
You can also prepare for COVID-19, making sure you and your household have a plan and know what to do. This will mean your whānau and community can help each other if needed. Find out more here:
- Be prepared for COVID-19
- Download the COVID-19 Readiness Checklist [PDF, 121 KB]
- What to expect when self-isolating at home
Self-isolating at home because of COVID-19:
Many people will be able to manage self-isolation with help from friends and whānau, but there is help available if you need it – both with health support and access to food and other essentials.
- What to expect when self-isolating at home | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
- Getting extra support if you have COVID-19 or are self-isolating | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
- COVID-19 positive – managing your symptoms | Health Navigator NZ
Our priority remains to have our young people onsite to support their engagement in learning during these very challenging uncertain times.
The following advice from the Ministry of Education is very helpful https://parents.education.govt.nz/essential-information/covid-19-information-for-parents-and-whanau/back-to-early-learning-services-school-or-kura/
While this might all feel a little overwhelming at times, we know that all these measures will help our children return to school, reconnect with whānau and friends and do what they enjoy.
We are also here to help. Please get in touch if you have any concerns or need help in any way.
Please take care and keep safe.
Arohanui,
Bernadette Murfitt
Principal
Sacred Heart Cathedral School