28-04-22 ORANGE Traffic Light:
Return to School at Orange

Kia ora koutou | Greetings all,

We hope you have had a lovely break and enjoyed spending time with your loved ones. This update contains some important information for our Stonefields School whānau on what the return to school next week (under the ORANGE setting of the Covid Protection Framework) will look like.

Mask wearing at School

Just before the holidays, the Prime Minister announced the country’s shift to the Orange traffic light, and the Minister of Education stated that the wearing of face masks will no longer be mandatory in schools. Public Health advice, however, was that schools should strongly encourage masks to be worn indoors as they are a key health measure that slows the spread of Covid-19.

Since then, numerous media reports have indicated that health experts are very concerned about the new ruling relating to schools, especially amidst the emergence of the Omicron XE variant in New Zealand. The following open letter reported in the media today signed by Doctors, Health Professionals and Scientists also recommends mask use in Schools.

STUFF reported that Professor Michael Baker is urging the government to reconsider its mask requirements in schools. “The thing I'm concerned about is the orange light doesn't require any barriers in schools, what environments do they come back to when holidays end? … We haven't yet transformed the safety of indoor air in schools, masks do work, but that barrier is removed in the orange setting.”

In her Opinion piece, Dr Siouxsie Wiles agreed. “I was gutted they are no longer required in places like schools …. Now that we’ve transitioned to living with the Covid-19 in the community, we should be strengthening our mask game, not downgrading it. Masks work best when everyone is wearing them. If you have Covid-19, they help reduce the amount of virus you release into the air. If you enter a virus-filled environment, they help reduce the amount you are exposed to…. A new study published suggests masks prevent new variants from taking hold”.

The Hon Chris Hipkins has stated that, “Next to being vaccinated and having a booster, face masks are our best defence against COVID-19. Wearing them can reduce new cases of the virus by as much as 53%. That means by putting on a face mask you are contributing to lowering our case numbers, lowering the numbers of people in hospital, and lowering the number of deaths.”

Please see further references to research considered at the bottom of this message.

At Stonefields School we take the health and safety of your children and our staff seriously. Remaining open for learning to continue onsite remains a priority moving into term 2. As you are aware, at times during term one this was very challenging when staff were required to isolate. We have considered the impact of winter illnesses that we know are coming, such as influenza and RSV and also considering the best way to protect our vulnerable (immune compromised) learners. Public Health advice and expert opinions make it clear that the wearing of face masks will help significantly, so for that reason:

• Stonefields learners in years 4 and above and all staff, are to continue to wear a face mask while indoors at school. Years 1-3 learners may also wear masks, if your family's preference is to do so.

• We also ask that all visitors to Stonefields, including parents and whānau, are to wear a face mask when indoors onsite.

• Mask exemptions for learners who hold them will continue.

We will continue to keep all our other health and safety measures in place (as follows) and will continue to review them regularly, making adjustments as necessary.

• Good ventilation remains a priority, children can wear additional clothing (black thermals) under their uniform during colder weather

• Thorough cleaning, hygiene and hand sanitation continues

• Learners must stay home if they are sick

For a detailed summary of our health and safety measures at Orange, please click here. This summary includes details about changes to pick up and drop off, including parents accessing the School site and which activities will commence in term 2 etc.

If a learner or household member gets COVID-19, there are no changes to the 7-day self-isolation requirement. Please continue to notify the school by emailing cases@stonefields.school.nz

Pōwhiri: Monday 2nd May

We will be welcoming all of our new learners who are starting in term 2 with a whole school Pōwhiri outside on Monday 2 May, starting at 9.15am. We are really looking forward to having a whole school Powhiri again and welcome you to join us via the live stream link that will be shared with you via the school app on Monday morning.

We would like to remind all Years 5-8 Kapa Haka learners to please come to the school hall at 8.00am to get dressed and to have a final practice with Mr Imboden prior to the powhiri.

We look forward to welcoming your children back to School on Monday

Ngā mihi nui

The Stonefields School Board & Leadership Team

References

1. University of Otago Public Health Expert (2022, March 9). Longer-term harm from Covid-19 in children: The evidence suggests greater efforts are needed to protect children in Aotearoa NA from infection [Blog post]. https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/longer-term-harm-from-covid-19-in-children-the-evidence-suggests-greater-efforts-are-needed-to-protect-children-in-aotearoa-nz-from-infection/

2. Hipkins, Chris (2022, April 4). New Zealand to stay at Red as vaccine passes and most mandates end. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-stay-red-vaccine-passes-and-most-mandates-end

3. Lindsley, W.G., Derk, R.C., Coyle, J. P., Martin Jr., S. B., Mead, K. R., Blachere, F. M., Beezhold, D. H., Brooks, J. T., Boots, T., & Noti, J. D. (2021). Efficacy of Portable Air Cleaners and Masking for Reducing Indoor Exposure to Simulated Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols – United States, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, (70), 972-976.

4. Science Media Centre New Zealand (2022). Covid-19 school spread speeds up – Expert Reaction. https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2022/03/18/covid-19-school-spread-speeds-up-expert-reaction/

Science Media Centre New Zealand (2022). NZ moves to the Orange traffic light setting – Expert Reaction. https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2022/04/13/nz-moves-to-the-orange-traffic-light-setting-expert-reaction/