Office Hours and Stationery for 2023

The school office will be open from 9am to 2pm each day from Tuesday 24 January 2023. This will be for all enrolments, uniform and stationery purchases.

Our first day of school is Wednesday 1 February office hours are 8 to 3pm

Stationery Packs Price

Year 1 – 2 $27.00

Year 3 – 4 $42.00

Year 5 – 6 $42.00

Year 7 – 8 $52.00

Year 9 – 10 $30.00

Year 11 – 13 $23.00

Kia ora Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

Welcome to our last newsletter for 2022.

As we approach the end of the year, I reflect on what we have all experienced during 2022. Just as we did during 2021, and what a year it has been.

Even through this adversity as a school and a community, we have still managed to deliver quality-learning outcomes for our students.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of Tongariro School for their ongoing commitment to delivering sound teaching and learning experiences, which have engaged students and helped them understand and accept the outside influences around COVID and its side effects.

Ka pai to mahi!

Our school wide refurbishment and rebuild is now underway with Stead Construction leading the project. We anticipate our senior students being in their new building towards the end of 2023. Our Year 7 & 8 students have now moved into the prefab buildings area of the school and will be there for some time.

Finally, I advise our community that I will be on sabbatical until 26 April 2023 and the school will be ably lead by the Acting Principal Mrs. Denise New. Please refer any questions to her that would normally come to me.

I trust everybody has a relaxing and happy Christmas and New Year break and school looks forward to welcoming all students back when school starts on Wednesday 1 February 2023.

Merry Christmas

Steve Allen

Principal

Tongariro School

Tongariro School

30^th March 2022

Kia ora Parents, Whanau and Caregivers,

I am writing to keep you updated about how our school is continuing to respond to COVID-19 in New Zealand.

As you may have seen, in the last few days the media has reported a reduction in the number of daily cases.

While we know that cases in school will rise and fall with that of the level in our community, our health experts tell us that children are much more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 in the community than at school. We also know that nationally in mid-March no more than 4% of teachers in any seven-day period reported as testing positive. It is currently around 3.5%.

As you know, it’s great for any child’s wellbeing and learning to be at school with their friends, teachers and other school staff. You also know that we have very good systems in place to keep everyone as safe as possible.

This is why we remain open at Red.

I wanted to remind you that in our school we are keeping the additional layers of protection in place to help prevent or reduce the risk of onward spread.

We know that being fully vaccinated and boosted reduces the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. We are encouraging all adults in our school who are working with students to be vaccinated including their booster. If they are eligible, I encourage you to get your child vaccinated, too.

I know that some of you still have questions about this, however, so I’ve included links to a video that answers many of the common questions about the vaccine:

· Common questions about the vaccine (English) – KidsHealth

· Common questions about the vaccine (te reo Māori) – KidsHealth

Mask wearing for our students Year 5 and above and for adults remains in place in indoor spaces and we are getting lots of fresh air during the day. We also continue to focus on basic hygiene such as washing hands regularly, covering any coughs and sneezes, and cleaning surfaces regularly.

Like the links above, KidsHealth has some other great resources you may be interested in:

· Why wearing masks and creating airflow helps – KidsHealth

· Back to school with Omicron in 2022 – KidsHealth

From time to time some students will need to isolate at home. This is in line with Government advice and if this happens, we will support them to continue their learning home to minimise any interruption.

According to the Paediatric Society of NZ, in most children COVID-19 is a mild illness. It can be managed by whānau with some simple measures such as keeping fluids up and keeping an eye on your tamaiti (child).

If you have any concerns about sending your child to school, please get in touch – out team is here to help. We want children to be at school and engaging in learning with their friends.

In keeping with enrolment requirements students who are away from school for no good reason for 20 consecutive days have to be removed from the school roll. Tongariro School is beginning this process with students where we have no reason for them being absent. Students who we are concerned about will be referred to the School Attendance Service for follow-up.

Your job remains the same, too: please continue to keep a really close watch of your whānau for anyone with symptoms. If unwell, please stay at home and get advice about getting a COVID-19 test.

Noho ora mai,

Steven Allen

Principal

Tongariro School

01/03/2022

Kia ora Parents, Caregivers and Whanau

Today I have been informed that we have another confirmed case of COVID 19 within our school population. The student has not attended school since 24 February.

As our numbers grow (as they will) I will not be putting out a newsletter every time but be assured that classroom teachers of students who test positive will be informed and will be very vigilant around any symptoms they might observe. All students who exhibit any of the symptoms will be sent home immediately. Please have a plan in place should this be the case in your family.

Under the new phase three response to COVID 19 as a school were are not required to identify close contacts but it is very important that you monitor your child’s health and wellbeing and if any of the symptoms below are observed they should be removed from school and have a test immediately. They include

Below is the guidance, which I have taken directly from the Ministry of Education web site to help you understand what phase 3 means

Schools connected to a confirmed case

What cases and contacts need to do in Phase 3

In addition to below guidelines, stay home if you're feeling unwell. If cases remain unwell, they should seek additional health advice.

For more information about what to do if you are a case or contact, and for information about the support available in the different phases, please visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website.(external link)

If you have COVID-19:

• You will be notified by text. If you do not have a mobile number, you will receive a call.

• You will be asked to complete an online COVID-19 contact tracing form if possible.

• If you can’t do this, we will call you to complete this over the phone.

• Cases are advised to notify your household, workplace and/or education setting.

• You should also let your close contacts know you have tested positive. These are people you spent time within close vicinity when not wearing a mask eg, your partner or close friends.

• You will need to self-isolate at home for 10 days from when you got tested or when your symptoms started.

• Avoid contact with other household members to the greatest extent possible during your isolation period.

• Wear a mask and physically distance in shared spaces during your isolation.

• You can end your self-isolation after 10 days – you may receive a text message confirming the end of your isolation. You do not need to wait for an official message or release to leave isolation.

If you are a household contact

• You may be notified that you are a household contact by a person that you live with who has COVID-19, or by text.

• If you live with someone who has been confirmed to have COVID-19, you need to self-isolate:

· from the day that the case receives their positive test result (or is notified as probable)

· until the case completes their 10 days of self-isolation.

• You need to get a RAT test on day 3 and day 10 of the case’s (person with COVID-19) isolation period, and a test if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms. You will be advised how to access free RATs.

• If any of these tests return a positive result, you are a ‘case’ and need to isolate for 10 days from either the day of symptom onset or the day you get a positive result.

• Avoid or minimise contact with the person with COVID-19 to the greatest extent possible during your isolation at home.

• You can end your self-isolation on the same day as the (first) person with COVID-19 in the household, provided all of your tests were negative including your day 10 test.

If you are a close contact (outside of the household)

• If you have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19, that person may notify you directly.

• You may also hear about this contact via your employer or school.

• You do not need to isolate.

• You do not need to test.

• Monitor for symptoms for 10 days.

• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms and if this is a PCR test, stay at home until you get a negative result.

Please feel free to contact school if you require any further information. Please be aware the school will not be providing any information as to who the students are due to the Privacy Act.

Remember wearing masks is the best way to protect yourself from COVID 19.

Stay well and stay safe.

Nga mihi

Steve Allen

Principal

Tongariro School

25/02/2022

Kia ora Parents, Caregivers and Whanau

Today we have been informed that there are two confirmed cases of COVID 19 within our school population. The two students have only attended one day since becoming infected, which was the 18^th February.

Under the new phase three response to COVID 19 as a school were are not required to identify close contacts but it is very important that you monitor your child’s health and wellbeing and if any of the symptoms below are observed they should be removed from school and have a test immediately. They include

Below is the guidance, which I have taken directly from the Ministry of Education web site to help you understand what phase 3 means

Schools connected to a confirmed case

What cases and contacts need to do in Phase 3

In addition to below guidelines, stay home if you're feeling unwell. If cases remain unwell, they should seek additional health advice.

For more information about what to do if you are a case or contact, and for information about the support available in the different phases, please visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website.(external link)

If you have COVID-19:

• You will be notified by text. If you do not have a mobile number, you will receive a call.

• You will be asked to complete an online COVID-19 contact tracing form if possible.

• If you can’t do this, we will call you to complete this over the phone.

• Cases are advised to notify your household, workplace and/or education setting.

• You should also let your close contacts know you have tested positive. These are people you spent time within close vicinity when not wearing a mask eg, your partner or close friends.

• You will need to self-isolate at home for 10 days from when you got tested or when your symptoms started.

• Avoid contact with other household members to the greatest extent possible during your isolation period.

• Wear a mask and physically distance in shared spaces during your isolation.

• You can end your self-isolation after 10 days – you may receive a text message confirming the end of your isolation. You do not need to wait for an official message or release to leave isolation.

If you are a household contact

• You may be notified that you are a household contact by a person that you live with who has COVID-19, or by text.

• If you live with someone who has been confirmed to have COVID-19, you need to self-isolate:

· from the day that the case receives their positive test result (or is notified as probable)

· until the case completes their 10 days of self-isolation.

• You need to get a RAT test on day 3 and day 10 of the case’s (person with COVID-19) isolation period, and a test if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms. You will be advised how to access free RATs.

• If any of these tests return a positive result, you are a ‘case’ and need to isolate for 10 days from either the day of symptom onset or the day you get a positive result.

• Avoid or minimise contact with the person with COVID-19 to the greatest extent possible during your isolation at home.

• You can end your self-isolation on the same day as the (first) person with COVID-19 in the household, provided all of your tests were negative including your day 10 test.

If you are a close contact (outside of the household)

• If you have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19, that person may notify you directly.

• You may also hear about this contact via your employer or school.

• You do not need to isolate.

• You do not need to test.

• Monitor for symptoms for 10 days.

· Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms and if this is a PCR test, stay at home until you get a negative result.

Please feel free to contact school if you require any further information. Please be aware the school will not be providing any information as to who the students are due to the Privacy Act.

Remember wearing masks is the best way to protect yourself from COVID 19.

Stay well and stay safe.

Nga mihi

Steve Allen

Principal

Tongariro School

1st February 2022

Kia ora parent, caregivers, and whanau

A very warm welcome back to the 2022 school year. I trust everybody had time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

We start this year under some trying times with the government’s announcement that we will be operating at COVID Red Level for the foreseeable future. We are eagerly awaiting detailed Guidance and Advice from the Ministry of Education (MOE) regarding how schools will operate under this Red Level. Some has been provided and I want to share this with you today. I also want to explain how our school will be dealing with visitors to our school and the protocols that we are putting in place. Once MOE provide further guidance I will share it with everybody through the channels we presently use which include the newsletter email option, Skoolloop App (This is available through the App site and is free), and on the school website. School will also be developing a Facebook page to share important information on as well.

The following points are to be followed at all times unless individuals have government issued exemptions that allow for a departure from the mandated Health Order that is in place under Red Level.

· The only entry point for people to enter our school will be via the Waipapa Road main entrance. All other entrances will be permanently locked. This is so we can carefully and accurately monitor those who are on the school site

· All visitors must report to the school office on arrival and sign in or scan the QR code. There is no exception to this. Please do not go directly to classrooms or other facilities within the school. You will be asked to leave if you do.

· Parents dropping children off need to do so outside the gate. Please do not drive onto the school site. This entry will be busy and we do not need extra vehicles in this area.

· Please limit the visits that you need to have to school and if at all possible communicate via phone or email. The address is above.

· Whilst on Tongariro School grounds an officially accepted mask must be worn at all times.

· All students from Year 5 up are required to wear a mask whilst inside school buildings and during class time. Teachers will also have to wear masks at this time as well.

· Classes will not be mixing during the day at all.

· During breaks, children who are outside do not need to wear a mask but need to be mindful of social distancing.

We thank you in advance for adhering to these protocols. They are intended to help keep us all safe.

Staff save

Nga mihi

Steve Allen

Principal

Tongariro School.

Kia ora koutou

New COVID-19 Protection (Traffic Light) Framework

You may have heard that everyone in Aotearoa will move to the new COVID-19 Traffic Light Framework on Friday 3 December. We will be moving to Red/Orange.

Elimination and the alert levels have worked well, with New Zealand having the lowest numbers of cases and hospitalisations in the OECD. While controlled, Delta is in our communities and the strategy now focuses on minimising its impact.

With 85% of eligible New Zealanders now fully vaccinated, and by mid-December it is expected to be approximately 90%, this allows a careful reopening while continuing to protect New Zealanders.

This means that we don’t have to change the way we are operating classes this year and everyone can continue to attend school onsite.

For next year, we can confirm that everyone will be back onsite for learning from the start of the school year, regardless of what setting under the new Traffic Light Framework we will be in (Red/Orange/Green). This is good news and means we can plan for a great 2022.

Health measures in place at school

This year and next, health, safety and wellbeing will continue to be a priority for us and the same public health measures you are very familiar with will remain in place:

• good hygiene and cleaning

• contact tracing systems in place

• vaccination requirements for workers (paid and unpaid)

• if you are sick, you must stay home and get tested

• good ventilation.

[For regions at Red from 3 December] One change is that face coverings are encouraged to be worn when indoors for students and staff in years 4 – 13.

And if we are at Red at any stage next year:

• face coverings will be required at school when indoors for students and staff in years 4 – 13

• we will ask that only essential visitors come onsite.

With all these measures in place, public health has confirmed the risk of infection remains low when at school, with households continuing to be where COVID-19 is spreading the most. As noted by Dr Caroline McElnay, Director of Public Health:

Our experience in New Zealand and overseas with COVID-19 shows that it does not affect children and teens in the same way it does adults. Children and teens don't become as unwell if they do get infected, and they don't tend to pass the virus on so much as adults when in a classroom setting.

Compared to other places, schools and early learning services are not environments where we have seen significant spread of COVID-19. Household members and work colleagues who are in close contact with people with COVID-19, are the most common sources of transmission.

However, if we do have someone confirmed with COVID-19 in our school, we have a plan in place to manage this and will contact you as soon as possible.

If you’d like to learn more about the framework visit COVID-19 Protection Framework.

Ngā mihi

Steven Allen

Principal