School is open 8.15am - Monday 31 August - Alert Level 2 -(updated 25th August, 2020)

Takapuna Primary School - Key Points for Parents at Alert Level 2

At all times we will be following the most up to date advice from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. Full details of the school's Alert Level 2 plan is available for viewing on our website TPS: Alert Level 2 Plan

We are excited to welcome all of our children back on Monday 31 August. If your child is unwell they MUST stay home. If a child shows symptoms of being unwell at school they will need to be picked up immediately.

Drop off:

1. • Due to Ministry tracing requirements, we are not permitting parents to enter the school grounds. We understand that this might be difficult for some children and families, please contact your classroom teacher if you have any concerns.

   • Drop off is at the following designated gates:

     • Killarney Street gates (Whānau Kiwi - Year 0, 1, 2 & older siblings)

     • Auburn Street gates (Whānau Tūī and Kererū- Year 3, 4, 5, 6)

     • Anzac Street gates (Whānau Tūī and Kererū- Year 3, 4, 5, 6)

   • Staff will be present at all gates to assist with drop off.

   • Children can be dropped off from 8.15am to 9.00am. All gates will then be locked.

   • If you are running late, call the office 489 6339. After 9.00am entry will be through the Auburn Street Office only.

   • We advise walking your children to school. If you are waiting in line to enter the school - physical distancing rules apply.

During the school day

• Water fountains will be closed, all children must have their own-named drink bottles, these can be refilled using classroom water taps.

• You are welcome to provide hand sanitiser and a named towel (to support regular hand washing and sanitising).

• Distance Learning will be provided only for those who cannot attend school for medical reasons under Alert level 2 or are required by health authorities to self-isolate. Alert Level 2 Distance Learning will differ from that provided at Alert Levels 4 & 3

• Until further notice, children are not to bring in any personal equipment such as balls

Pick up times: - please note staggered times

• Year 0, 1, 2 and their siblings 2.45pm - 3.15pm

• Year 3, 4, 5, 6 (Whānau Tūī and Kererū) 3.00pm - 3.15pm

• Pick up is at the same gates as drop off. Anzac Street carpark is closed from 2.30pm to vehicles.

• After School Care is available from Monday afternoon, for those who are registered with Mel - phone 021 207 3248

• At this time, there will be no additional after school activities on school grounds for this first week back.

These guidelines will be regularly reviewed and may change as we spend more time at Alert Level 2.

Regards,

Devika Tagg (Principal)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to a range of other illnesses such as influenza. Having any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have COVID-19.

Symptoms include:

• fever

• coughing

• difficulty breathing.

Preventing the risk

You can take some simple steps to help stop the spread of diseases like COVID-19:

• Avoid close contact with people with cold or flu-like illnesses.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing.

• Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with water and soap and dry them thoroughly:

  • before eating or handling food

  • after using the toilet

  • after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose or wiping children’s noses

  • after caring for sick people.

Go to the Ministry of Health website for more information about preventing the risk:

COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) guidance – Ministry of Health

This email was sent: Wednesday 14th May, 2020

Takapuna Primary School Key Points for Parents at Alert Level 2

At all times we will be following the most up to date advice from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. Full details of the school's Alert Level 2 plan is available for viewing on our website: TPS: Alert Level 2 Plan

We are excited to welcome all our children back on Monday 18 May. Please read the following important information.

Before school and entry onto the site

If your child is unwell they MUST stay home. If a child shows symptoms of being unwell at school they will need to be picked up immediately.

Drop off:

• Due to Ministry tracing requirements, we are not permitting parents to enter the school grounds. We understand that this might be difficult for some children and families, please contact your classroom teacher if you have any concerns.

• Drop off is at the following designated gates (also refer to attached map):

  • Killarney Street gates (Whānau Kiwi - Year 0, 1, 2 & older siblings)

  • Auburn Street gates (Whānau Tūī and Kererū- Year 3, 4, 5, 6)

  • Anzac Street gates (Whānau Tūī and Kererū- Year 3, 4, 5, 6)

• Staff will be present at all gates to assist with drop off.

• Children can be dropped off from 8.00am to 9.00am. Gates will then be locked.

• If you are running late, call the office 489 6339, entry will be from Auburn Street Office

• For parents who usually drive, we advise using parking along Pupuke Lake or Shore City and walking your children to school.

• If you are waiting in line to enter the school - physical distancing rules apply.

During the school day

• Water fountains will be closed, all children must have their own-named drink bottles, these can be refilled using classroom water taps.

• You are welcome to provide hand sanitiser and a named towel

• Good hygiene practices will be maintained throughout the day with regular hand washing and sanitising.

• Physical distancing measures will be applied where possible (eg. distanced seating at eating and mat times, no assemblies).

• Distance Learning will be provided only for those who cannot attend school for medical reasons under Alert level 2 or are required by health authorities to self-isolate. Alert Level 2 Distance Learning will differ from that provided at Alert Levels 4 & 3

• Until further notice, children are not to bring in any personal equipment such as balls

End of the day - please note staggered times

Pick up times:

• Year 0, 1, 2 and their siblings 2.40pm - 3.15pm

• Year 3, 4, 5, 6 (Whānau Tūī and Kererū) 3.00pm - 3.15pm

• Pick up is at the same gates as drop off (see above and map attached). Staff will be present to assist.

• After School Care is available from Monday afternoon for those who are registered with Mel

• At this time, there will be no additional after school activities on school grounds until further notice

These guidelines will be regularly reviewed and may change as we spend more time at Alert Level 2.

Regards,

Devika Tagg (Principal)

Takapuna Primary School

This email was sent:Tuesday, 21 April 2020

Urgent Update: Alert Level 3

Kia ora koutou

Yesterday the Government decided that we will move into Alert Level 3 on 28 April. That means we will be open to receive those students who need to be at school from 29 April.

The key message for you is that if you can, you should keep your child at home. You should only physically send your child to school if you need to.

I want to assure you that we will continue to support your child’s learning at home. In fact, even if your child comes to school, they will be doing the same online programme as if they were at home. Selected staff will be physically at school in a supervisory role and will be applying physical distancing.

In order to ensure the safety of those children and our staff who do come to school, we will be operating with strict enforcement of health and safety measures. Examples of these procedures will include:

• Arrival and dismissal times may be staggered. More details will follow when we know the numbers

• Students need to bring their device and headphones, so that they can listen to their online lessons

• Physical distancing will apply within the classroom and at break times

• Students will be in a strict bubble of no more than 10, siblings will be kept together

• There will be no mixing within and between bubbles

• Students will stay at one desk/table

• Students will not share learning or sporting equipment

• Break times will be staggered

• Surfaces will be regularly disinfected

• Detailed records will be kept in case contract tracing is required

The Ministry has instructed that we establish an Alert Level 3 roll. As such, and in order for us to plan appropriately, we are asking parents to indicate if their child will be coming to school for Alert Level 3 (and be put on our Alert Level 3 roll) so that we can prioritise our initial bubble and match it to staffing. Your child’s teacher will contact you today to find out whether you can keep your child learning from home, or need your child to attend in person.

We will be in touch again soon with more information. As you have been doing, please keep connecting with your teachers with any questions you might have.

Ngā mihi nui

Devika Tagg (Principal) and Leah Goddard (Board Chairperson)

This email was sent: 13 April 2020

Term 2 begins Wednesday

Kia ora families, whānau of Takapuna Primary School,

Welcome

A warm welcome to Term 2, unlike any other term we have experienced before. We hope everyone is well at home and you are coping under these uncertain times. We would like to acknowledge that some of our families and extended families may be experiencing varying levels of stress and anxiety, due to many reasons, as we are all placed into a world of lock-down. We would like to extend our support in any way that we can, so please contact your child’s teacher, any of our leadership team members and myself if you need any support that we can help with.

• Principal - Devika Tagg - email - devikat@tps.school.nz

• Deputy Principal - Fina Hallman email - finah@tps.school.nz

• Office Manager - Lara Hagberg email - office@tps.school.nz

Distance Learning for Takapuna Primary School

We are beginning our distance learning programmes as of Wednesday, 15th of April. Teachers have been planning with their teams on what this will look like for each of our learning teams. Our job at this time is to support families and our students. We have always recognised that school is so much more for our students than reading, writing and mathematics. It is the social relationship, being connected to teachers and peers that helps build and grow our students. We recognise that the relationship between parents and their children is unique, special, safe and treasured. During times of uncertainty, this relationship comes first in making any child feel secure and loved. We will aim to help set learning, that is fun, engaging, and involve parents to help build quality relationships.

We also invite you to work alongside our teachers, so we can adapt the learning and be more responsive to the needs of our community. Each team has a plan for keeping in touch, getting feedback and working with you. As always, we see our parents, children and teachers as partners in learning. We will keep adding to our school website, any additional ideas and support for you. Please feel free to visit www.tps.school.nz - Distance Learning Tab.

Important online safety considerations

While the internet is a great place for learning and education and during this time a great tool for delivering distance education, there are some things parents and caregivers should remember to be aware of to try and prevent children and young persons from becoming vulnerable online. The following links will help to support you with this:

• 7 tips for parents and whānau

• The best online safety tips for lockdown

Please contact your child’s teacher if you have anything you would like to discuss regarding online safety. If you would like to consider additional parental controls and security, here is a link that might help you get started: Norton Family | Parental Control Software

Warm regards,

Devika Tagg

Principal

Mā te pā ka taea te wakatipu te tamaiti - It takes a village to raise a child

This email was sent: 1:28pm Tuesday March 24, 2020

Kia ora families of Takapuna Primary School,

School holidays brought forward

School holidays are being brought forward so that they are completed within the 4 week period. Holidays will now begin from Monday 30 March to Tuesday 14th April. At the end of the school holidays, schools will be open for distance learning but not physically open for staff to work at schools.

We are in the process of implementing our plan to support your child's learning from home which will begin after school holidays. Each of our learning teams and teachers of Whānau Kiwi, Tūī and Kererū (led by their learning leaders) will be in touch with their learning programmes before the first day of distance learning commences.

We appreciate this is a sudden and significant change, and will be heavily distruptive to many people in our community. We would like to take this time to wish you all the best with your children at home over the holiday period and look forward to working with you in a very different way going forward.

Just a reminder that school is closed 3pm Wednesday 25th of March for all including children of service workers.

You can contact me via email, should you have any urgent queries over the holiday period- devikat@tps.school.nz

www.tps.school.nz

Take care

Devika Tagg

Acting Principal

Takapuna Primary School

This email was sent: 2:43pm Monday March 23, 2020

Dear families of Takapuna Primary School,

As you will be aware, school is closed tomorrow for everyone except for the children of essential service workers (such as doctors, nurses, police, ambulance workers, supermarket workers). In order to assist our planning, please let us know if your child will be attending school tomorrow. We will be in the office area to greet your children at 9am.

Please note school is CLOSED from Wednesday 3pm for everyone. We will be in touch tomorrow.

Take care of yourselves and each other!

Regards and best wishes,

Devika Tagg and Leah Goddard

Board of Trustees

Takapuna Primary School

This email was sent: 12:10pm Sunday March 22, 2020

Dear families of Takapuna Primary School,

You would have seen the latest developments shared by the Prime Minister, explaining the levels of response to Covid-19.

New guidelines use 4 levels of Alert - currently we are at alert level 2.This means schools remain open.

We know COVID-19 feels scary and of course people are concerned for the wellbeing of our children. Please be assured that we currently have no case confirmed in our school. If our school does need to close temporarily, we have a plan in place to support student’s learning. The best defence continues to be good hygiene practice and physical distancing.

Takapuna Primary School is making sure that any high risk members of staff are working from home. Despite this, we have enough staff to continue all classroom programmes.

We are getting the most up to date advice and guidance so that we can confidently make informed decisions about the safety and wellbeing of our school community. We look forward to our students being at school on Monday.

We really appreciate your support with this and we are all in this together.

Ngā mihi

Devika Tagg

Acting Principal

Takapuna Primary School

This email was sent: 4:15pm Wednesday March 18, 2020

Kia ora families,

With the recent COVID-19 developments we have made the decision to postpone our goal sharing interviews that were planned for next Wednesday the 25th of March and Thursday the 26th of March. School will be open as normal on Wednesday 25th March, and not closing early as planned.

In addition we will not be holding any planned school events for this term. The following events will not be taking place:

Friday 20th March: Kiwi Swimming Expo

Kiwi visit to the Auckland Museum (March 30, 31 and April 1)

Year 6 Waterwise

We will be revising the timetable for Culture Week which is in week 10 and will let you know the details as soon as possible.

With the changing nature of this situation we will keep communicating any information as it comes to hand. We understand this is disappointing, but we will do our best to reschedule these events when we can.

Please contact us if you have any queries.

Devika Tagg

Acting Principal

This email was sent: 12:20pm Tuesday March 17, 2020

Dear Families of Takapuna Primary School,

On 14 March, the Prime Minister announced new and strong protective measures in respect of COVID-19 to keep individuals, families and communities safe and healthy. The measures came into effect from 1am Monday 16 March 2020.

In order to help us maintain a safe environment for our school, we ask that you phone or email the school office if anyone in your household arrives from overseas after this date. Following the current advice from the Government and Ministry of Health, could you please provide us with:

• Your/household member/your child’s arrival date in NZ

• Which country/ies have you visited during this trip

• The date you anticipate your child returning to school

• The extent of self-isolation measures you have in place in your household.

Once you have informed the school, your child's teacher can discuss your effective self-isolation measures as well as communicate with you to provide any additional learning support where appropriate.

Read more about COVID-19 self-isolation.

We continue to ask for your support to prevent the risk of infection. Below are the messages we are sharing with our children and staff at school:

• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dry

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

• Stay home when you are sick

• Cough or sneeze with a tissue (throw the tissue in the bin) and wash your hands, avoid coughing and sneezing into your hands

• Get a good night's sleep, eat well and look after ourselves

• Be kind to each other

Large group gatherings: While it is not a requirement imposed by the Ministry, we are taking steps to reduce and change ways that our children are gathering. An example of this, is reducing our whole school assembly to smaller year group assemblies, until further notice.

Finally, a reminder once again that any students or parents/family members who are ill should not be coming into or attending school.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. I will send through any information and advice given by the Ministry as I receive it.

Kind regards,

Devika Tagg

Acting Principal

Takapuna Primary School

This email was sent: 1:50pm Thursday March 12, 2020

Update for Families: COVID-19

Kia Ora Families of Takapuna Primary School,

You may have seen that the World Health Organisation has now declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As noted by the Minister of Health, this doesn’t change what New Zealand is doing to respond to coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health has been working through its pandemic plan since January. You will also know the Government has already implemented a range of measures to minimise the impacts to New Zealand. This includes border restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate on arrival in New Zealand from China, Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea and immediate and detailed contact tracing of any confirmed cases. It is important to note those four countries account for more than 90% of cases globally and China and the Republic of Korea have significantly declining numbers of new cases.

We have 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and it is pleasing to know they are all doing well and are at home. Their children, four students at Auckland schools, continue to be well and show no symptoms. While we expect that more cases will arise, the Ministry of Health says that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low in New Zealand. We all have a role to play in this.

For our school, our pandemic plan is also ready to be implemented if needed. In the mean time we will continue to focus on good hygiene practices. Hand washing and good cough etiquette are very important tools in preventing the spread of illness including colds, flu and COVID-19.

With that, there is a good video clip from Nanogirl that will help your children to better understand the virus - YouTube clip - Nanogirl

You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus:

• Watch on the PM’s Facebook page

• Read and watch on the Newshub website

One other action we can all take is to be vigilant about our own health and the health of our children. I will be encouraging my staff to stay away from school if they are showing signs of illness such as coughs and colds. I ask that you please do the same with your children. Colds and flus are common in schools and by staying away, seeking medical attention and practicing good hygiene, we can all keep any spread of illness to a minimum.

Ngā mihi

Devika Tagg

Acting Principal

This PDF email was sent: 4:20pm Thursday March 5

This PDF email was sent: 2:13pm Wednesday March 4, 2020

Dated: 02 March, 2020

Koutou katoa

You will have seen the Prime Minister has announced that the first case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in New Zealand (see the full media release below).

This case was identified because the person and the family affected did the right thing and got in touch with health authorities.

The patient confirmed with COVID-19 is being treated in Auckland City Hospital. They are in an improving condition in isolation, in a negative pressure room to prevent any spread of the disease.

What is still important is that we are all careful and observe basic health safety.

Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence:

o wash your hands often with soap and water before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet

o cover coughs and sneezes with clean tissues or your elbow

o put used tissues in the bin

We encourage anyone to stay home if unwell. If you are concerned that someone is showing symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath, encourage them to first ring Healthline (0800 358 5453) or contact their GP by phoning ahead of their visit to explain symptoms and travel history. Take care of yourself, your whnau and your community through these measures.

TPS: Important information about the Corona Virus

January, 2020

Dear parents and families of Takapuna Primary School

We are closely monitoring information provided by the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education which currently advises that there are no cases of the virus in New Zealand and that the risk of an outbreak in New Zealand is low. However, please note the following:

1. If your child is unwell, they should not be at school. We urge you to contact Healthline at 0800 611 116 or your GP for medical advice. If your child is at school and is unwell, we will be contacting parents immediately.

2. If you or your child have returned from China in the last two weeks, contact the school immediately on 09-489 6339 and let us know. We ask that you voluntarily stay away from school for 14 days.

3. If you or your child have been in contact with anyone who has been confirmed with the virus we ask that you stay away from school for 14 days. Please also contact the school immediately and let us know.

4. We will encourage all our students and staff to wash and sanitise their hands and take standard hygiene precautions.

If you would like more information, you can go to the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health websites:

Ministry of Health - Coronavirus Information:

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

Ministry of Education - Coronavirus information

http://education.govt.nz/news/novel-coronavirus/

If you have any concerns about your children, the Ministry of Health guidance suggests that you contact Healthline at 0800 611 116 or your GP for medical advice.

We are regularly monitoring advice from the Ministry of Health and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service. Should they determine that the situation has changed, we will inform you of this as soon as possible. Our first day of school commences on Tuesday 4th of February.

Regards,

Devika Tagg

Acting Principal

Takapuna Primary School