Wednesday 17th November 2021

Kia ora koutou,

It was so good to see your children today - thank you for managing the different drop-offs and pick-up slots. The gate system will become streamlined once we are all used to it. It was just delightful to see and hear the children working in their classrooms and playing outside. Very innovative programmes and games throughout the day.

We remain vigilant at school with our Ventilation, Hand washing, Social Distancing and masks worn by Year 4, 5 and 6 children and adults to help keep everyone safe. With cases continuing to pop up around us, we must all do what we can to mitigate the spread and continue to follow the Covid 19 Level 3 expectations. Someone within our community may inevitably have a Positive Covid Test. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education do have systems and procedures we need to follow.

When there is a confirmed case in the community, public health officials will undertake a case investigation and work closely with the confirmed case to identify any close contacts, including any connection to our school. Health officials will then contact either our regional Director of Education or the school directly to guide us through the contact tracing and other relevant information.

If a staff member, parent, or caregiver notifies me that they or their child are a confirmed case, I will contact our regional Director of Education and provide advice on the next steps. Their team will connect with public health services to seek advice on the next steps for our school. Usually, the first contact is via the public health officials. We will be able to identify those in our school who may also be considered contacts through our:

• timetable (which staff were onsite with which classes, groups, bubbles)

• attendance register

• visitor register (if any)

I will send out frequent news to keep our community informed, based on public health advice, including for any person who may need to self-isolate and get tested.

Thanks to all the children, parents and staff for making this such a successful and historical day.

Ka kite onō

Jeanette Dunning