Hi everyone

It has been fantastic having everyone come back to school and to see the school full of smiling happy faces. There is a lovely energy once again in the school and it is wonderful to reconnect with our students! Students are really happy to be back, they are engaged and working hard on their studies and on the new expectations.

Wow, what great news we have just had for our community. To receive 32 million is so fantastic, a magic moment. Of course, rebuilding a school will take time. We have to design, consult, and then plan, but in due course we will have a school that both students and our community can use. We will be consulting with you all for your input and ideas - so watch the space.

I wanted to remind you of our NEW NORMAL processes at school. We have been very clear about our messages, and hope that you can do all you can at home to support these messages and expectations with your children.

Our NEW NORMAL under Alert Level 2:

• Students to use wall mounted sanitizers on entry and exit to each class
• Students to keep 1 metre physical distancing from each other
• Students sit separated at desks in classrooms
• No physical games at interval or lunch
• No canteen
• No Knowledge Hub at intervals and lunch
• No homework club
• We expect all students to be able to contact trace if required - so know where they have been before and after school on any given day.

The school is thoroughly cleaned each night.

At this stage we still do not know about sports, but we will have more clarity next week.

Learning:
In respect to your learning, the best thing you can do is to be here every day. We will get you up to speed and make your learning a priority. Staff have modified their programmes to ensure you are all going to be well looked after, but we need you to work in partnership with us. Being here is critical in order to succeed.

We look forward to seeing a full school on Monday.

Keep up the wonderful work you are all doing.
Take care and be kind,

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Hi everyone

TAITA COLLEGE WILL BE OPEN FROM 18 MAY 2020, 8.45AM - starting with Tutor Time.

We can’t wait to see you all on Monday. It was lovely in our staff meeting this week, to hear of the great stories of connection that have occurred with both students and whānau in our COVID-19 lockdown. We know our families have been so appreciative and supportive of our team approach, and similarly we have seen amazing resilience, leadership and strength as a community!

We’ve got this team! We will do everything to get your learning back on target and make sure you achieve to the best of your ability. Seniors, we can get you through NCEA - you just need to be here and be an active learner.

Whilst we expect all students to be back to school on Monday 18 May, it will not be business as normal. We are aware that most of you are really looking forward to returning, but it is going to be different - and we are going to need all of you to step up and lead from the front to ensure everyone’s safety is not compromised.

Attendance:
Wellbeing has and still is our focus, so we will do all that we can to alleviate any concerns of return you may have. If you feel that home is still the safest place, you will not be penalised in any way for staying at home, however, we will have some expectations.

If you feel that at Alert Level 2 you have reservations about returning to Taita College, here is what you need to do.

1. Contact your Year level dean and discuss your situation, contact the school.
2. Ensure you have hardcopy materials or a laptop/chromebook in order to learn online, or let us know if you don’t.
3. We expect you as learners and as a whānau to link to teachers to keep learning as the focus and be on task.

Please note: Teachers will be teaching at school. They will not be offering a double programme for learners who choose to stay at home, so it will be up to the families and students to stay connected online or via phone calls and emails with teachers, to keep on top of all learning.

Parents/whānau: Must sign in at the main office if visiting the college. Please do not go into any classrooms or wander onsite at this time. We have to contact trace all visitors for safety, and organise any visits in a safe manner.

Returning to school - some must do's:

1. Bring a school bag, no other student can carry books for someone else
2. Bring your own pens, paper, books - you will not be able to share
3. Bring lunch - no leaving school to get food, the canteen is closed, and we ask that parents do not drop food off to students throughout the day here at school
4. Students are not to leave the school site in the day, unless for a valid reason and must sign out at the office.
5. Follow all staff instructions
6. All classes will have a seating plan to stick with
7. Students will need to sanitise hands on entry/exit of classes
8. Keep physical distancing (1 metre)
9. If you have a device at home, bring that to school to use.

No contact or physical games will be played in the playground/fields such as basketball/touch.

Canteen will be closed.

The Knowledge Hub will be closed at interval and lunch.

Any student who does not comply with these expectations will be sent home.

Of course once we settle in, each day, we will reassess where things are at. We need assurance you are all going to make good decisions and be safe here at school, and when we have confidence you can do this, we will be able to look at what we can open or add to the things we can do.

Please see the student expectations that have much more detail that you will need to adhere to.

Health and safety:
The school has been thoroughly cleaned and wall mounted hand sanitizers have been installed into every classroom and main areas in the school to be used on entry and exit in every class. We expect strict adherence to physical distancing, washing hands and Alert Level 2 safety and health expectations on return to school.

Sport:
At this stage we do not have any clear guidance, but by next week we will know more about what this could look like for Winter codes and regional sports.

Take care and be kind,

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Kia ora koutou

TAITA COLLEGE WILL BE OPEN FROM 18 MAY 2020, 8.45AM - starting with Tutor Time.

This is really great news! We are looking forward to you all being back at school and seeing you again.

Whilst we expect all students to be back to school on Monday 18 May, it will not be business as normal. There will be very strict health and safety guidelines we will all have to follow and respect.

You, your whānau and our community wellbeing and health is still paramount. We need to be careful in Alert Level 2, and once again take every step to act responsibly and make good decisions to safeguard each other.

The school has been thoroughly cleaned and wall mounted hand sanitizers have been installed into every classroom and main areas in the school to be used on entry and exit in every class. We expect strict adherence to physical distancing, washing hands and Alert Level 2 safety and health expectations on return to school.

We will send out more details on Friday, so that you are all very clear about the first day back game plan, and the plan for the week. Your learning and success is very important to us, and once we are back we will be able to reset to get your learning back on target.

We have broken down some key expectations that we require everyone to follow, as part of our return to school safety plan.

Please read and familiarise yourself with our guidelines by clicking on the ALERT LEVEL 2 button below, so that you feel confident with Alert Level 2 processes and procedures we will all be following on our return.

See you soon.
Take care and keep being kind to each other,

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Hi everyone

I thought I would make a little video to say hi to you all!
Watch the video and then read the text below.

We are still in Alert Level 3 and will be until the 11th May.
This means, everyone still stays at home, and you all learn using hardcopy materials or online through Google classroom, zoom etc.

Whilst school is technically open in Alert Level 3 for Yr 9 and 10 students who NEED to be at school, we anticipate that no students will be attending throughout this time.

Stay safe, stay in your bubble and be kind.
Link with your teachers online and through emails, so you are really clear what you should be working on.

Wellbeing:
If you need anything let us know, we will do all we can to support you and your whānau.
Challenge for you all:

1. Get up before 9am.
2. Get out of your pyjamas before 9am.
3. Check in with your teachers.
4. Open up your curtains to get natural light into your room.
5. Try to exercise, maybe even make a Tik Tok video with your friends online.

Learning:

• Link to your teachers.
• Check your letterboxes for any work that may have been delivered.
• Try to do 20 minute chunks of learning, have a break, then another 20 mins etc.
• Try doing the major part of your learning in the morning, so you get some free time in the afternoon as a treat!

All we ask is that you do your very best.

This is an interesting time for us all, but please know that we will do all that we can to ensure your academic and learning success.

Hang in there, take it day by day, and give it heaps!
Reflect on your learnings, set some goals, and keep some key routines.

We are proud of you all and the effort you have made to date.
Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.

Take care of each other.

Talk again soon,

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Alert Level 3

Hi everyone

Firstly I wanted to congratulate you on how well you have done in Alert Level 4. You have worked hard to stay in your bubble.
At Alert Level 3, not too much should change. This is a key time for you to keep your bubble small and safe.
Now more than ever we must keep adhering to Government advice and do all of the right things!

KEY MESSAGES:

• Stay at home
• Stay in your bubble
• Stay safe
• Keep physical distancing at all timese
• Be kind to each other

LEARNING:
Yr 9 and Yr 10 - Junior Students
Stay at home, and work from home, either with your hardcopy materials, or on your devices using Google classroom.
Email your teachers if you can to check in with your learning, and what you should be working on.
At this stage we expect no (zero) Yr 9 or Yr 10 students onsite over the next two weeks at Alert Level 3.
Staff have contacted every family to ensure you all have a plan to work safely at home.
Whilst school is technically open for Yr 9/10 students who NEED to be at school, we expect to have zero (0) Yr 9/10 students onsite at school.

Yr 11-13 Senior Students

• Email your teachers.
• Work on your hardcopy material or online.
• Check in with your teachers.
• Set goals for yourself and do your very best to reach them.
• No senior students are to be onsite at all.

KEY LEARNING TIPS:

• Try to do at least 20 minute chunks of work, then take a break.
• Follow your timetable to the best of your ability.
• Get out of bed before 9am.
• Get out of your pyjamas before 9am..
• Pull the curtains open in your house to get some natural light - this will help motivate you!

DEVICES:
The Yr 12 devices have started to be delivered by MOE, however, there have been some issues.
Laptops are going to the wrong students, and then the passwords are not working

We are sorting this out with the Ministry - so read your emails for updates.

No students are to swap devices, go to someone else's house to drop it off, or have someone else drop a laptop to their house - as a means to sort it out.
We do not want any bubbles being broken. We will get it sorted asap.

Wednesday 29 April (and next two weeks, or so) - Whilst school is technically open for Yr 9/10 students, we expect to have zero (0) Yr 9/10 students onsite at school.
No senior students are to be onsite at all.
We expect all students to be learning from home over the next two weeks at least.

Keep up the great effort everyone.
Learning right now is very different and we appreciate it is a new challenge for us all.
Embrace the challenge, learn from the experience, keep up with little routines and goals - this helps.

All we ask is that you do your very best.

Take care
WE MISS YOU!

Arohanui to you all

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Re : Alert Level 3

We hope you and your whānau are safe in your bubble. We are so impressed with the effort you have made to date - well done to you all!

As you know, from next Tuesday 28th of April, the country will move to Alert Level 3.

At Alert Level 3 the vast majority of students will stay at home, stay safe, not break bubbles, and will continue to learn from home. If parents/caregivers are at home, we are asking you to stay at home too.

What does Alert Level 3 mean?

We want all students if and where possible to stay safe and learn from home.

The Government have said:
"Stay home. If you are not at work, school, exercising or getting essentials, then you must be at home, the same as at Level 4.

Work and learn from home if you can. We still want the vast majority of people working from home, and children and young people learning from home. At-risk students and staff should also stay at home, and they will be supported to do so. Early learning centres and schools will physically be open for up to Year 10 for families that need them.”

Taita College will be open from next Wednesday the 29th of April but only for Year 9 and 10 students who NEED to be at school. This will be for students who have no one 14 years or over at home or whose parents have to go to work.

Please note what school will look like at Alert Level 3:
School will not be the same in Alert Level 3.
Year 9/10 students will be assigned to one seat, in one room, and will be 1 metre apart. Each class will only have 8 students in the class, and will have their own break out area and toilet facilities. There will be absolute social and physical distancing. Students will be using Google Classroom supervised by a small number of staff.
Students are to wear mufti, and bring all food and books, pens etc. It will not be school as we know it at all.

Whilst we miss you all, the safest place for you to be right now is home. School will not be exciting at all in alert level 3, but of course if you NEED to be at school we will do our best to look after you.

Keep checking in with your teachers to ensure you all know what to be working on. We believe all hardcopy materials have been delivered or should be this week. Be patient for devices and connectivity to be delivered.

As a country we are breaking the chain. Please keep up the amazing effort you are all making so we can kick COVID-19 to the curb!!

Your wellbeing is the most important thing - so take care and look after each other.

Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.
Talk soon

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Hi everyone

I hope you are all taking care of yourselves and your families.

It is so important that you continue to make good decisions and stay in your bubble, stay safe and know that by doing all of the right things you are breaking the chain and saving lives!

Your safety and health is really important to us right now, so if you need anything at all please contact us via email at COVID19.info@taita.school.nz

It is also important that you stay connected online to your friends/family - have those regular check ins.

Keep your routines going, and try to set 3 goals each week to achieve.

School and learning online will begin next Wednesday the 15th April, so start preparing yourself to be able to check in with your subject teachers. Once again, we advise that you follow your normal school timetable to the best of your ability.

Plan for students Term 2:
Please check the website for COVID-19 updates, check your emails.

Try to stick to your normal timetable as much as you possibly can.

We have ordered devices and hardcopy materials from the Ministry of Education for every student who does not have a device at home - as well as ordering both of these things for every senior student to safeguard learning.
Be patient - it may take time to arrive and will be delivered to your letterbox, or outside door.
Note: The MOE priorities will be senior students.

The Ministry are aware of families who do not have WiFi or connectivity, so they are working on providing that to families who need it.

If you have a device, this is the time where you check in with all of your teachers to be clear you know what you are working on. Your teachers and tutor teachers will be making contact. Please respond to them, so they know you are okay and so that you have a clear plan on your learning from home.

Senior Students:
Connect to your teachers online via email, Google classroom, zoom, messenger
Continue to work on assessments issued prior to lockdown.
Respond to your teachers for new work/assessments.

Junior Students:
Many of you took home hard copies of work before we went into lockdown. Please continue to work on that.
Every student should have received a science booklet to work on in the post.
Google classroom has been set up to access your learning, this is the best platform for you all.
If you have nothing to do until you link to your teachers, then reading is always beneficial.

This is a new learning experience for you all. Let's all do our best to make it both positive and meaningful.
You've got this!

Be great, and work hard.
Take carel

Ms Morgan.

Hi everyone

We just wanted to take a moment to "check in" to ensure you are all doing okay in your bubbles!

Right now the key priority is your safety and health, so if you need anything at all please get in touch with us COVID19.info@taita.school.nz or email your tutor teacher or teachers' should you or your whānau need any support at all. All of our emails are on the website.

It is officially the second week of holidays, so take this time to look after one another. Eat well, drink water and exercise - try to keep good routines.

Once again please do all you can to keep physically isolated - stay safe, be kind, break the chain, and make good choices to protect each other and our community.

School and learning online will begin next Wednesday the 15th April, so start preparing yourself to be able to check in with your subject teachers. Once again, we advise that you follow your normal school timetable to the best of your ability.

We realise many of you seniors have continued to work through the holidays, as have your teachers, as a means to reach your set assessment deadlines and we appreciate that. Your hard work will pay off later, so keep up the amazing effort.

We have been in contact with the Ministry of Education and informed them of all students who do not have devices. In the near future devices and some hardcopy workbooks may be distributed to your homes, but this will depend on the Ministry capability to achieve this huge task nationally.

Finally, we know this is a new experience for all of us. Now, more than ever, we need to lead by example and live our key values - show manaakitanga, kotahitanga and whanaungatanga. We are one heart one beat - and people are most important.

We will get through this, and time will allow things to change for us all.

Have a lovely Easter.

Take care
Arohanui to you all

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Kia ora koutou

We wanted to check in to make sure you are doing okay. We hope you are all doing well and adjusting to self isolating in your homes and looking after those in your bubble. Our key messages to keep at the forefront are:

• STAY AT HOME
• STAY SAFE
• BREAK THE CHAIN
• BE KIND TO EACH OTHER
• STAY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER ONLINE

If you leave your house for exercise or essential goods, remember to keep 2 metres away from anyone who isn't in your bubble & wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.

Establish Routines:

• Regular wake up time, breakfast, bed time.
• Exercise will be important, so perhaps you could all tune into the Les Mills workouts at 9am each day on TVNZ - and we could get fit together!

Goals:

• Set at least 3 goals you set for yourself each week.
  This can give you a real focus and helps you stay motivated. Write a journal and monitor your progress in meeting your goals.

NCEA Assessments and Deadlines:

• Many deadlines were set and work was given to senior students before we went into lockdown and the holidays were moved forward.
• Do all you can to meet those deadlines and communicate to your teachers to ensure you are on target.
• Your teachers are all committed to work alongside you to achieve these assessment deadlines.

Learning:

• Read as much as you can.
• Check in with teachers via email or google classroom

Devices and Connectivity:

• Your tutor teachers should have emailed you to see if you have access to a device at home to work on, and if you have connectivity. Please respond.
• If we have no response from you we will presume you do not have a device or connectivity.
• The Ministry of Education has asked us for information on who doesn’t have online learning capability so we want to be sure we give them the right information if and when they ask us for it.
• The Ministry of Education is trying to get connectivity and devices for all students who need it but it will be a huge undertaking. Please do not rely on this, as depending on the impact of COVID-19 many people will be compromised. Do your best to work on the photocopied material you have at home.

If you have any urgent questions or concerns please email: COVID19.info@taita.school.nz

Please also check our website for the latest communications:

Looking after each other

• Follow all advice given by the Government and Health Board to minimise the impact of COVID-19. For the most up to date information go to: COVID19.GOVT.NZ
• Look after the elderly particularly, and ensure that those who have high health risks are safeguarded as much as possible.
• Take care of each other, make sensible decisions, keep to routines at home, shop sensibly, wash your hands, and stay connected online to friends and family to check in.

We will get through this, but the more we can do to stay safe and isolated, the more we will be able to minimise the impact.

Kia kaha
One heart, one beat!.

Ms Morgan and the TC team.

Kia ora koutou

Wellbeing
As you will all be aware we are now on ALERT LEVEL 4. This means that we are all in self-isolation as a nation so we all must:

STAY AT HOME, STAY SAFE!
Take care of yourselves and your families.

It is really important that we all take responsibility to stay in our “bubble” with the people we live within our house, and not venture out of that bubble, so that together we can minimise the impact of COVID-19. That means you need to stay at home, and not visit friends, or have your friends come over to your house. Of course, you can text, email and stay connected online.

If you leave your house for exercise or essential goods, remember to keep 2 metres away from anyone who isn't in your "bubble" & wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.

School holidays brought forward
The school holidays have been brought forward so that they are completed within the 4 week period of self-isolation. The school holidays will now begin from Monday 30 March to Tuesday 14 April inclusive (a reminder that the Tuesday after Easter Monday is always a closed day for schools).

Please note the instruction to stay at home (Alert Level 4) will continue beyond the new school holiday period, but schools will be technically open for distance instruction. Teachers will be working offsite as all schools are now closed for 4 weeks.

What does that mean for you
Be kind to each other.

Routines will be really important.

We would strongly encourage you all to set some little goals, and try to stick to them each day or week.

Despite it being school holidays from Monday, as we have only just started to learn online and adjust to learning at home, we would strongly encourage you to set up some time each day for your learning. We would normally expect all senior students to be working at home in the holidays, to ensure that work and assessments could be completed.

Staff will be on holiday too, so they may not be in immediate contact with you. However, given the commitment they have for you all and your learning, they will be there online to help and support when they can.

Once the holidays are completed, we would expect a more full timetable online to begin immediately. Do your best to try to self manage you and your learning to the best of your ability.

Your safety
If you or anyone in your family presents any flu-like symptoms such as a runny nose, headache, temperature, is sore and tired, or is coughing, call the Healthline number for advice: 0800 358 5453

If you have any urgent questions or concerns please email: COVID19.info@taita.school.nz

Please also check our website for the latest communications:

Looking after each other
More than ever this is a time to follow all advice given by the Government and Health Board to minimise the impact of COVID-19. For the most up to date information go to:
COVID19.GOVT.NZ

We need to look after the elderly particularly, and ensure that those who have high health risks are safeguarded as much as possible.

Take care of each other, make sensible decisions, keep to routines at home, shop sensibly, and stay connected online to friends and family to

We will get through this, but the more we can do to stay safe and isolated, the more we will be able to minimise the impact.

Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.

Aroha nui to you all.

Karen Morgan
Principal of Taita College

Kia ora koutou

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) we have been instructed by the Government to close the school - Taita College.

If you have any urgent questions or concerns please email: COVID19.info@taita.school.nz

Please also check our website regularly for the latest communications: taita.school.nz

What does this mean for you and your child:l.

• No student would be allowed on the school site or property whilst closed.
• We will be sending any messages to you as a family via email, the School APP, or text messages, to stay connected.
• We would ask that you check emails each day to be aware of any changes or important messages. A key message time would be 3pm each day for any updates, if there are any changes at all.
• As parents you would need to take full responsibility for your child at home, and follow all Health Board and Government instructions, particularly if instructed to self-isolate.
• We will only be able to open the school when the Government and Health Board has made an assessment regionally and nationally and instruct us to do so.
• Check all information on the government site: COVID19.GOVT.NZ
• Email the school by using COVID19.info@taita.school.nz - for any questions or help required. If you or your family is in need of any kind of support, please use this email to alert us.

In respect to your child’s health:
If your child presents any flu like symptoms such as a runny nose, headache, temperature, is sore and tired, or is coughing, call the healthline number for advice: 0800 358 5453.

Once again, we ask that you follow all instructions issued by either the Health Board or the Government.

It is important to remember that there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at our school nor in our immediate community. All junior students without existing health conditions and who are feeling well should attend school as they normally do.

In respect to your child’s learning:
We would encourage your children to continue to follow their normal school timetable, whilst at home.

Students have either got work to do in school workbooks, have photocopied booklets, or have the ability to learn online through Google Classroom and Google Docs.

The more they can keep to a routine each day the better. We would recommend for secondary school students that they work to their normal school timetable, and allocate time in the day for the different subjects and learning required.

Students can email teachers, text their tutor teacher, and link with all staff online to answer any questions or for any support they may require with their learning.

If for some reason your child has no work at all, and no access to online learning, please encourage them to read as many books as possible whilst the school is closed.

Looking after each other:
More than ever this is a time to follow all advice given by the Government and Health Board to minimise the impact of COVID-19.

We need to look after the elderly particularly, and ensure that those who have high health risks are safeguarded as much as possible.

Take care of each other, make sensible decisions, keep to routines at home, shop sensibly, and stay connected online to friends and family to

We will get through this, but the more we can do to stay safe and isolated, the more we will be able to minimise the impact.

Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.

Aroha nui to you all.

Karen Morgan
Principal of Taita College

Kia ora koutou

With the announcement that New Zealand has moved to Alert Level 2 - Reduce Contact for COVID-19, people over 70 years of age, and those with compromised immunity and certain existing medical conditions, are asked to remain at home as much as they can from now on and avoid any non-essential travel.

The Ministry of Education has asked that staff, children and young people in schools and early learning services now follow this advice.

High risk individuals also include people with underlying medical conditions, such as:
Medical conditions including; a compromised immune system, liver disease; cancer; kidney disease; heart disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and diabetes mellitus.

If your child/children have one of the existing conditions mentioned you are being asked to keep them home from school for their own safety.

We have also asked staff who have concerns about their health to stay away from school.

Because of the impact now on staff and students who may be ‘at risk’ due to their health, we have made the following decisions to best manage the safety and health of all.

1. Monday 23 March - school as normal.
2. Tuesday 24 March - school is open but for juniors only (yr 9 and Yr 10 students).
3. Tuesday 24 March - all senior students yr 11-13 are to work from home for the week or until further notice. Communication will be emailed to parents and staff of any updates on this.
4. Tuesday 24 March - Junior students school as normal - all classes operational as per normal for the week, or until further updates.

Alert Level 2 means the virus is contained but with the risk of community transmission growing.

Further information is available at:

• covid19.govt.nz/help-and-advice/for-everyone/vulnerable-people/
• health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

It is important to remember that there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at our school nor in our immediate community. All junior students without existing health conditions and who are feeling well should attend school as they normally do.

We know COVID-19 feels scary and of course people are concerned for the wellbeing of our students/children. That is why we are providing up to date advice and guidance so that we can all make informed decisions. We are all committed to supporting the safety and wellbeing of our school community.

If your child does feel sick with cold or flu-like symptoms such as cough, sore throat, headache, runny nose, just as you normally would, please keep them at home. Call or text the school to inform the main office. As a family then ring the health line 0800 358 5453.

The country and the world is going through major changes due to COVID-19. This is the time that we do all we can to support one another and to look after our community.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Let's stay calm, be safe, and stick to the facts.

Ngā mihi nui

Karen Morgan
Principal of Taita College

Rules on gatherings do not apply to schools:
You may have seen today that the Government has announced that indoor gatherings of more than 100 people are to be cancelled. This does not apply to schools, early learning services, tertiary providers, workplaces, supermarkets or public transport. We will continue to provide you with guidance around events and gatherings that could be relevant to schools.

Why a school would close:
There is a lot of discussion about school closures in the media with many varying opinions being expressed and some misinformation being deliberately spread.

At the time of writing we have already seen one temporary closure following direction from a Medical Officer of Health. This was following confirmation that one student had been tested positive for COVID-19. That student is self-isolating and all their close contacts (150 students and staff) have been tested for the virus. It has just been announced that all of those tests have come back negative.

The school will reopen next week however those 150 students and staff will remain away from the school for a period of 14 days from when they last had contact with the student confirmed with the virus. This is a precaution only, to keep those people and those around them safe.

Medical Officers of Health – will direct schools to close if needed:
Medical Officers of Health have the authority to close a school. They would only do so if there was a medical reason for this, or, after a confirmed case in the school they need to close it for a short period of time while they determine if there is any risk to others (which means staff and students stay away while they undertake contact tracing).

If you have a confirmed case in your school, or your school community: If there was a confirmed case linked with your school, you will be quickly advised of that by the Medical Officer of Health.

Our regional Ministry of Education staff will work with you and local health authorities to agree a plan for the school. That will happen quickly and support will be provided to assist you to communicate with and support your parent community. Closure for a short period of time is one option for the Medical Officer of Health.

Decision tool for early learning and school responses to COVID-19: The Ministry is working with other government agencies to align our planning for a range of possible scenarios relating to schools and early learning services. An overview of our decision tool is available here for your information. This tool tells you what will happen in different situations.

We have seen this in practice already. An example for Level 1 was Westlake Girls High School, where a students’ parents were both confirmed with the virus but the student had no symptoms (and continues to have no symptoms). An example of Level 2 is Logan Park High School, where a student has tested positive for COVID-19..

You will see that higher levels of risk also have plans in place, which could include school closures for longer periods of time. Most of the scenarios at these higher risk levels relate to community transmission. Community transmission is when a confirmed case had no known contact with another confirmed case, and hasn’t recently arrived from overseas. There is currently no community transmission in New Zealand.

When is sick, sick? The messaging remains clear – that if you are feeling unwell please stay home, and the same goes for children and young people. However at the tail end of a cold, there will be runny noses and probably some coughing. This might be worrying for some people who are being vigilant about their own and others’ health.

A diagram has been developed by Dr Siouxsie Wiles to assist you when considering symptoms (sent to us by a teacher who found it useful). What it tells us is:

• A dry cough and a high temperature are common to both flu and COVID-19
• Sneezing is not a symptom of COVID-19, however if someone has COVID-19, then sneezing can spread droplets containing the virus

Ngā mihi ki a koutou

Karen Morgan
Principal of Taita College