Waipu Primary School - Covid-19 Level 2 Update

Kia ora koutou

Dear Parents,

On Monday 18 May, we will welcome everyone back to Waipu Primary School.

We are all excited to be able to get back to normal classroom programmes and to see everyone again. I’m guessing the children will be excited to see their friends again and maybe a little anxious about a change to the daily routine to which they have become accustomed over the last seven weeks.

This letter is designed to outline the processes and measures that the school will have in place to maintain a healthy and safe environment for your child/ren.

The following outlines what will happen at school on a daily basis to help to keep your child and yourselves, as safe as possible while at school.

• Please use the Agryle St car park to drop your children off. Additional parking space is available for parents in the Saorsa grounds.
• We would prefer that both senior and junior students come in to school on their own, but if your child is anxious and would like you to come in with them, then one parent can accompany their child to class. You will be asked by your child’s teacher to fill in a contact tracing form.
• We ask that senior students (in Rooms 1,2,3 and 4) go straight to their own classroom via the front classroom door.  On arrival to school all junior students must go straight to their classrooms also.
• Teachers have been briefed on procedures to follow throughout the school day and will manage the use of sports equipment, playground use, scooter and bike use, as well as regular disinfecting of classroom surfaces, door handles, railings, switches and devices.
• School hours are as normal – 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
• In the afternoons – children who walk or are picked up by parents, will line up in the school grounds and be escorted out to the front gate by teachers, where we ask that you wait for them, either inside or beside you cars. If on foot, please wait beside the bollards. Also, that you maintain your minimum of one metre distance from each other.
• Please provide your child with a full lunch and a named drink bottle – no water fountains are to be used. (Alternative drinking water will be available in paper cups if children forget a drink bottle)
• Please keep your child at home if they are unwell. If your child displays flu-like symptoms or any of the symptoms outlined below – you must ring the Bream Bay Medical Centre and seek the advice of a medical professional as to whether your child will need to be further assessed or tested for Covid-19.
• When your child recovers from whatever ailed them (not including Covid of course) –  he/she can return to school after 48 hours of being symptom free.
• Teachers will be monitoring the health of the children in their class on a daily basis. If we detect any flu-like symptoms in your child or in the staff at school – they will be sent home.
• The cleaner has been given the Ministry of Education guidelines and will be complying with these suggestions in terms of cleaning the classrooms and bathrooms. I am happy to elaborate on these if you are concerned.
• Hand sanitizer and paper towels will be available in classrooms and bathrooms and teachers will monitor that these are being used throughout the day.
• Teachers will also monitor social distancing (as much as is practicable), reinforce healthy practices re coughing, sneezing and non-sharing of equipment, as well as enforcing regular hand washing throughout the day.
• If your child is, in any way, anxious about coming back to school, please let the teacher know so that they can be aware and manage accordingly.
• Buses will run as normal. As the school has been requested to maintain a register of who is on the bus each morning and afternoon, it will not be possible for children to change the bus that they normally travel on each day. Children will be requested to use hand sanitizer as they disembark the bus.
• Lastly, it would be helpful to know if your child/ren will not be returning to us on Monday. Can you please let Donna in the office know if this is the case so that we can plan accordingly. As teachers will be back to teaching actual (as opposed to virtual) classes on Monday, they will not be able to support the distance learning to the same degree as they have over the last few weeks.

Thank you all for the wonderful way in which you have supported your child’s learning and wellbeing over the time that they have spent at home. You will, no doubt, have a greater appreciation of your child’s needs and strengths and we look forward to sharing in a conversation about your child’s learning towards the end of Term 2.

Please do feel free to contact me: principal@wps.school.nz or give me a ring on 021 1130048 if you would like any more information.

Julie

Symptoms:

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.

Most common symptoms:

fever

dry cough

tiredness

Less common symptoms:

aches and pains

sore throat

diarrhoea

conjunctivitis

headache

loss of taste or smell

a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms:

difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

chest pain or pressure

loss of speech or movement

Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.

People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home.

On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days.

Welcome...

Welcome to Waipu Primary School. We look forward to your active participation in your child's schooling.

Our school, pupils, staff, parents and local community work together to create a caring, stimulating and challenging learning environment. "Quality is what we do around here". Your children will receive an education based on the national curriculum enhanced by creative activities, sports and cultural events. We are proud of this school and its achievements.

For the parent child teacher partnership to be successful we need to be well informed about our students. The staff meet with parents early in the year for a brief chat and at formal interviews in June and November. Should you have any questions or concerns please make the Teacher your first contact. If you would like an interview at any time of the year please make an appointment so that the teachers can have ready any information to answer your queries. Many aspects of our lives affect children.

Any major changes or happenings communicated to the teachers are confidential and will allow the teacher to handle the school situation for your child with understanding and caring.

To adhere to the Privacy Act, the school may have to request your permission for information to be passed on to school related services.

We would welcome your support should this be necessary, as any referral would be made for the best interests of the student. Examples - Speech Language Therapist, Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB). You will be consulted from the outset if a referral is being considered.

Your child and family will gain greatest benefit from this school by supporting our endeavours in these ways so the school will be an effective learning environment for us all:

• Listening to the child(ren) talk about their activities.
• Sharing the positive aspects of interest and enjoyment.
• Discussing concerns and contacting the school if necessary.
• Setting aside time for homework.
• Contacting the school for information to solve a problem, share a concern.
• Contacting the school when you are pleased about your child or activities happening at school

I hope your association with us will be a happy and rewarding one.

Julie Turner
Principal