COVID-19 Update

24 February 2022

Includes revision of remote learning that had been planned for Yr 11-13 students week 28 February.

Kia ora parents/whānau and students This afternoon we have received confirmation from the Ministry of Education that the new changes to contact tracing and isolation requirements will take effect for schools tonight.

If you currently have a young person isolating at home as a close contact and they are displaying no symptoms of COVID-19 they may return to school as of Friday, 25 February* providing there are no positive household cases.

A negative test result is not required. Any student isolating at home due to a COVID-19 positive result or isolating as a result of a household member testing positive, must remain at home. The case will need to be isolated at home for 10 days, as will anyone else in the same household. Students can return to school once the isolation period is over, the household is clear of COVID-19 infection and they are displaying no symptoms.

Red Level restrictions remain, including mandatory mask-wearing while indoors at school.

With Phase 3 of the Omicron response, the key change is that it is only confirmed cases and their household contacts who need to self-isolate. Everyone else, including those who may have had close contact with the case but are not in the same household, will continue to monitor very closely for any symptoms of COVID-19 but will return to work/school. If displaying symptoms.

If anyone in your family is confirmed as having COVID-19, you will be asked to notify your close contacts yourself. Please get in touch with the school as soon as you can if your young person has tested positive for COVID-19. Their opportunities to learn will continue through google classroom.

If your young person does not feel well, they must remain at home and if COVID symptoms develop, they should get tested. Rapid Antigen Tests will now be the primary testing tool.

Yr 11-13 students who are currently at home and working remotely using google classroom will continue to do so as planned for this week AND Monday and Tuesday of next week. ALL Yr 11-13 are expected back for onsite learning on Wednesday 2 March. Year 9 and 10 have continued onsite learning. By Wednesday we expect to be staffed appropriately and have relievers on board to manage a more 'normal’ level of absence. We expect that from time to time, we may have to return to a rostering model as the Omicron virus has yet to peak and is not predicted to do so before the end of next Month.

Be assured that we continue to follow all health protocols expected of us and continue to ensure we maintain a well being focus for both students and staff. Thank you for your continued support and your trust in us to keep providing a learning and teaching plan that meets the needs of all. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us as the need arises. Details can be found on our website.

Ngā mihi nui

Tara Kanji
Principal/Tumuaki