Alert Level 3

24 April 2020

Kia ora koutou katoa,

RE: Principal’s  COVID-19 update message for our community.

This message sets out our principles and minimum public health requirements that define responsible, healthy and safe operations for Mairehau High School working under COVID-19 Alert Level 3.

Alert Level 3 key principles:

The overriding principles for Alert Level 3 by the Prime Minister are:

• Stay home. If you are not at work, school, exercising or getting essentials, then you must be at home, the same as  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.

We are currently working with staff in developing and reviewing our school health and safety plan, and aligning it to the Ministry of Health COVID-19 requirements. 

Who and when can students return?

Mairehau High School can be physically open for students to be onsite during Alert Level 3 from 29 April, but only for year levels 1 - 10.  Year 11 – 13 students will continue to undertake online learning.  (Online Learning Link). We have conducted a survey of Year 9 & 10 parents, to gauge how many students may return to school. (see below)

Staff:

Staff on-site will be limited to essential staff only. Many of our teachers and support staff are unable to return to school due to the COVID-19 restrictions. In general, no one will be allowed to enter the school site without the permission of the Principal.

Do you need to send your child to school?

For students in years 1 – 10, where families and whānau can continue to support their child’s learning from home, you should do so. If there is a parent or caregiver available to look after children at home, stay at home. Children at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 must stay home wherever possible.

Parent response:

This week the school has tried to contact every Year 9 and Year 10 parent. We were able to connect with 90% of our parents via survey or by phone. The data response showed that almost all of our parents would keep their child/ children home. There were four (4) families, that requested that their child returns to school next week. However, these families either did not meet the Ministry of Health guidelines/ recommendations to return their child to school or they changed their decision. 

“Thank you to all of our whānau and families for committing to keep your child/ children home. Your responsible choice will help to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to others and return our school and country to a sense of normality. Your efforts are appreciated.”

"There will be NO students on our school site during Alert level 3. All learning will take place Online."

Online learning update:

Online learning is available for those not attending school (e.g. self-isolating or parent at home). The school has managed to send more than 70 devices home. We have endeavoured to identify families that do not have an internet connection or device. Approximately 6% of our whānau are on the Ministry of Education (MOE) list to receive an internet connection, device, or a learning pack. However, MOE is responsible for the distribution, allocation and timeframes of resources.

Online learning:

Online learning is the same for all students. Check our school website for all updates.

School Preparations for a return:

This week Mairehau High School is preparing our school site. Only contractors and service people are allowed on the site. The work includes site preparation, lawns, gardens,  cleaning, maintenance, floorplans and the logistical management of health and safety requirements.

Deep Clean:

Our Board has approved the use of a professional cleaning contractor to provide a deep clean of our school. “The Ministry of Education advises there are no specific requirements for cleaning regarding COVID-19.”  However, we are doing it anyway. The contractor’s team will sanitise all classrooms, rooms, hall and gym, kitchens, workspaces, and toilets. We expect the deep clean to be completed by 28 April.

“I appreciate the Board’s support to do everything we can to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 to students, staff, and our community.”

What happens if the school has a case of COVID-19?

Any educational facilities connected to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 must close on an individual or group basis for 72 hours to allow contact tracing and cleaning, and then potentially for a further 14 days.

Closing message:

The following Māori proverb reminds me of the importance of people.

“E ki ana koe, ki ahau, he aha te mea nui? Maku e ki atu kia koe. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”  

( Should you ask me, what is our greatest treasure, then I will reply: it is people, it is people, it is people.)

“People matter so focus on your hauora (wellbeing) and whānau. I take this opportunity to wish you and your whānau  all the very best during these most challenging of times

Take CARE, keep safe, stay well, and use kind words to others.”

Ngā mihi nui.

Harry Romana

Principal

Message to Staff COVID- 19 update

Mairehau High School

440 Hills Road. Mairehau, Christchurch 8052, ph 385 3145, fax 385 3143, e-mail admin@mairehau.school.nz 

21 April 2020

Kia ora koutou

RE: Mairehau High School staff update in Alert Level 3.

I trust after your weeks in ‘isolation’ that you and whānau are all well, safe and still smiling. Remember to be kind, and use nice words to others, be patient, we are in this together.

I hope that Term 2 and our Online programme has been a success for you so far. I wish to thank you for your commitment and passion for providing our students with an Online programme. We thank you for engaging our students in an online environment. It seems that we have moved quickly and far in a short period. Thank you to our support staff that helped our whānau with device connectivity.

The school is committed to following all Health and Safety guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.

The Principles for Alert Level 3:

1.      Stay home. If you are not at work, school, exercising or getting essentials, then you must be at home, the same as Level 4.

2.      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.

Mairehau High School site access:

The Secretary for Education has agreed that the work we need to undertake to ready our school for Alert Level 3 can commence provided distancing and hygiene measures are adhered to. This means school access can occur from today, Tuesday 21 April.

However, all Mairehau High School staff require the permission of the Principal to enter the school site.

We know there will have been any number of challenges for you to deal with, but we have been getting some great feedback about the learning that is happening and thank you for all your support.

Yesterday, the Government decided that we will move into Alert Level 3 on 28 April.  That means we will be open to receive students from the 29 April.  We will start to prepare the school from today.

What’s happening from Tuesday 21 April?

Property:

Our school caretaker, Steve, is onsite to conduct a property checklist. He will organise cleaners and contractors to repair, fix, and attend to any property issues that need to be addressed. 

School Planning:  

SLT has decided on an Alert 3 Teaching and Learning model. We are sending a survey to our parents to seek the number of students that may return onsite because their parents are essential workers. A staff survey will be available today.

For any students (dependent on numbers) that return to school will be allocated to a bubble (max ten students), with a rotation of teachers (at least 3), located in A block. The student bubbles will be composite Y9 and Y10 students. Archer block will be used for all Alert Level 3 onsite learning.

School Attendance:

Only Year 9 and Year 10 on the school site.

We are following the MOE guidelines in marking school attendance. Siobhan has created a separate spreadsheet to collate and analyse student engagement.

Learning:

We plan to advise our community that all onsite learning will be the same as our current Online programme. Students and whānau need to access our school website.

Thursday  23rd -  28th April:

A professional cleaning company will give our school a deep clean. Please note MOE advise there are no specific requirements for cleaning concerning COVID-19.

Tuesday 28 April:

Teacher Only Day Hangout

Wednesday 29 April

Staff and students will be onsite.

Staffing:

The following are staffing  guidelines from the Secretary for Education

Under Alert Level 3, school staff are expected to be available to return to work onsite if required with some exceptions, as follows:

• No staff member who is sick with COVID-19, caring for someone who is sick with COVID-19, or who has had close contact with a case of COVID-19 and is required to self-isolate, may be at work in any circumstances.
• Those at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (eg those with underlying medical conditions and the elderly) may work onsite if they wish to and if their employer (which is usually the Board) agrees they can do so safely.
• If a staff member lives with someone who is at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and it cannot be agreed that they can work onsite safely.

The following takes you to the staff- Return to work under L3 form:  Mairehau High School staff form Link

Summary:

Tuesday 21 April

Caretaker, contractors, and cleaners can access the school.

Tuesday 21 April to Tuesday 28 April.

Site preparation, including cleaning, maintenance, floorplans and logistical management of health and safety requirements. A deep clean of the school will commence.

Tuesday 28 April

First day at Alert Level 3

Teacher/Staff Only Day Hangout

Wednesday 29 April

First Day that some students can attend.

Closing

People matter, your hauora (wellbeing) and whānau always come first.

Stay safe, keep well, and be kind to others. Look after self and whānau.

Take CARE. 

Nāku noa

Harry Romana

Principal

Message to our community- COVID-19 update

Mairehau High School 

440 Hills Road. Mairehau, Christchurch 8052, ph 385 3145, fax 385 3143, e-mail admin@mairehau.school.nz 

20th April 2020

Kia ora koutou

RE: Mairehau High School Community update 

We trust that Term 2 and our Online learning programme has been a success for you so far. We know there will have been any number of challenges for you to deal with but we have been getting some great feedback about the learning that is happening and thank you for all your support. 

Today, the Government decided that we will move into Alert Level 3 on 28 April. That means we will be open to receive students from the 29 April. We will start to prepare for our school return. 

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. If your child has a health condition that means they are at a greater risk of a severe illness you must keep them at home. If your child is sick please also ensure you keep them at home. 

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. 

I want to assure you that we will continue to support your child’s learning at home. 

We will contact you later this week to find out whether you can keep your child learning from home, or need your child to attend in person. 

The Ministry of Education has advised that they are working closely with health to develop clear guidance that will support schools to safely re-open their premises to students and staff. This will help us work through the public health requirements that we all need to meet. As you will be doing, we want to be sure that what we do will keep our community as safe as possible. 

For now, we will continue to support your child’s learning by Online while we progress our planning for what Alert Level 3 will mean for you and for our school. 

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. 

Keep safe, stay well, and use kind words to others 


Nāku noa 
Harry Romana 
Principal 

“For all students to value themselves and others, to know they can excel, and to reach their full potential” 

A message of thanks to the teachers of Mairehau High School

The following is a message of appreciation to my senior teachers in appreciation of their efforts to get our school operational during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mairehau High School Term 2:  

“E ki ana koe, ki ahau, he aha te mea nui? Maku e ki atu kia koe. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”  

( Should you ask me, what is our greatest treasure, then I will reply: it is people, it is people, it is people.)

People matter so focus on connections and relationships.  Your hauora (wellbeing) and whānau always come first

Kia ora, 

RE: To my incredible staff

I trust, after being in lockdown for a few weeks, you are still being kind and using nice words to each other. I hope that you and whānau are safe and well. It is important, for all,  to continue to do the right thing during the  COVID-19 pandemic. The health, wellbeing, and safety of students and staff is always our main priority.

I have attached a special message for you.

I am reminded by the whakatauki how incredibly professional you are. I wish to personally thank you and your team for the incredible work you have done to get our school operational today. I also want to acknowledge the work you about to undertake, with your team, until we have certainty about reopening for instruction.

Last week, I asked you to develop a curriculum Google site for our Mairehau High School website.

 I am appreciative that, you and your team heeded my call to ensure that our students, teachers, and community have one place to access all of their learning.

We are underway, albeit we will still be in home-isolation. We are entering a time of uncertainty and a time when you are expected to deliver teaching schoolwide and ONLINE.  I can only ask you to do your very best.

I have confidence and faith in the commitment, dedication, and passion of the Mairehau High School staff to rise to the challenges of the day. “If we should stumble, then let it be to a lofty mountain.”

Thank you.

I wish you and the staff of Mairehau High School all the very best during the most challenging of times.

Ngā mihi nui kia koutou,

Harry Romana

Principal

Our Expectations for Teachers

To Mātou Tūmanako (Our Expectations)

The purpose of this message is to provide Mairehau High School teachers with consistent expectations to support and deliver student learning and connection in a home-isolation environment.

“E ki ana koe, ki ahau, he aha te mea nui? Maku e ki atu kia koe. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”  
( Should you ask me, what is our greatest treasure, then I will reply: it is people, it is people, it is people.)

People matter so focus on connections and relationships.  Your hauora (wellbeing) and whānau always come first.

Expectations:
1. Have work available on your Curriculum Google site - you are not required to be available all day. Learning is ubiquitous.
2. Some learning areas have timetabled specific school time to 'Hangout' with students and learning team staff. We have also scheduled designated leadership ‘Hangouts’ for Learning Team Leaders, Deans, Senior leadership, and Board. Check the fluid school timetable for connection times.
3. Use our Google Platforms for learning, teaching, and connection
    a. The Mairehau High School website is the ONE portal for learning and wellbeing:
    b. Google Sites for making teaching visible:
    c. Hapara Teacher Dashboard for making learning visible:
    d. Google Hangouts Meet for connecting us all in real-time:
4. Focus learning on what is essential.
5. Don't stress our learners about high stakes assessment. 
6. Focus on providing learning and meet up opportunities.
7. Use the following descriptors to record attendance and engagement. You do not need to take rolls every hour. 
    i. 1 = no contact or evidence of course participation, since 'level 4.'
    ii. 2 = no new evidence of course participation (since the last weekly report)
    iii. 3 = some course participation since the last weekly report
    iv. 4 = strong course participation from the last weekly report
8.Do not give students your cell phone number - all communication should be through the school network - We are using KAMAR, FACEBOOK, school App & website, Google: gmail, calendar, meet, and hangout.
Share your work, learning, and stories with others. Encourage your students to Blog.

Google Sites:
●  You are expected to upload tasks/lessons using your Curriculum Google site platform, which will be located for students on our school website.
●  Provide excellent learning opportunities, engaging activities and work of value.
●  Google site content may be simply laid out (Mathematics), though some teachers have provided extensive engaging ( Social Sciences), multimodal, rewindable learning content. 
●  NCEA- Our Principal's NCEA nominee will provide you with advice on NCEA updates.


'Hapara Teacher Dashboard’ making learning visible: 
Learners should be familiar with filing their digital content in folders (created by Hapara) in their Google Drive.  Teachers should be familiar with using Hapara and interacting with student content.

They should also be aware of where to locate documents that are not appearing on the Dashboard.   If learners or teachers are not familiar with the Hapara tool, then organise  PLD support with Mark and Sharon.

‘Hangouts’ making connections:
Schedule regular Hangout meetings, invite students to connect. Use the protocols from the ManaiaKalani presentation: 'How to use Google Hangouts Link' to ensure safe structured conversations.
Schedule Hangout time with your learning team members
Utilise the Hapara/Google Classroom stream to check in, send messages and set activities if required.

Google Blog:
Encourage your students to share their learning with others by using their school Blog post.

Final message:
Be kind, use nice words to others, be patient, and look after self and whānau.

We can do this!

A start to Term 2, 2020.

11th April 2020
Another message to the Mairehau High School community before the start of Term 2, 2020.
Kia ora, RE: Principal’s Catch Up I trust, after being in lockdown for a couple of weeks, you are still being kind and using nice words to each other. I hope that you and whānau are safe and well. It is important, for all, to continue to do the right thing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health. Be safe and be responsible. Stay home, by doing so; you are saving lives. All schools are planning for a return to Term 2, next week, albeit we will still be in home-isolation. The purpose of this message is to share with you our ‘ONLINE’ Term 2 return to Mairehau High School. Mairehau High School Website: The Mairehau High School website is our primary connection for students, teachers, and community. The school has placed resources, online, for all students. By going to the school website, students will be able to access their learning and connect with teachers. Curriculum: The school Online Learning information page already contains student resources for English, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Visual Arts, Music, Digital Technologies, and Employment Skills. Other Learning areas are fine-tuning their information to be ready next week. Guidance: The website will also contain a page prepared by our Guidance Network Team to support the wellbeing of students and whānau. Timetable: We are modifying our school timetable to meet the needs of our learners. Whole school distance learning is new for everyone. We plan to take small, considered steps into this different style of learning and teaching. The school is trialling a pilot timetable, which will be reviewed and amended the following week. Check our school website for the updated school timetable. Teachers will be contacting our students to connect online, and form teachers will be touching base with their students. You can help by directing your child to our school website. We have organised an ‘ONLINE’ form time for Wednesday 15th April at 8:30 am. Education Ministers Announcement: Recently, the Minister announced details of the package of supports and resources for supporting state and state-integrated schools and kura to deliver learning at a distance when Term 2 begins on 15 April. You can see the Minister’s press release and Q&As on the Beehive website. Before the lockdown, I authorised the distribution of our school devices to whānau. We were pleased that families took the opportunity to get a device while they could. However, we are aware of some families that still need a device or support. This week, Mairehau High School has been contacting whānau who require device/ internet/ resource support. The Ministry has already received our school data. However, the list is fluid, so let us know if you need the Ministry support. The following link will take you to a form to register your interest: Ministry device/ internet/ resource support form. The Ministry will dispatch devices and hard copy resources. Starting this week, the Ministry is rolling out an extensive, four-channel package to provide at least one distance-learning option for all families by 15 April. Helping Students to Learn: I wish to reinforce my key message (from my previous email) that students and teachers need to connect regularly. It is not just a matter of providing links to our school website or using commercial resources. You can help by setting a routine for your child/ children. Set time aside for reading, numeracy and learning. Stay in contact with the school. In closing: All the above is progress in action, fluid, and could easily change. This is the time to show ‘Empathy, ’please be understanding and patient. Keep safe, say nice words to others, and all the very best. Take CARE. Ngā mihi nui, ​Harry Romana Principal Mairehau High School 027 462 8822 03 385 3145

Thank you Dorothy Burt

I am just sharing my email message response to Dorothy Burt (Manaiakalani)


Kia ora Dorothy,

I trust that you and whānau are safe and well. Thank you for your email and for keeping me up to date with the Manaiakalani support. 

Hangouts:
We had already organised Hangout meetings with our Pandemic response team, which includes senior leaders, PPTA, NZEI, Board and Student representation before the school closures. So our initial planning was already in place. Our Curriculum leaders had a Hangout during the last week of Term 1.

We have scheduled Hangout meetings this week in preparation for the start of Term 2 with Curriculum leaders, the Guidance Network Team, and our Board.

I am glad that our school is one of the Manaiakalani outreach schools and that I had completed the DFI course in 2019. I am appreciative of the skills and capabilities that I learnt from DFI. I have been sharing my knowledge with many of my staff, to their surprise!

Before the lockdown, I announced to staff that the tools in Google suite would be the principal conduit to connecting with our whanau. For a couple of reason: every student, staff, and board member has access to Google tools, and we have ICT support from Fusion. Our school website will be the central portal for our students and whānau. I was concerned that teachers would use other platforms with their learners. The message to my staff was clear.

Limit the Links:
I plan to reinforce your message ‘Limit the Links’ excellent sound advice. My challenge is to get the same message across to all teachers of Mairehau HS. Many of my teachers need to be upskilled in the use of Google tools; however,  the cluster PLD (Jan 28), Mark and Sharon would have helped many of our teachers to prepare for this exceptional event. 

Principal visibility:
I also need to be visible to my community and will begin to update our school website during the week and after our Hangout meetings. I have already sent a couple of messages to my parents. (via email, school website and my blog). Parents are sending me emails/ texts of support and appreciate being updated about next steps.

I have been busy with MOE and MOH updates. Most importantly making sure my students and staff are well. I had already implemented the payroll provisions before the Secretary of Education announcement, thanks to my Board. The underlying message is let us put people first.

Ngā mihi kia koe
Keep on sending your messages, Dorothy. I do not plan to join your PLD Hangouts as I have already scheduled my own. I feel supported by you and your team, fantastic.

Take CARE Dorothy, stay safe, keep well, and all the best to your whānau.





Naku noa,

Harry Romana
Principal
Mairehau High School

Message to the Mairehau High School Community

This is another message emailed to our Mairehau High School parents.

4th April 2020

What a Week

Kia ora parents, caregivers, and whānau,

RE: Principal’s Catch Up

I trust you and whānau are safe and well. What a surreal week it has been for our nation. As we all take responsibility to do the right thing amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

All schools are closed in the country, and it seems that the lockdown is going to continue longer than expected. We just do not know. However, we do know about the importance of keeping safe and following the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

Hangouts next week:
Although we are grounded as a nation. Mairehau High School senior leaders will be meeting in an online Google Hangout to discuss how we can best support student learning, albeit at home.

Our Strategic Management Team (SMT) which comprises all of our Curriculum leaders are meeting this Monday (6th April). The Guidance Network Team (GNT) have a Google Hangout meeting on Tuesday (7th April). SMT and GNT will be discussing how we can best support our students and families during these exceptional times.  

Can I please remind you that our primary communication link is the Mairehau High School website.

We have already sent some packs of work home, before the lockdown, and we will continue to update our school website to share online learning resources to students and whānau.

Board of Trustees:
I am very confident in the Mairehau High School Board of Trustees leadership to support our students, staff and community. This team of dedicated parents will also be meeting in a ‘Hangout’ to ensure our governance responsibilities are in place to support the strategic operations of the school. Our Board will discuss students, staff, community, Teaching and Learning, finances and property, and next steps.

Helping Students to Learn:
The key message I wish to express to families and teachers is the need to connect regularly. It is not just a matter of providing links to our school website or commercial resources. Therefore assuming learning is happening. Providing rich learning resources and regular Hangouts between the teacher and learner are essential. 

As parents/ caregivers, you are your child’s first teacher. Can you remember the excitement you got when your child took their first steps, said their first remark, and said ‘No’ for the first time? You can help by setting a routine for your child/ children. Set time aside for reading, numeracy and learning. Stay in contact with the school. 


Keep safe and all the very best.

Take CARE.



Ngā mihi nui,


​Harry Romana
Principal
Mairehau High School
027 462 8822 
03 385 3145

Message to the Mairehau High School Community

This is the letter sent the Mairehau High School during the first week of the COVID- 19 home-isolation.

1st April 2020.

Kia ora parents, caregivers and whānau, Re: Mairehau High School Principal’s update I trust after your first week in ‘isolation’ that you and whānau are all well, safe and still smiling. Remember to be kind, and use nice words to others, be patient, we are in this together. I hope you are all taking some time to have a well-deserved break and that you get to enjoy time with your family this week. We are living in a different world, each morning I get up to watch the ‘Breakfast’ programme on TV. The disturbing global reports from various countries gives us all cause to reflect on our circumstances. Each day spend a little bit of time on yourself, go for a walk, read a book, and organise the garage. Communication: The main communication platform to our community will be the school website(school website Link.). We will also use Facebook and emails when necessary. Teachers are linking schoolwork to our ONLINE learning programme (MHS online Link). Students MUST be logged onto their MHS account to access their online schoolwork.

Keeping online safe: I wish to encourage parents, caregivers and whānau to discuss internet safety with your children. You should agree with your children what they can do online, including sites they can visit and appropriate behaviours including: • reviewing and approving games and apps before they are downloaded • reviewing privacy settings of websites and applications • checking children’s profiles and what they are posting online • check the sites your child is accessing • reminding children that anything that is posted online will be permanently on the internet • taking the time to understand what sites they are visiting and who they are talking with and check in regularly • some social media sites have age restrictions to join, check these before letting your child use them or join them • monitoring a child’s use of the internet and consider having them use it in an open, common area of the house • making sure your children know to report any activity they don’t feel comfortable with to parents and caregivers straight away. There is a unique opportunity during the lockdown of families going out together, albeit it close to home, but if your child is going out on their own it’s still important to check where they are going.

Netsafe continues to be available to provide you and your parent and caregiver community with support for online safety. They have information for parents and caregivers and have pulled together their top tips for online safety during the lockdown. To report an incident To Netsafe - https://www.netsafe.org.nz/reportanincident/

If you think a child in your care is the victim of online exploitation or abuse, report it to Police - if you or a child are in danger or a crime is being committed, call 111 or visit your nearest Police Station immediately.

If we all work together to make sure children are safe online, we can make the internet a great tool for people of all ages.

Harry Romana

Principal