Back to School

22 May 2020

Kia ora koutou katoa

Re: Principal’s update message “Play it Safe during Alert Level 2.”

I wish to acknowledge students, staff, and parents for our first week on site. Schools are designed to hum with the vibrancy of young people, and it has been a significant week for reconnecting and re-engaging as we begin to determine the learning journey ahead for each of our students.

Students and teachers alike are happy to be back. The face-to-face student to teacher contact is still the best form of learning experience for our learners. This week we focussed on wellbeing and re-connection; next week we will focus on Teaching and Learning.

School Attendance:

Under Alert Level 2, we advise any students and staff to stay at home if they are sick.  If there is a concern about your respiratory health on-site; we will contact home following a brief health assessment by our school nurse; you will be sent home.

Our average school attendance rate for this week is 87%. (Compared to the national attendance rate of around 80%.)

Student Absences:

Many thanks to all those parents/caregivers who took time to contact the school to explain a student’s absence.  This is appreciated as it saves us time in following up on unexplained absences.   Contact with the school could be; a message via the school app, an email to the school office (admin@mairehau.schol.nz)  or a phone call and leaving a message on the absence extension (press 1).   A text to parents/caregivers, sent from us during the day, is a friendly reminder that every student absence needs to be explained.  We CARE.

Frequently asked Questions (FAQ):

Thank you to the many parents that sent questions to us regarding our return to Mairehau High School. An FAQ page has been placed on our school website to respond to all of your queries. If you have other questions, send them in, and we will update the FAQ page.

New Public Health Response Order – accurate information:

The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert level 2) Order 2020 came into effect at 12.01am on 14 May. The purpose of the order is “to prevent, and limit the risk of, the outbreak, or spread of COVID-19 by putting in place obligations concerning,  businesses, services, and gatherings”.

Schools and early learning services are excluded from the requirements of the Level 2 Order apart from having to have appropriate contact tracing, physical distancing (breathing space), and hygiene measures in place (see the MOE  health and safety guidance for details).

 

The Act that enables the order can be found here: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/0012/latest/whole.html.

 

Visitors:

During Alert Level 2, we are discouraging visitors to our school, including parents. We wish to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19. We would prefer you to contact us by phone (385 3145 or send an email (admin@mairehau.school.nz).  

Contact tracing of any visitors to school is in place. You can sign in/out at our main office or use the School App. 

School App:

Our School APP will provide you with school information and contact tracing registration.  SCHOOL APP:  COVID-19 check-in module. The app is also very useful for receiving alerts, checking attendance, sending in an absence note if your child is sick, checking term dates, weekly reports and academic progress. It can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store by searching ‘School Apps NZ’.

Closing:

During these most difficult times, as our region and nation face the challenge of the worldwide pandemic, I take this opportunity to wish you and whanau all the very best.

Stay safe, keep well, and be kind to others.

Harry Romana

Principal