Latest News  - Covid Level 2

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Protocols Specific To Ashley Rakahuri School During Level 2

The overriding principles for Alert Level 2 are:

●  to minimise the risk that someone gets infected in the first place

●  to ensure we can identify and contact anyone who has been in close contact with

a person, if someone in a school or early learning centre is infected

●  understand that Level 2 is not business as usual

It is safe for all students and staff to be at school in Alert level 2. Schools are safe because hygiene habits will be strong and schools will put into place safe and sensible practice.

The key controls for schools and all workplaces are:

●  ensure people with COVID-19 symptoms or feel generally unwell stay away from school

●  maintain physical distancing (in schools this means children, young people, and staff maintaining a physical distance so that they are not breathing on or touching each other)

●  enable good hygiene practices (coughing into your elbow, handwashing, and drying)

●  disinfect and clean surfaces daily

●  Contact tracing for all onsite...students, staff, visitors

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NOTE: masks are not mandatory in the school setting. It is a recommendation that children 12plus and adults wear a mask but is not compulsory. This means that there will be many staff and students who choose not to wear masks and this is well within the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.

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Physical Distancing

●  Physical distancing is a good precaution to prevent the spread of disease. In an Alert Level 2 school environment, this means children, young people, and staff maintaining a physical distance so that they are not breathing on or touching each other, coupled with good hygiene practices (coughing into your elbow, handwashing, and drying) and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces. There are situations where physical distancing is not possible, such as some sporting activities. In these situations, extra emphasis on handwashing and drying (or cleansing with hand sanitiser) before and after activities and regular cleaning of equipment is very important.

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Mass gatherings

●  Educational facilities and school transport are not considered mass gatherings. However, at Ashley Rakahuri School we will not be holding school assemblies, and we will split Kapa Haka groups to a junior and senior session to allow good distancing when singing and moving.

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Sports and playgrounds

●  School playgrounds, sports equipment use and activities can resume. Contact sports can resume. This relies on being able to contact trace who is on site during school hours.

Bubbles

●  There are no bubble restrictions under Alert Level 2 so children can mix and move around the site.

●  Teachers/staff are not restricted to one group and move freely between groups of students.

Public health measures that must be taken in schools

●  Parents are asked to keep any sick children at home. If a sick child comes to school, they will be sent home.

●  Children and staff should be far enough away from each other so that they are not breathing on or touching each other, coupled with good hygiene practices and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces. There does not need to be a specific measurement but where practicable 1 metre should be used as a guide, particularly between adults.

●  Hand sanitiser at entry to school and available throughout the day Soap, water and the ability to dry hands must be provided in bathrooms.

●  Where practicable ensure that children and young people regularly wash and dry hands, cough and sneeze into their elbow, and try to avoid touching their face.

●  Physical education classes and break time activities can include access to sports equipment including playgrounds but hygiene practice should be observed after playing with equipment.

●  Disinfect and clean all surfaces daily.

●  Contact tracing registers must be set up and identify which children and adults

are on site, in each teaching space, including recording if there is a different composition of children and adults

during the day. This includes recording visitors to the site, including parents.

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Further Information

●  If people are sick, they should stay home. Please ring the Healthline to discuss symptoms. If they have flu-like symptoms they should be tested.

●  If there is a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 within our school then we must close for 72 hours to allow contract tracing and cleaning. We could then be closed for a further 14 days (but open for distance learning).

●  School staff are to observe children on arrival into the classroom checking for symptoms (this does not mean taking temperatures), and we will ask those who are presenting as unwell to be picked up to go home.

●  Ashley Rakahuri School will not be having parents on site unless in pre-arranged circumstances as every parent onsite requires contact tracing.

●  RTLB, itinerant teachers, ORS, LSC and relievers can work across different schools and will be required to maintain a register of where they have been and who they saw when they were there.

●  Shared supplies and equipment are able to be used if students and staff are undertaking regular hand washing and staying away if sick.

●  Classroom temperatures are to be kept as close to possible as 18-20 degrees and good ventilation by opening doors at break times will ensure fresh air is moved throughout the space.

●  Students need to wash hands before and after breaks.

●  Children must bring their own NAMED WATER BOTTLE to school. The water

fountains will be available to refill bottles but are best not to be used for drinking from, as we can not guarantee safe hygiene practices will be followed by all students.

●  The school bus will be running and contact tracing will occur daily.

●  Hand sanitiser will be used at entry to school when students are greeted at the

gates.

●  Wellbeing: If your child is anxious or worried, please remind them that their

teacher and friends are looking forward to seeing them. You may also wish to email your child’s teacher to give them a heads up.

Just a reminder that no parents will be allowed on-site unless it is essential

 

 

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Please check out the school calendar or the home page for details on events at Ashley Rakahuri School

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School Closes at 12.30 pm on Friday 17 December 2021

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