Important information to parents/caregivers/whanau regarding planning
for Covid-19 Alert Level 2 at Middleton Grange School
Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Whanau
John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Yesterday the Government announced that schools will be able to open again on Monday,
18 May 2020 under Alert Level 2 and that it is safe for staff and students to return to school. This morning the Senior Leadership Team met to plan for the safe re-opening of Middleton Grange School and to ensure we were able to meet the required Health and Safety guidelines as well as the Public Health measures that have been put in place. We are pleased to say that we are confident that we can do so.
This means the return to school date for ALL STUDENTS will be Monday, 18 May 2020.
As a school we have made our priorities clear, namely
- First and foremost, to honour and trust in God, especially during these very uncertain times.
- Our next priority has been on student and staff wellbeing, whilst maintaining the necessary health and safety measures required by Public Health.
- Last, but by no means least, we have endeavoured to ensure we maintain the integrity of our academic programmes during remote/online learning.
He Waka Eke Noa – We are all in this together. Eccl 4:12 “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Our three strands are Christ/Family/School. These will continue to be our foci as we enter Alert Level 2.
SOME KEY INFORMATION AND REMINDERS UNDER ALERT LEVEL 2:
- Monday, 18 May 2020:
- All Year 7 – 13 students start school at 9.15am sharp with Form Time/Vertical Group time.
- Primary Year 1-6 students will start at their normal time.
- The foci of this day will be on student wellbeing, the Alert Level 2 Health and Safety measures being understood, and transitioning students back into teaching and learning on-site.
- Students and staff who are unwell must not attend school. If any person on site starts to show signs of illness, they should carefully make their way to the school office for assessment and exiting from the school.
- Students and staff must hand sanitise at the beginning of period 1 each day as a minimum requirement. Hand sanitiser will be available in all classrooms to use and students are encouraged to bring their own as well. Good cough and sneeze etiquette (into your elbow), as well as hand washing and drying after using the toilet is essential. Students and staff must also maintain sufficient distance so that they are not breathing on or touching each other.
- Parents are requested that where possible, they drop their child off at the school gate. Otherwise, ALL parents and visitors who come onto the school site MUST sign in at the school office using Vistab. This is for contact tracing purposes.
- Some students may choose to wear face masks. It could be part of their cultural practice to do so and to support their hygiene needs. We need to encourage respect for this and allow people to be proactive in keeping themselves and others safe.
- Students can wear either winter or summer school uniform until Queen’s Birthday Weekend due to current supply issues. However, hoodies are not permitted to be worn and students must wear the regulation hosiery and shoes.
- The school canteen will be open. Students must maintain 1m distancing while waiting and ordering food. Preference is for contactless payment to be used. All food must be brought from home or purchased from the school canteen only.
- Year 13 students are NOT permitted to leave the school site under Alert Level 2, due to contact tracing requirements.
- Drinking fountains are ONLY to be used to refill water bottles.
- Staff will be at school on Thursday, 14 and Friday, 15 May 2020 preparing for the re-opening of school. This will include a thorough Health and Safety briefing ensuring we adhere to Public Health guidelines.
- The Teacher Only Day scheduled for Friday, 29 2020 May has been cancelled.
Please continue to pray for the school as we transition into Alert Level 2, as we know many people are still feeling anxious about things and that many families are also facing financial hardship and uncertainty.
Psalm 18:2
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
NB: If your contact details have changed during Alert Level 4 or Alert Level 3, or if you
have any questions, please contact the school via office@middleton.school.nz
Blessings
Mike Vannoort
Principal
