Embedded Files
7 November 2021
Auckland moves to Alert Level 3 Step 2 - Online learning to continue for year 1 - 9 students, until advised otherwise.
Auckland moves to Alert Level 3 Step 2 - Online learning to continue for year 1 - 9 students, until advised otherwise.
At Step 2:
retail can open, with customers keeping 2 metres apart, and staff and customers required to wear face coverings
public facilities like libraries, museums, and zoos can reopen, with face coverings required, and people keeping 2 metres apart
outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people can go ahead, with the removal of the 2-household restriction. Physical distancing is strongly encouraged to help prevent the virus from spreading between households.
funerals, tangihanga, weddings, and civil union ceremonies can have up to 25 people attending, as well as up to 5 staff
outdoor organised exercise classes, like yoga and boot camps, can expand to 25 people, including instructors. The Physical distancing of 2 metres is strongly encouraged.
All other restrictions remain as in Step 1.
11 October 2021
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3 Step 1 - Online learning to continue for year 1 - 9 students
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3 Step 1 - Online learning to continue for year 1 - 9 students
11 October 2021
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3 Step 1 - Online learning to continue for students
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3 Step 1 - Online learning to continue for students
5 October 2021
Government 3-step plan to keep Auckland safe and ease restrictions at Alert Level 3
Government 3-step plan to keep Auckland safe and ease restrictions at Alert Level 3
22 September 2021
Auckland is now at Alert Level 3
Auckland is now at Alert Level 3
https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-3/
24 August 2021 - Alert Level 4
Covid 19 information for parents and whanau
Covid 19 information for parents and whanau
https://parents.education.govt.nz/essential-information/covid-19-information-for-parents-and-whanau/
17 August 2021 - Alert Level 4 https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-4/
Staying at home — what it means
Staying at home — what it means
We need your support to protect New Zealand and eliminate COVID-19.
Everyone must now stay home.
From 11:59pm on Tuesday 17 August you can only leave home to shop for groceries, access necessary healthcare, get a COVID-19 test, exercise in your local area or go to work if you are working in an Alert Level 4 service, and you cannot work from home.
Only make physical contact with those in your household bubble.
Schools are closed to everyone, including ALL staff.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples https://www.mpp.govt.nz/covid-19/translations/
27 February 2021 Update:
At 9pm Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Auckland will go to level 3 at 6.00am Sunday 28 February for approximately 7 days.
All children must therefore stay home tomorrow.
Those children of essential workers where both parents are working away from home that need to attend are fill in the Essential Workers Form. The main gate for drop off will be open at 8.15am - 9.00am only. All other gates will be locked as of 1st March.
Further information to come on protocols our school will operate on to come.
School Protocols
School Protocols
1. Our school is open for children who need to attend, fill in the 'Essential Workers' Form
Distance learning will be provided for all students who are off-site including those required to self-isolate and those individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result.
2. School bubbles are in place for those attending on-site
For those who are on-site, school bubbles of no more than 20 children/students will need to be formed and keep a 2-metre distance from other school bubbles. Where possible, it is recommended that teachers stay with the same school bubble of students.
3. Schools are not classified as gatherings
Schools are exempted from physical distancing requirements when people are there to receive, provide, or support education services. All other requirements specified in the COVID-19 Public Health Response orders do however apply.
4. If a child or staff member is sick, they should stay home. If they have cold or flu symptoms they should call their doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested. If recommended to get tested, they should do so.
5. Sick people must stay at home.
They should seek medical advice if they have COVID-like symptoms and get tested if advised to do so. If that person displays relevant symptoms of COVID-19, tests positive for COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, they must self-isolate.
6. You must use the contact tracing system in place.
7. Fundamental public health measures continue to apply:
Physical distancing of 1 metre inside and 2 metres outside at Alert Level 3
Hand hygiene
Cough and sneeze etiquette
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces (daily at Alert Level 3).
A diagram has been developed by Dr Siouxsie Wiles to assist you when considering symptoms. What it tells us is:
A dry cough and a high temperature are common to both flu and COVID-19
Sneezing is not a symptom of COVID-19, however if someone has COVID-19, then sneezing can spread droplets containing the virus
25 May 2020
As you know, there are a number of families who remain anxious about their children returning to school and we’ve been looking at how we can provide greater reassurance for them that schools are safe places to be. We’ve spoken with the All of Government Covid team and they agree that one way to help is to present communities with the data on Covid-19 cases in New Zealand, which tell a really good story.
There are two graphs on the Ministry of Health website that are updated daily.
New Zealand is experiencing very low numbers of new cases as can be seen in the above chart.
In terms of demographics, this chart shows that children and young people continue to account for only a small proportion of cases in New Zealand.
Our schools are safe. Even though there is such a low risk of the virus getting in the school gates to start with, we will be keeping up our hygiene practices and other public health measures as an extra precaution for as long as we’re at Alert Level 2
The return to school has gone really smoothly and it has been brilliant to see how excited the children have been to get back to their learning and social routines
We know some of our families are still feeling a bit anxious about sending their children back to school, which is understandable given everything we have been through these past 2 months
It’s really important children do return to school, not just for their education but also their health and wellbeing
Instances of Covid-19 in New Zealand are very low
We’re aware of concerns out there that people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. The Ministry of Health has advised us that there is no instance in New Zealand of someone spreading the virus without ever having symptoms
23 March update: COVID-19
23 March update: COVID-19
18 March update: COVID-19
18 March update: COVID-19
You will be aware the Ministry of Health’s Director-General has confirmed a case of COVID-19 in a Dunedin school following a student testing positive for coronavirus.
On advice from the Southern District Health Board the school will now remain closed until Tuesday (Monday being Otago Anniversary Day). Close contacts have been identified and are being tested for the virus. The letter to the community from SDHB provides further information
The Ministries of Education and Health are working closely with Public Health services in Dunedin and the school leadership to help minimise disruption, progress contact tracing and reduce the possibility of spread.
Reminder – schools remain open
At this stage, we are not expecting widespread school closures. We are planning for temporary closures, like what is happening at Logan Park School but as the World Health Organisation has confirmed, the risk to children remains low and parents should continue to send their kids to schools and early learning centres.
Consequently any decisions about school closures will be made on a case by case basis. In the meantime, unless students are unwell themselves, then parents should keep sending them to schools and early learning centres as these environments continue to be safe and the best place for them to continue their learning.
Talking to children and young people about COVID-19
Given the rise in the number of reported cases, there may be children or young people in your life who experience distress. As a trusted adult, you can help reassure and educate them about COVID-19 – it can be good to talk to them now, so they can understand the illness and be reassured.
This can also be downloaded as an information sheet.
Up-to-date information and advice
A reminder that information and advice for students, whānau and the education sector is available here
While the website is being regularly updated with education-related content, the Ministry of Health is the Government agency leading the response to COVID-19
The Secretary for Education joined the Director-General of Health for the Ministry of Health’s COVID 19 update today. You can view that, and all Ministry of Health updates here.
12 March Update: Secretary for Education
12 March Update: Secretary for Education
Letter from Secretary for Education - Ioana Holsted
Kia ora
You may have seen that the World Health Organisation has now declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As noted by the Minister of Health, this doesn’t change what New Zealand is doing to respond to coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health has been working through its pandemic plan since January. You will also know the Government has already implemented a range of measures to minimise the impacts to New Zealand. This includes border restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate on arrival in New Zealand from China, Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea and immediate and detailed contact tracing of any confirmed cases. It is important to note those four countries account for more than 90% of cases globally and China and the Republic of Korea have significantly declining numbers of new cases.
We have 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and it is pleasing to know they are all doing well and are at home. Their children, four students at Auckland schools, continue to be well and show no symptoms. While we expect that more cases will arise, the Ministry of Health says that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low in New Zealand. We all have a role to play in this.
For our school, our pandemic plan is also ready to be implemented if needed. In the mean time we will continue to focus on good hygiene practices. Hand washing and good cough etiquette are very important tools in preventing the spread of illness including colds, flu and COVID-19.
With that, there is a good video clip from Nanogirl that will help your children to better understand the virus - YouTube clip - Nanogirl
You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus:
One other action we can all take is to be vigilant about our own health and the health of our children. I will be encouraging my staff to stay away from school if they are showing signs of illness such as coughs and colds. I ask that you please do the same with your children. Colds and flus are common in schools and by staying away, seeking medical attention and practicing good hygiene, we can all keep any spread of illness to a minimum.
Ngā mihi
Secretary for Education - Ioana Holsted
Novel coronavirus: Information for caregivers and whānau of learners
Novel coronavirus: Information for caregivers and whānau of learners
Information about Novel coronavirus for caregivers and whānau of learners
As you will have seen in the media the situation is rapidly evolving internationally concerning the coronavirus.
This is a new virus and its specific nature is currently unclear, however it appears that you can have the virus at an early stage and not be showing any symptoms. This incubation period is currently considered to be up to 14 days.
Your children and young people are currently returning to classrooms or early learning services. The health of your child is a priority for us all. We encourage you to err on the side of caution and here are some steps you can take.
If your child is unwell they should not be at their early learning service or school. Please contact Healthline at 0800 611 116 or your GP for medical advice. Healthline has translators and interpreters available 24/7 in 150 languages and they do have Mandarin and Cantonese speaking staff available.
For child who may be at high risk of exposure because they have travelled recently to China or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with the virus, I encourage you to consider having your child delay the start of their school year for 14 days or delay attending their early learning service and voluntarily stay away.
If your child attends school or an early learning institution while showing symptoms then they may be asked to return home by the Principal of a state school, an early learning service provider or home-based educator.
Keep an eye on our website and the Ministry of Health website for updates:
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) – Ministry of Education
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) guidance – Ministry of Health
Iona Holsted - Secretary for Education
Other useful information
Other useful information
In terms of keeping yourself and family well, the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests the following:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Wash hands frequently, especially after contact with ill people or their environment
Avoid close contact with sick farm animals or wild animals
People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette: maintain distance, cover mouth, cover coughs or sneezes with disposable cloths or clothing.
District Health Boards
You can also contact your local District Health Board if you require further information:
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