Important Announcement from the Prime Minister - Covid19 - Level 3/4 (Updated at 23/3 6pm)

By Simon Clarke | Posted: Monday March 23, 2020

The Prime Minister has just announced a range of measures to address the Covid19 virus. One of them is that all schools will be closed from tomorrow.

Schools will be open for children of parents working in essential services on Tuesday and Wednesday to allow for parents to organise cover for their child going forward.  The school will be closed for all students from Thursday 26th.

We have provided some online resources in our last newsletter and we will be rolling out more next week.  But most importantly ensure that your child is feeling safe and secure.  In their 13 years at school in New Zealand, four weeks off school will have little lasting impact on their overall learning.  Remember that two of those weeks will be school holidays.  Please be mindful that it is not your job to teach your children through this time. Your child may be worried or anxious about what is going on, and the most important thing they need is for the adults around them to be calm, positive and supportive. If your child wants to continue with their learning, please use the ideas we will share with you. If you and your child are happy doing the things you want to, then please do not feel any pressure from us to change that.

Thank you to everyone who filled out the survey from the last newsletter.  I will be organising Chromebooks to go home for families who have indicated that they need one.  These can be collected at 3pm from the front gate from me.

We have a number of teachers who are away tomorrow and Thursday.  Please fill out this form to indicate if you will be sending your child to school for the next two days as you are an essential worker. 

This is a time that we must pull together as a community and live through our school's values of kindness, aspiring, independence and keenness.    

Stay safe and kia kaha

Simon Clarke

Sectors Entities providing essential services (including their supply chains)

Accommodation

• Accommodation services for essential workers and people who need to be isolated/quarantined

Border

• Customs New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries

Building and construction

• Building and construction related to essential services, critical infrastructure, or immediately needed to maintain human health and safety at home/work

Courts, tribunals and the justice system

• Courts of New Zealand and tribunals
• Critical Crown entities (eg Electoral Commission)

Education At level 3 only:

• Schools and educational facilities (e.g. ECE centres)

Fast-moving consumer goods

• Businesses involved in the supply, delivery, distribution and sale of food, beverage and other key consumer goods (but not takeaway shops)

Financial services

• Banks, insurers and other financial institutions

Health

• Hospitals, primary care clinics, pharmacies, medical laboratories, care facilities
• Ambulance services
• Mortuary services

Local and national government

• Any entity involved in COVID-19 response or that has civil defence/emergency management functions
• Key public services

Primary industries, including food and beverage production and processing

• Packaging, production and processing of food and beverage products
• Food safety and verification, inspection or associated laboratory services, food safety and biosecurity functions
• Veterinary and animal health/welfare services

Public safety and national security

• Emergency services
• Security and intelligence services
• Justice system
• Public safety and national security roles

Science

• Any entity (including research organisations) involved in COVID-19 response, hazard monitoring, resilience, diagnostics for essential services

Social services

• Welfare and social services, including NGOs, which meet immediate needs (further guidance will be provided)

Transport and logistics

• Transport services
• New Zealand Post and courier services
• Any small passenger service vehicle driver – including taxis and ride-share services

Utilities and communications, including supply chains

• Electricity, gas, water, waste, fuel, telecommunication services, internet providers and media