By Simon Clarke | Posted: Thursday May 14, 2020
Well done and thank you!
Hopefully, the news from the Prime Minister has brought a smile to your face as we move to Level 2 at midnight on Tuesday the 7th. Kaikorai School will be open for all children on Thursday the 9th. I am expecting more guidance from the Ministry of Education tomorrow morning but I have included the health guidelines from last year.
Action Points from this newsletter
It is at times like this, institutions like schools rely on their values and for us, the KAIK values will be very important over the next few weeks. I found these notes from last year and they are as relevant now as they were then.
Kindness
Teachers will spend the first part of Thursday checking in with children and listening to their stories that they may want to share during the lockdown. We will be focusing on the positives and reassuring that they are safe at school and what we have to look forward to. Teachers will be in contact with you if they have any concerns and likewise, you should do the same if you are seeing changes in behaviour at home.
Children will be returning having had a range of experiences during the lockdown. For some, it has been a great time while for others they may be living in stressful conditions as parents are worried about their future employment or know someone who has got sick through Covid 19. Some children may come to school wearing a mask. What will get us through all of this is by being kind to each other.
Independent
We have been practising being independent since the last lockdown with huge success. Parents are not allowed onto the school grounds unless they have signed the visitor registration form in the office. You must wear a face mask on the school grounds. Next week we will have teachers welcoming students back and taking children who are nervous to their classes. Unfortunately, due to the construction, we are down to one gate. Social distancing could become an issue if parents don't show common sense as we can't have a large number of parents giving their child a hug goodbye directly in front of the entrances. We would encourage you to drop your child off and say farewell some distance from the gate and they can walk towards the teachers who will be waiting for them. Thank you to Kelly and the Road Patrol team who will be back in operation on Thursday ensuring that your child can cross the Wright and Tyne Streets safely.
If this doesn't work we will have to use staggered start times which will be much harder for parents who are returning to work. School is open from 8:30 and teachers will be at the gate from then.
It will be the same for afterschool where junior teachers will take their class to the Tyne St gate and seniors and middles will leave via the driveway on Tyne St. Please keep the kiss and run zones on Wright St clear before and after school. This will aid the children in dispersing quickly. Remember you shouldn't leave your car if you are using these areas. Parking enforcement will be patrolling at times this week.
Kelly Club is open from Thursday and parents are welcome to come onto the school grounds as long as you sign the Kelly Club register on arrival.
Aspiring
"Being the best you can be" is being the healthiest you can be in relation to Covid19.
CLEAN HANDS AND DRINKING FOUNTAINS
Although the Delta variant is more likely to be passed through the air, the Ministry has asked us to continue to push the handwashing message. Students will wash their hands using soap before and after all breaks. Hand sanitisers will be available in each class and all people on site are encouraged to use this regularly throughout the day. Please bring your own soap/sanitizer if you have sensitive skin or other issues created by regular hand washing. We know that this was an issue for a few children last time so please email your class teacher if you have any concerns.
Drinking fountains are not to be used. Children are to bring their own, named drinking bottles to use throughout the day.
DISINFECTANT AND CLEANING
Every learning space will have a bottle of disinfectant and cloth's available to them, and staff and students are encouraged to use this regularly to reduce the possibility of the spread of disease. Door handles, tables and high touch areas will be professionally cleaned during the day.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROVISIONS
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.
Hand cleaning products will be available in:
the entry of every learning space, including the library and hall
by all toilets
at the Tyne St steps before and after school
in the office and admin areas
Soap is available at every sink, and paper towels for drying hands thoroughly. Paper towels must be thrown out and not recycled
Disinfectant wipes/spray in every classroom, office and staffroom.
Children may wear masks, but these must be provided from home
SAFE DISTANCING
Children, young people 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.
It is important that children do not share food or drink at school during level 2. Staff will support children with this. Morning tea and lunch will be eaten outside. We will be staggering our lunchbreaks as follows. Morning tea remains the same.
STUDENT HEALTH
Staff will closely monitor children as they come into school each day, and if any symptoms of illness are noted, they have been instructed to contact the office to be sent home. Symptoms to monitor for are any respiratory symptoms such as a cold, a head cold, blocked ears, cough, sneezing, chills and a fever. Stay home if unwell is the consistent message to all New Zealanders.
Keen
And finally, we hope that your children are keen to get back to school as much as we are! The Ministry of Education have asked teachers to prepare the school over the next 48 hours. We will be holding our normal online meetings tomorrow and the students will be left with work to complete. There will be no meets or lessons on Wednesday. For students who are currently attending school under Level 3 you will continue to attend school as normal.
I am already looking forward to the week 13-17th, when if all going well, we will restart many of our extra programmes including the choir, KPSTV, dance group, guitar and keyboard lessons, French, math and writing extension as well as our support programmes.
I wouldn't expect school sport to start until next term at the earliest and I will update you when I have more information about cancelled or postponed events such as the Cross Country, Mathletics and Polyfest.
We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!
Devices - For the most part, the students were issued with their own devices. If this is the case, simply return the device on Thursday. If you were given someone else's device please take it to the office. Charging packs may have come from a different room. Please check these for a number and return the charging pack back to that classroom. Please return any ipads and charging cord to your child's teacher.
Kind regards
Simon Clarke