Newsletter 5 June 2020

Principal’s update 

Kia ora e te whanau,

We have had a fantastic week 8 and it is only three more weeks till the school holiday – on the 3rd of July. Thank you to all the students who have returned to school as they have been busy this week engaging in fun learning activities. Also a special thanks to our staff who supported our ako on their wellbeing – haoura. We welcome all students to return to school as key activities like the Year 7 and 8 Technology programme and Kapa Haka are back up and running. Please continue to inform the office if your child is not able to attend school due to medical or family reasons. We want to reduce the number of follow up phone calls as we are in contact with truancy services if we have not heard from whanau for regular unexplained absences. 

I have shared below the official guidelines set out by the Ministry of Education regarding Alert level 1 which will be communicated on Monday by the Prime Minister. If you are concerned about your children’s health, than the best information source is the Ministry of Health website. Early detection of any illness is important so families and whānau are encouraged to call Healthline 0800 611 116 any time if they suspect symptoms of any condition but are not sure what to do.

As a result of the expected Alert level 1 announcement, I am hoping that whole school assemblies will be able to start again next friday in the school hall and continue with our participation at sports events. Please do continue to register at the office as a visitor if you do come to our assembly or other school events. 

Lastly I have been in contact with Hamish Fraser – Marist Rugby Development Officer, who is encouraging our students to register interest for rugby this year and we are hoping that more students will return to their club level sports soon. 

As always if you have any questions, compliments or complaints please contact me on 0800 527634 or email lreddy@tamakiprimary.school.nz

Nga mihi nui

Lou Reddy

Acting Principal

Alert Level 1

In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday about Alert Level 1 and the Golden Rules for everyone to follow, we are revising our Alert Level 2 health and safety guidance and will disseminate the Alert Level 1 (slimmed down) version as soon as possible after Monday’s announcement of Cabinet’s decision.

From what we know now, we believe the following are the key changes for schools at Alert Level 1:

• there are no specific public health requirements.
• there are no restrictions on personal movement at so all students, children and staff continue to be safe to go to school / early learning, and all students must attend school.
• you are no longer required to keep a contact tracing register but will continue with the usual practice of having a visitor and an attendance register (and will need to work with local health authorities to identify close contacts, should there be a case connected with the school).
• physical distancing is not a requirement but is encouraged when you are around people you don’t know.
• there are no restrictions on numbers at gatherings or on physical activities including cultural and sporting activities, practices and events.

There are key public health measures (Golden Rules) for everyone in New Zealand to follow. For schools and early learning services this means:

• If people are sick, they should stay home (phone Healthline or their GP and get tested if they have cold or flu symptoms).
• Continue to regularly wash and dry hands, sneeze and cough into elbows.
• Soap, water and the ability to dry hands should be provided in bathrooms.
• Regularly disinfect shared surfaces.
• Support contact tracing efforts by displaying QR Code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App.
• Stringent self-isolation of those who display relevant symptoms of COVID-19, test positive for COVID-19, have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, or have been overseas in the last 14 days – Ministry of Health information for self-isolation.

At all levels, upon advice from the local medical officer of health, any educational facilities connected to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 must close on an individual or group basis for 72 hours to allow contact tracing, and then potentially for a further 14 days.

Upcoming events 

• Wednesday 10th June Te Puna Wairua – student graduate profiles hui 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the hall
• Wednesday 24th June TPS board meeting
• Friday 3rd of July as School term ends 

Learn, Create and Share

Our Reo Rua – Te Puna Wairua shared a waiata to encourage students to wash their hands called Horoi Ringa – https://tpsltutengaehe.blogspot.com/2020/05/waiata-horoi-ringa.html

Talanoa Ako app

Launched this week, the Talanoa Ako app provides Pacific parents with ongoing access to education and learning information. The content is in plain English and 10 Pacific languages. Each language is also available in audio with visually impaired functionality. The app provides core information for Pacific parents and families to build their knowledge and confidence about education in their own time and in their first language.   
 
Free to download from on both Android and iOS devices, the app is part of the Talanoa Ako programme that will be delivered in Ako Centres later in the year.

http://www.education.govt.nz/news/talanoa-ako-digital-app-now-available/