Memo: Delta Alert Level 2 Protocols Memo # 4
‘Play It Safe’
Kia ora koutou,
I am happy to announce that we will be reopening Morrinsville Intermediate School for all learners and staff on Thursday 9th September. School transport will resume as normal.
You’ll be aware that all of New Zealand (with the exception of Auckland) is moving to Alert Level 2 from Tuesday 7th September. Our thoughts and positive wishes are with everyone in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland.
Extensive wastewater testing and the numbers of people getting tested across the country has given the Government confidence that it is safe to allow a shift down to Alert Level 2 across most of New Zealand.
We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back onsite on Thursday. On arrival at school (preferably between 8.30 a.m. and 8.50 a.m.), students are asked to go directly to their classrooms to sanitise and check in with their teacher. Visitors that are non-urgent are discouraged from coming onto the school site, unless by prior arrangement. Any visitors are asked to please report directly to the office for scanning and contact tracing purposes.
At Alert Level 2 there is low risk of community transmission and it provides us with a lot more opportunities to engage and connect with others. However, there are still a number of public health requirements we all need to follow. Please continue to monitor your health and do not send your children to school if they are not well (and please seek advice about getting a COVID test).
For us, all the required safety precautions for Alert Level 2 will be in place which include following all the recommendations from the public health experts. This means we will regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, encourage everyone to frequently wash their hands and cough and sneeze into their elbow.
We encourage all students to bring a water bottle to school as a safety measure, however, drinking fountains will be operational.
Students who had a chromebook distributed to them for use during lockdown/Alert Level 3 are asked to return this to the office on Thursday, along with the charger. We would also appreciate the return of the school journals that were sent home in the learning packs.
While physical distancing is not a requirement in schools, we will be doing our best to keep students from congregating in very large numbers and keeping spaces well-ventilated. We will also be encouraging students to keep a 1m distance from others wherever practicable.
Face coverings are not required to be worn in school or on school buses. However, the Director General of Health has recommended that children 12 years+ wear a face covering at school – just as older children are required to wear face coverings in some other places. The decision to wear a face covering is up to you and your whānau (you will need to provide your own masks), whatever your decision it will be respected.
In summary, we will be working hard to keep everyone safe by following our protocols with rigour. I know you will agree with me that health and safety is of paramount importance for all. Thank you for your ongoing support to reinforce our key messages outlined above, with your child/ren.
A BIG thank you to you all for the wonderful assistance you have provided over the past four weeks, with your child’s learning; we have been extremely pleased with the high level of engagement with distance learning. Tino pai!
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s kaiako or me if there is something you need assistance with. See you Thursday!
He waka eke noa
We are all in this together.
Ngā mihi
Jenny Clark Teresa Higham
Principal Chairperson
Morrinsville Intermediate Board of Trustees
Alert Level 4: August 21st, 2021 Memo #3
Morena koutou,
As you will be aware, the Prime Minister announced yesterday that Alert Level 4 has been extended until Tuesday 24th August at 11.59 p.m. Morrinsville Intermediate School therefore continues to be closed. A review of the alert status will be held on Monday by the government.
I want to reassure you that our school staff and board will continue to be available to support your child’s learning and wellbeing in the coming days.
With the length of lockdown unknown, enabling your child to continue to learn from home is important. Under new Alert Level 4 guidelines schools are able to distribute electronic devices and hardcopy learning resources under strict protocols.
On Monday 23rd August, a small team of staff will be on site to organise this. If your child DOES NOT have access to a device at home and you have internet access, please communicate with your child's teacher by 5.00 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) to request to borrow a school-owned chromebook; you will be required to sign a device loan agreement taking full responsibility for the care and use of this. We have already established a device database and have a fairly clear idea of who may need a loan device. Please only request a device if it is urgently needed to enable your child to continue with distance learning programmes. A limited number of devices are available.
For those of you without internet access, hardcopy learning packs will also be available on Monday. Please only request one or the other, not both a device and a hardcopy pack.
To ensure everyone's health and safety, the pick up of the learning resources will be from the MIS bus bay on Monday 23rd August between 12.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. (if wet, drive in under the Dome). Please remain in your cars, and wear a mask to ensure both your safety, and the safety of our staff.
Only those who have registered for resources will be able to receive them.
We also hope you are doing OK at the moment ... but it is also OK if you aren't. As the Mental Health Foundation of NZ says, “it’s all right to feel a range of emotions right now. Going into a Level 4 lockdown is a big deal and it brings all sorts of different feelings to the surface, including frustration, worry and even gratitude. However you are feeling, know that you’re not alone – we’re all going through this together.”
Family/Whānau Support: for anyone struggling, or who needs further support, a site called heretohelpu.nz is a great place to start. Here whānau can access information from a variety of community organisations that provide support to people in various ways. If you need to talk, check in with a friend or whānau member, or free call/text 1737 to chat with a trained counsellor, it is free and confidential.
A big thank you to all of you for taking the lockdown so seriously – we’ve seen before that staying at home will break the chain of transmission and save lives. Breaking the rules could risk someone close to you if the rules are not complied with, this could risk the lock down period being extended or could risk the virus being spread to thousands.
And just a quick point – please don’t use our playground during lockdown. Playgrounds cannot be used at Alert Level 4.
As always, please let us know if there is anything you need to support you and your tamariki during this time.
Alert Level 4: August 18th, 2021 Memo #2
Kia ora koutou
I hope your first day in Lockdown has gone as well as possible and that you have had valuable time to spend with your family.
As a school, we will continue to communicate with you when we are informed of any change to the Alert Levels. In the meantime, your family's health and wellbeing is of paramount importance.
I am not expecting classroom teachers to be spending too much time focusing on distance learning this week as we all adjust to moving into lockdown, but they will be available via email or through their normal online learning platform during school hours. Learning opportunities will be available for your child/ren if/when they are ready to engage through their Google Classroom or Site.
Please find a link here to clarify any matters pertaining to Alert Level 4.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to make contact with your child's teacher.
Stay safe and stay well.
Alert Level 4: August 17th, 2021 Memo #1
As you will have no doubt heard, the Prime Minister has announced that there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 identified in the community in Auckland, resulting in New Zealand going into Alert Level 4 lockdown as of midnight tonight. This will be for three days with the exception of Auckland and Coromandel who will be in lockdown for seven days.
That means Morrinsville Intermediate School will be closed for the next three days.
Distance Learning:
With such short notice we weren’t able to hand out devices or hard packs to students in order to support distance learning. For those students who do have a device at home, they can continue to access their Google Classroom/Site. Teachers will ensure there is learning available for students to continue with.
Alternatively you can utilise the following TV resources:
- Home Learning TV can be accessed on demand here or via the TVNZ App on a device (mobile phone, smart tv or tablet)
- Mauri Reo, Mauri Ora can be accessed on demand from Māori TV for primary-aged tamariki and here for secondary school rangatahi.
It is really important we do everything we can to keep our community safe. Alert Level 4 means we need to stay home in our bubbles and avoid any travelling as much as possible. Supermarkets, pharmacies, foodbanks and other essential services will be open – but remember to wear a face covering if you are out and about (even a scarf wrapped around your mouth and nose will help). Check in using the NZ COVID Tracer App wherever you go and please also keep a distance from people you don’t know and wash your hands well and often, especially before and after using any public facilities.
Please go to the Ministry of Health website if you live in Auckland or the Coromandel region, or have recently visited there. There is a list of locations the confirmed case has visited while they were considered to be infectious. If you were at one of those locations and at the same time as specified on the website, then please follow the relevant instructions to isolate and potentially to get tested. Please keep checking that webpage as new locations may be identified over time.
Our focus as always will be to support the learning, safety and wellbeing of our rangatahi and tamariki and we continue to be here to support you as well.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s kaiako or me, if there is something you need assistance with.
In the meantime please stay safe.
Kia kaha.
Jenny Clark (principal@mi.school.nz)
Alert Level 1: March 7th, 2021 Memo # 3
Good evening everyone,
You will now be aware that the Prime Minister has informed us that we will be returning to Alert Level 1 on Sunday morning, 7th March, at 6.00 a.m. It has been great to see several days with no new community cases. However, as Dr Bloomfield has clearly stated, new cases are still possible and we need to continue to act with caution and do the right thing to keep our community safe.
The basics still work
We have a large amount of control over how we can prevent the spread of COVID-19. Even with the new variants of the virus, the most important things we can do remain the same:
For our school we will:
You will now be aware that the Prime Minister has informed us that we will be returning to Alert Level 1 on Sunday morning, 7th March, at 6.00 a.m. It has been great to see several days with no new community cases. However, as Dr Bloomfield has clearly stated, new cases are still possible and we need to continue to act with caution and do the right thing to keep our community safe.
The basics still work
We have a large amount of control over how we can prevent the spread of COVID-19. Even with the new variants of the virus, the most important things we can do remain the same:
For our school we will:
- display QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer app
- keep our visitor register, attendance register and timetables up to date to help with contact tracing if needed
- be monitoring for illness and asking anyone who is unwell to remain at home, or to go home
- encourage people with relevant symptoms to seek medical advice through Healthline (0800 358 5453) or their GP and get tested for COVID if recommended to do so
- reinforce the importance of good hand washing and drying
- reinforce good cough and sneeze etiquette
- clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly
- check in using the NZ COVID Tracer app everywhere you go (the sooner you get notified that you were at a location of interest, the easier it will be to keep yourself and your whānau safe)
- switch on the Bluetooth function on the app (go to the dashboard in the app to do this)
- always stay home if you are unwell and seek advice from Healthline (0800 358 5453) or your GP
- get tested if recommended to do so. Testing is free to everyone in New Zealand!
- wash and dry hands thoroughly and frequently
- practise good cough and sneeze etiquette
- regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home
- wear face coverings on public transport
Alert Level 2: February 28th, 2021 Memo # 2
Kia Ora koutou
You will most likely be aware that the Prime Minister has informed us that as of 6.00 am Sunday morning, we will move into Alert Level 2 again for seven days. Auckland moves into Alert Level 3.
Fundamental public health measures continue to apply at Alert level 2:
Physical distancing (not touching and not breathing on each other at Alert Level 2)
Hand hygiene (students to go straight to class on arrival to school and sanitise their hands please).
Cough and sneeze etiquette
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces.
Level 2: February 2021 Memo # 1
Kia Ora
You will most likely be aware of the Prime Minister's announcement at 7.00 p.m. tonight informing us that the Auckland area will be moving into Alert Level 3 from midnight tonight and the rest of the country will move into Alert Level 2.
The alert levels will remain in place until 11.59 p.m. on Wednesday 17th February. This decision has been made on the basis of three community cases of Covid-19.
Alert Level 2 for all of New Zealand excluding the Auckland region (as outlined by the Secretary of Education, 14th Feb. 7.10 p.m.):
1. Schools are open to everyone, and all children must attend.
At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained but there is still risk of community transmission. It is safe for children and staff to attend school and for school hostels to be operating as there will be appropriate measures in place, including for children and staff vulnerable to severe illness.
2. Learning will be onsite with distance learning offered in some circumstances. Distance learning should be provided for those required to self-isolate, those individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result, or those choosing to remain at home because they are vulnerable to illness.
3. Schools are not classified as gatherings and a range of events and activities can go ahead.
For most day to day activities at schools, the rules for gatherings do not apply. Under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Order, schools are exempted from physical distancing requirements when people are there to receive, provide, or support education services.
However as soon as your event or activity brings people onsite who are not there for education purposes, including students, parents and caregivers, then the rules for gatherings do apply. This would include performances such as school plays, cultural events and sporting activities.
4. Schools will close for cleaning and contact tracing if there is a confirmed case who was infectious when at school. The Director of Education will work closely with schools and health authorities should this occur. Please contact your Ministry regional office if you hear of a confirmed case in your school community but haven’t been advised about it by health officials.
5. Face coverings are not required at school or on any school transport.
This includes charter buses hired by the school to transport students and staff. Anyone who chooses to wear a face covering in any setting should be supported to do so.
6. 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.
7. MIS has a contact tracing system in place.
This includes displaying QR code posters at our entrances, and visitor register.
8. Fundamental public health measures continue to apply at every alert level: physical distancing (not touching and not breathing on each other at Alert Level 2), hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces.
9. Think and plan carefully before you go ahead with any activity that brings a large number of students together and/or spectators are involved.
Some events may need to be cancelled or postponed when we are at Alert Level 2. Inter-regional travel is possible but only where you are confident the appropriate measures will be in place at the host venue, including requirements for gatherings.
Impact on Morrinsville Intermediate School:
1. The Tainui Team beach safety education trip planned for tomorrow will be postponed (mass gathering rules apply for activities beyond 100)
2. If possible, adults please refrain from visiting our site unless absolutely necessary. If you must come into school, report directly to the office and scan the QR code, and sign our visitors register please.
3. Hygiene practices will be stepped up; students are asked to bring their own water bottle please (however, drinking fountains will be cleaned twice daily), coughs and sneezes are into elbows and if unwell, students are asked to stay home
4. Hard surfaces in classrooms, door handles etc will be cleaned thoroughly each day
5. Students are asked to wash hands before eating and after play
Moving into Alert Level 2 is a reminder that we need to be vigilant at all times, and at Morrinsville Intermediate School we remind our students regularly about managing themselves in a bid to prevent the spread of viruses. Please reinforce the messages stated above.
Thank you for your support to ensure we keep everyone safe. Take care ... any questions please don't hesitate to contact me or your child's teacher.
Kindest regards
Jenny Clark
Principal
As of today we are in COVID-19 Alert Level 1.
All visitors to school will be required to report to the office on arrival and sign in.
Please reinforce the need for our students to continue:
- safe hand hygiene (remind students to wash/dry hands before/after eating/playing)
- bring water bottles to school (as a matter of good practice)
- cleaning high touch surfaces daily (continue to do this as good practice please)
- coughing/sneezing into elbows
- staying home if unwell
04.09.20
COVID-19 Alert Level 2 remains in place:
As you may have heard, all areas will remain in their current Alert Level until 14th September. Unfortunately this means all Inter-Intermediate Sports have been cancelled for the rest of Term Three, this includes our WIMS week which was planned for next week. In line with this, our school has also decided to cancel our participation in the Tough Guy/Gal Run.
Thank you for your understanding.
24.08.20
Kia ora koutou
Following the announcement from the Prime Minister this afternoon we will remain at Alert Level 2 until further notice. Just a reminder that while everyone is on site at Alert Level 2, we must adhere to key health measures including:
- Good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette
- Students bringing their own water bottles
- Students checking in with their teacher on arrival, and sanitising their hands
- Students washing hands with soap for 20 sec. prior to eating, and after play
- Staying away if sick (please phone/email the office by 8.45 a.m. if your child is going to be absent)
- Keeping the appropriate physical distance from others i.e. 1m wherever practicable on our site, and 2m out in public
- Cleaning and disinfecting our high touch surfaces daily
- Displaying QR code posters at our entrances and encouraging all of our community to download the NZ COVID Tracer App and use it if they come onsite
- Keeping a visitor register for anyone who cannot use the app and for other visitors who come onsite for a period of time.
We believe that all these things will help to keep our community as safe as possible. Because of these measures, it is not a requirement that your child wears a face covering while at school. However, we will of course support them should they choose to do so.
We continue to be responsive to updates from the Prime Minister to ensure we are adhering to protocols. This has brought challenges including:
- planning for our Open Evening (for 2021 Y. 7s) - we have changed the date from 26th August to 2nd September and are in the process of amending the organisation of the evening to ensure we keep to the limit of 100. Once the details are finalised you will be informed and we thank you for your patience.
- sports - hosting events is tricky under Alert Level 2, with contact/tracing and mass gathering regulations. Again, we will keep you informed about any changes to our II Girls' Rugby tournament being hosted at Campbell Park on 9th September.
For those of you who might be finding things more difficult than usual, a reminder that there is a large range of support available. Please go to the covid19.govt.nz website for more information, or get in touch and we will help you to find the information and support you need.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Take care, and thank you for your ongoing support.
Ngā mihi
Jenny Clark
Principal
12.08.20
Alert Level Two
The Government has advised there are four new Covid-19 cases in Auckland (unrelated to travel / isolation). In response to that Auckland moved into Alert Level 3 from mid-day today until midnight Friday night.
The rest of the country moves into Alert Level 2.
For us at school that means we need to be vigilant with hygiene practices (washing hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water, sanitising hand on arrival to school, sneezing into elbows), keeping physical distance of 1 metre where possible (doesn’t apply to buses), cleaning high use surfaces regularly, visitors remaining off site unless absolutely necessary (report to office for contact tracing purposes if you are on site), students bringing water bottles. Please keep your child home if they are unwell.
Please visit the Ministry of Health website for the latest updates.
Once I receive further advice from the Ministry of Education I will on-communicate that to you.
Stay safe everyone and please be vigilant with contact tracing and hygiene practices.
Kind regards
Jenny Clark
Principal