Letter to parents preparing for a level three return to school
Regarding the preparation for a level three return to school
Dear parents, caregivers and whānau,
Broad principles
Here’s what the Government has set out for education under level 3 some of which has been amended but the broad principles are outlined below:‘Schools will be open for children to go to learn if their parents need to return to work, or the children cannot learn at a distance. Children who are able to, should remain home and learn via distance.’ - Ministry of Education (MOE)
- Early learning centres and schools will be open up for children up to and including year 10
- All children who are able to should remain home and continue to learn remotely
- Within schools and centres children should be kept in their own bubbles where possible to limit exposure between children
- Children, young people and staff who are at greater risk are encouraged to stay at home
- Any child, young person or staff member who is sick should remain at home
A difficult parental choice
Very recently the government has revealed what the level three lock down would look like. For primary schools, this means opening schools for students whose parents are able to get back to work, while at the same time continuing our online learning with those students who cannot or do not wish to return to school at this time. For those who are able to manage it, distance learning is still the best option. Effectively the choice for working parents will be whether to send your child back to school, or not. There will be a wide variety of reasons why you do and why you don’t want to send your child back to school. None of these decisions will be easy. For those who have to send their children to school because of employment, we understand this. For some who decide against sending your child to school for fear of introducing covid-19 to your bubble, we also understand this. Once you have made up your mind we want you to stick to it until we reach level two. As a school we will be here to support whatever decision you make, and we will do our utmost to keep all people, staff and students, safe. However, please be aware of the following:
The realities of school
We will do our very best to keep your child safe but be aware that school spaces are not designed for safe social distancing but for the mass production of learners. (Single cell classrooms certainly carry advantage at present.) At Moanataiari we will be doing all that we can for your child but the programmes we operate will be far from normal and the way we do things will be far from normal. The programme at school will be more supervisory in nature than what you would expect in regular face to face teaching.
In level three circumstances, there are some realities that we will all have to be clear about. While policy makers say that children will have to maintain social distancing, children won’t do this all the time. It is also likely that we will manage the children in similar age groups which means that your family group may be separated. The ‘bubble’ is a fragile thing and is not likely to work in any practical sense in a school environment. Shortly before the lockdown, we had an assembly (a relic of the past) and explained that we would need to keep distance from one another. In the very first break after this, children were touching one another, holding each other etc. It is a natural part of child and human development. As for keeping one another apart in class, class size will really matter. The government has told us that initially we will be able to have ten students per class. Research by MIT 2020 (How far can a sneeze travel also New studies emerge into Covid-19) suggests that a sneeze can carry droplets up to six metres away. Children coming to school will need to consistently sneeze and cough into their elbows.
In level three circumstances, there are some realities that we will all have to be clear about. While policy makers say that children will have to maintain social distancing, children won’t do this all the time. It is also likely that we will manage the children in similar age groups which means that your family group may be separated. The ‘bubble’ is a fragile thing and is not likely to work in any practical sense in a school environment. Shortly before the lockdown, we had an assembly (a relic of the past) and explained that we would need to keep distance from one another. In the very first break after this, children were touching one another, holding each other etc. It is a natural part of child and human development. As for keeping one another apart in class, class size will really matter. The government has told us that initially we will be able to have ten students per class. Research by MIT 2020 (How far can a sneeze travel also New studies emerge into Covid-19) suggests that a sneeze can carry droplets up to six metres away. Children coming to school will need to consistently sneeze and cough into their elbows.
Staff well-being and school capacity
The other thing I am concerned about, as principal, is the health of my staff. Some of us have various ailments that under normal circumstances would be fine but under this scenario are tricky and are described as 'immunocompromised'.
We believe we have four teachers who can run classes face to face if they are needed. As stated we will start each class with ten students in line with government policy. If we have less students needing to return we will run fewer classes. If we have more students needing to start than we anticipate we will have to prioritise entry to school until we can cope with the higher demand. One of the main criteria we will use is whether or not parents are essential workers. There will have to be an exercise of discretion in this matter. There will be a question about essential workers in the survey which will go out shortly.
Although the government has indicated that it is not providing ‘Personal protection equipment’ (PPE) for schools, as a school we are having some made for staff who are on site during this level three period.
Two school’s within a school
So here’s what we propose: we would like to run two schools within the school. One group of teachers will run a ‘face to face’ group, still using devices and a second group of teachers will continue to run distance learning. Students at school will be taking part in the online classes.
Operating conditions
These are the conditions which we anticipate would guide our operations although it is quite likely the government will introduce other guidelines. (We will inform you as required):
1. No sick child with any illness at all will be allowed on site under any circumstances.
2. Before the children arrive at school, parents will be asked to take the temperature of their children. We will follow the Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines Fever in children. Any child with a temperature over 38°C will be considered to have a fever. Students with a temperature of 38°C or more should not be at school.
The school may take temperatures of students with a handheld thermometer 'gun' which will be safe for students and staff.
3. Students will wait at the gates two metres apart before they are allowed to enter school. Cones will be set out to indicate the spacing. Students will enter through two entrances. There will be a staff member at both entrances.
a. The Moanataiari street entrance will not be used at the start of the day.
b. Children will wait at the Kuranui St. entrance (by the pedestrian crossing) to be admitted into school and at the Ensor St. entrance (by the bus shelter). This will depend on the students temporary class grouping.
4. Parents will not be allowed on site.
5. Students will be dropped off to school (at the gate or as close to) as near to the start of school as possible. Start times may vary slightly depending on the number of students returning to school. The Ministry of Education (MOE) suggests staggered starts, breaks and finishes. We will release further information on this when we know the number of students in attendance.
6. The school will need confirmation of who is in your bubble as part of a register and should contact tracing be required.
7. There will be no assemblies.
8. Playground times will be staggered. Playground spaces and toilets will be restricted. Once classes are set they will operate within a large class bubble.
9. Boys will enter the classroom from one door. Girls will enter through the other door.
10. Class bubbles will be directed to leave and enter from different streets.
11. Children will bring their own food and water (food exception noted below). No drinking fountains to be used.
12. Playground use will be out of bounds in line with earlier advice Covid-19 coronavirus: Playgrounds shut down across New Zealand. Sports equipment is not to be used e.g. balls, ropes sticks.
13. Children will need to bring the device that they are using for their learning. (If they are unable to do this please indicate in the survey notes general comment.)
14. Children may wear a face mask if they have one and can use it safely. This is not an expectation but if you wish your child to we would support your decision.
15. Children will be expected to wash their hands regularly through the day and use sanitiser.
16. You will need to let us know how your child is travelling. At the end of the day children will be let go in staggered small groups. There will be no pedestrian crossing in operation.
17. Toilets will be cleaned twice a day.
18. All classroom entrance handles will be cleaned twice a day.
19. Surfaces will be disinfected daily.
20. After school care remains closed.
1. No sick child with any illness at all will be allowed on site under any circumstances.
2. Before the children arrive at school, parents will be asked to take the temperature of their children. We will follow the Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines Fever in children. Any child with a temperature over 38°C will be considered to have a fever. Students with a temperature of 38°C or more should not be at school.
The school may take temperatures of students with a handheld thermometer 'gun' which will be safe for students and staff.
3. Students will wait at the gates two metres apart before they are allowed to enter school. Cones will be set out to indicate the spacing. Students will enter through two entrances. There will be a staff member at both entrances.
a. The Moanataiari street entrance will not be used at the start of the day.
b. Children will wait at the Kuranui St. entrance (by the pedestrian crossing) to be admitted into school and at the Ensor St. entrance (by the bus shelter). This will depend on the students temporary class grouping.
4. Parents will not be allowed on site.
5. Students will be dropped off to school (at the gate or as close to) as near to the start of school as possible. Start times may vary slightly depending on the number of students returning to school. The Ministry of Education (MOE) suggests staggered starts, breaks and finishes. We will release further information on this when we know the number of students in attendance.
6. The school will need confirmation of who is in your bubble as part of a register and should contact tracing be required.
7. There will be no assemblies.
8. Playground times will be staggered. Playground spaces and toilets will be restricted. Once classes are set they will operate within a large class bubble.
9. Boys will enter the classroom from one door. Girls will enter through the other door.
10. Class bubbles will be directed to leave and enter from different streets.
11. Children will bring their own food and water (food exception noted below). No drinking fountains to be used.
12. Playground use will be out of bounds in line with earlier advice Covid-19 coronavirus: Playgrounds shut down across New Zealand. Sports equipment is not to be used e.g. balls, ropes sticks.
13. Children will need to bring the device that they are using for their learning. (If they are unable to do this please indicate in the survey notes general comment.)
14. Children may wear a face mask if they have one and can use it safely. This is not an expectation but if you wish your child to we would support your decision.
15. Children will be expected to wash their hands regularly through the day and use sanitiser.
16. You will need to let us know how your child is travelling. At the end of the day children will be let go in staggered small groups. There will be no pedestrian crossing in operation.
17. Toilets will be cleaned twice a day.
18. All classroom entrance handles will be cleaned twice a day.
19. Surfaces will be disinfected daily.
20. After school care remains closed.
If your child comes to school you can not expect your child to be in the same class that they normally would be.
We will publish the class lists on the blog so children will know ahead of time which class they are going into. (This blog post will be taken down once children have started school). There can be negotiation about which child is going into which classroom.
Lock down challenges
For some families who have found it particularly challenging please let us know whether or not the school can assist with providing lunch for your child. (Do this through the survey). With reduced incomes for many, this may be necessary for a while.
Helping us start school in level three
Going forward we need to know as accurately as we can who will be staying at home and who will be coming to school. We need to plan for which children will be placed with which teacher. We need names and numbers.
Email survey
To do this we are going to send an email to each family in a Google Form survey.
Survey content
These are the questions we will ask in the survey:
1. I am (Write your name) e.g. John Paul
2. I/We am/are essential workers. Yes No.
3. If your answer is yes please state what you do.
4. Do you want your children to return to school. Yes No
a. If you would like your children to come to school, name your children and their level.
b. If your answer is yes ‘How is your child getting to school?: walking, biking, travelling by car
c. If you answer yes you must write down the names of the people who are in your bubble (so that we can create a register):
5. Do you want your children to stay at home doing online learning. Yes No
6. Do you want your children to stay at home pack distance learning. Yes No
7. Please write down anything else the school needs to know:
1. I am (Write your name) e.g. John Paul
2. I/We am/are essential workers. Yes No.
3. If your answer is yes please state what you do.
4. Do you want your children to return to school. Yes No
a. If you would like your children to come to school, name your children and their level.
b. If your answer is yes ‘How is your child getting to school?: walking, biking, travelling by car
c. If you answer yes you must write down the names of the people who are in your bubble (so that we can create a register):
5. Do you want your children to stay at home doing online learning. Yes No
6. Do you want your children to stay at home pack distance learning. Yes No
7. Please write down anything else the school needs to know:
"The health and safety of children, teachers and support staff needs to be absolutely paramount for any kind of return to places of learning. The main goal still needs to be stopping the spread of Covid-19." - New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa President Liam Rutherford.
Regards,
David Brock
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