Schools and kura are open with staff and students on site.
Purpose: Learning kanohi ki te kanohi is the best option for children and young people. It’s important for them to connect with their friends and teachers and it helps their social, physical and emotional wellbeing.
How we stay safe at all settings within the Covid Protection Framework
- Wear masks
- Stay home if you are sick
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow
- Improve ventilation
- Keep your distance from people you do not know
- Keep track of where you have been
At Red, action will need to be taken to protect both at-risk people and protect our health system from an unsustainable number of hospitalisations. |
At Orange, actions aim to avoid exponential growth in case numbers with moderate controls in place. There are greater risks so extra public health precautions are necessary to protect our learners. |
At Green, there is almost ‘normal’ social and economic activity while continuing to build health system capability.
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Health Measures
All staff and support people are fully vaccinated
Newton Central School will not restrict student, staff or parent access based on vaccination status. We may request information about vaccination statuses for our records, although there is no requirement to provide this information. Where there is a direct risk to a student’s health and wellbeing (e.g. someone with complex medical needs), vaccination records may be required for those working with that child.
If you are sick, stay home and get tested
If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms you should get a test. If you are unsure, talk to your local healthcare provider or call Healthline. Newton Central School staff will observe children on arrival, checking for symptoms. Those presenting as unwell will be asked to go home or arrange for parents or caregivers to come and pick them up.
Wear a face mask
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Wear a face mask
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Maintain good hygiene
Use basic hygiene measures, including cleaning of surfaces, washing your hands, coughing or sneezing into your elbow and avoid touching your face.
Newton Central School will support children to:
- Wash their hands with soap and water often or use an alcohol-based sanitiser
- Cough or sneeze into their elbow or cover their mouth and nose with tissues
- Avoid touching their face, including their eyes, nose, or mouth
- Use hand sanitiser at entrances to indoor spaces, and at the gate at Red and Orange
Newton Central School will:
- Complete regular cleaning and disinfecting of commonly touched surfaces
Ventilate in indoor learning spaces
Good ventilation is important in minimising the risk of airborne transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Except in Te Aka Pūkāea where there is a ducted air conditioning system, Newton Central School will:
- Open all windows, doors and ducts (fully when weather allows and partially on cold, windy or rainy days)
- Limit the number of people in smaller, confined spaces
- User regular refresh breaks on cold, windy or rainy days, where all windows and doors are fully opened for a few minutes each hour and when children leave for outdoor breaks
Contact tracing
Schools are no longer required to undertake contact tracing; however, Newton Central School will endeavour to inform whānau when there has been a confirmed COVID-19 case in their child’s class and the infectious period of that case.
- Cases of COVID-19 in a school will continue to be managed across the framework
- Staff and students should follow public health guidance to identify who needs to self-isolate and get tested
- Visitor information will be captured in a visitor register at the office
Attendance and distance learning
Children at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19
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Children at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19
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Physical distancing
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Physical distancing
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Physical distancing
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Parents and caregivers dropping off and picking up students
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Physical and cultural activities on site / use of playgrounds
At all settings, access to playgrounds and other outdoor spaces will be rostered to minimise congestion.
At Red, exercising and singing will be held outdoors.
Teaching across schools and groups |
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Teaching staff
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Teaching staff
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Other visitors
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Other visitors
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Events and activities |
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Large gatherings
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Large gatherings
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Large gatherings
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Music, instruments, singing
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Music, instruments, singing
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Libraries
At all settings, libraries operate as normal.
Drinking fountains and food preparation
At all settings, it is okay to use drinking fountains with safety precautions; however, Newton Central School encourages all students to bring their own drink bottles filled with water each day.
- There is no shared kai at Red
- Food will be eaten outside wherever practicable
Managing in an emergency
Fire alarms and other emergencies may require us to either evacuate our buildings or move everyone inside. The priority in these situations is keeping students and staff safe from the threat arising through the emergency event – fire, flood, earthquake etc.
Newton Central School will continue to operate practice drills as normal at Green, Orange and Red.
COVID PROTECTION FRAMEWORK – SCHOOL HOURS(Gates open at 8:30am, children are encouraged to arrive from 8:45am) |
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Āhuru Mōwai – all years Nohinohi – all years Mārama – all years |
Te Uru Karaka – all years Awahou – all years |
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8:55am-2:55pm |
9:05am-3:05pm |
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Entrant children may have different hours by arrangement when visiting and starting school |