Dear Parents/Caregivers
I hope you all enjoyed the Easter break. As you are aware our school will be returning for term two on Monday 2nd May in the Covid Protection Framework orange light setting. This newsletter contains important information about the safety protocols and guidelines we will be following as a school. Please take the time to read through.
The focus continues to be on keeping our school community as safe as possible and we will do our best to limit the interruptions Covid 19 will have on our students' learning and wellbeing.
We follow the guidance set from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. When completing our risk assessment and setting our health and safety protocols, we are guided by the Covid19 protection summary for schools and we continue to stay vigilant to keep our school community safe. We are still experiencing Covid19 transmission in the community.
Health and Safety Protocols at Orange
Stay Home If Sick
If your child is sick they need to stay home and get tested. If your child has cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and get tested. Those presenting as unwell will be asked to go home. It is for the safety of us all.
Principals at state and state-integrated schools have authority to preclude a student from attending if they believe on reasonable grounds, they may have a communicable disease under section 77 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
If a student becomes unwell at school, they will be sent to the office area. The person who receives the child will wear gloves and a mask and place the child in the health room. Any staff member becoming unwell at school will be asked to go home.
Mask Wearing
In Years 4-8, face masks are now strongly encouraged, but not required, when inside at school. All parents, caregivers, whānau, and other visitors are strongly encouraged to wear face masks on site, especially if going indoors. All staff are strongly encouraged to wear masks indoors.
School Drop Off
Students are now in a great routine and as a school we have noticed an increase in how students are taking responsibility and managing themselves to prepare for the school day each morning. Parents/Caregivers are still encouraged to continue to drop off at the school gate. However, parents/caregivers are now allowed to come onsite in the morning and drop off at the classroom. We ask that you do this as fast as possible please. If you come into school you are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask, especially when indoors.
School Pick Up
At this stage there will be no change to the afternoon pick up routine. At the end of the school day parents/caregivers will continue to pick up from the school gate. Year 1 classes will continue to be walked out to the main gates. We ask that parents/caregivers do not come onsite to avoid large groups congregating on school grounds.
School Visitors
If coming onsite during the school day all visitors must sign in through the office, this does not include morning drop off.
School Events/Assemblies
Parents/Caregivers are welcome to attend all school events and whole school assemblies. Whole school assemblies will begin again in term 2 and will be held outdoors (weather permitting).
Good Hygiene
All students will continue to sanitise their hands on entry to classrooms, wash their hands after the bathroom and cough and sneeze into elbows. Surfaces in classrooms will be regularly cleaned.
Ventilation
We know that good ventilation is one of the tools to help minimise the spread of Covid 19. We will have doors and windows open. Students will have regular opportunities to work outside, weather permitting.
Positive cases
If anyone in your family is confirmed as having COVID-19, you will be asked to notify your close contacts yourself. Please get in touch with us-This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
as soon as you can if your child or any household member has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you have any concerns about sending your child to school, please do get in touch with myself, Kate Deane or Steve Harper-Travers. We are here to help.
Thank you in advance for your support with keeping our school community as safe as possible. We are looking forward to welcoming all our students back at the beginning of term 2.
Kind Regards

Mark Keenan
Principal