CHANGES TO TRAFFIC LIGHT SETTINGS

You will be aware of upcoming changes to the red setting - these changes will be coming into effect over the next 2 weeks. On MOE advice, we are not making any immediate/significant changes to the way we are operating here at Hokowhitu School. It would be fair to say that the Manawatu area was ‘slower’ to become widely affected with omicron infections, and so we may not have passed our peak of cases yet. Continuing to observe our current health and safety precautions seems to be the most prudent and sensible way to proceed right now. We will continue to review/adapt and relax restrictions as soon as we feel we can do so safely. We thank you for your ongoing support and patience. 

GOAL SHARING CONFERENCES: 28 March – 1 April

Although we have been unable to hold our usual ‘start of the year’ events to build connections with whānau, we still wanted to give you the opportunity to meet with your child’s whānau teacher and be given information about the way they have settled into 2022 here at school. Everyone in TKT, TKA, TKM, and TKP will be offered the opportunity to book a conference. Online booking will open next Monday, 21st March. We will email a link to the School Interviews booking site on Monday.

Once you have made your booking you will receive an email both confirming your time and providing you with a video link. The maximum time you will need to allow is 10 minutes.
The learners in Waka are all about to have their 6-week interview and will be emailed to set this up - this is instead of the online conference. Some of the learners in Huia will either have recently had (OR are about to have) a 6-month interview, others will be due a conference - teachers will let you know by email which is appropriate.

Ms Finikin is also available to speak with parents/caregivers of her ESOL learners.

My apologies if this is confusing information - in short, please keep an eye on your emails, as we will be in contact for either scenario. 

COVID UPDATE - Red traffic light Phase 3.

In Phase 3, only household contacts of confirmed cases are required to self-isolate. The isolation period is now 7 days. THIS REDUCED ISOLATION PERIOD IS AN UPDATE ON THE GRAPHIC WE SENT OUT ON WEDNESDAY - IT WAS PREVIOUSLY 10 DAYS. This means that household contacts of positive cases may return to school on day 8 - after having a clear test on Days 3 and 7, and asymptomatic. Confirmed cases may also return to school/work on Day 8 provided they are symptom free and FULLY recovered.

Please advise the school if your child is isolating because they are a household contact. All other contacts of COVID-positive people are not required to isolate, but they will need to monitor for symptoms.
If a Hokowhitu School child is confirmed as having COVID19, please advise me directly - l.dixon@hokowhitu.school.nz

It remains really important that you do not send your child to school if they are unwell.

At this stage, positive case numbers here at school remain manageable. Across the school each kete has someone (or a few people) that are either a confirmed case (or are isolating as household contacts). However, these numbers are still relatively small. We remain at Stage 1 of our school’s Covid Response Stages as outlined below. 

COVID UPDATE

Inter school triathlon (selected Y 5/6 students) Years 1-3 duathlon (no spectators)

You will all be aware that Covid cases are popping up everywhere in the community. Earlier in the week everyone should have received an app and an email regarding our first reported Covid case here at school. We will not be reporting every time we are advised we have a case, as it is expected that numbers will continue to rise until the peak of this pandemic wave passes. We will provide you with regular updates. If you did not receive an email from us on Tuesday, please check that we have your correct contact details. If you are yet to download the school app onto your phone, we would strongly encourage you to do so - this is the most efficient way we have to make contact with you.

We are continuing to promote good hygiene practices here at school, mask wearing for everyone Y 4 and above, limiting access to school buildings unless necessary, separate break times and play spaces for each kete, good ventilation in rooms etc.