Covid-19 Updates
For the most up-to-date information please regularly check your inboxes. Don’t hesitate to reach out if further support is needed.
27 JANUARY 2022
Tēnā koutou katoa
This newsletter contains more detailed start-of-year and Covid information. At the current Red setting, we are able to support everyone learning onsite. Our staff is refreshed and ready to go for the 2022 year and can’t wait to welcome everyone back, especially Y7 students new to the school.
At this stage we will not be running hybrid or online classes; it’s difficult to manage for teachers, and we are anticipating that the vast majority of students will return to school on site, as occurred in term 4 last year. While we recognise there will be some anxiety, the clear intent of Government is to get kids back into school as much as possible. As you will be aware, the health and well-being benefits of being physically present at school are significant.
Those students who are sick or immunocompromised, or required to isolate will be able to access work via Google Classroom. Teachers will ensure that good quality work is posted. If at any stage you have any specific queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Head of Year
Classes this term will run to our normal timetable, from 8.45am until 3.20pm.
As the term progresses, we may review our modes of delivery to ensure students are well supported. If at some stage staff absence (through infection/isolation/testing requirements) makes it difficult to adequately staff classes we may consider rostering year groups home on a rotating basis (this approach is being undertaken by many Auckland schools). We’ll keep you well informed.
COVID-19 RED LEVEL SETTING
Masks
All staff and children in Years 7-13 must wear masks when inside at school (unless they have an exemption from a registered GP), and on school buses. Masks are not required to be worn outside. Public health advice is that an appropriate mask will fit snugly and seal well around facial contours. This can include single use, disposable masks (medical masks) and reusable fabric masks with three layers.
Events and activities
Large events and gatherings especially when indoors continue to be one of the riskier activities we can undertake. We have therefore reviewed all our events and activities for the upcoming term to ensure we meet the health guidance for Red. Trips and camps and award ceremonies such as our Academic Blues will be reviewed against this guidance on a case by case basis. In many instances events will still be able to go ahead. We will keep you informed. Students intending to participate in College Sport sanctioned events and competitions will need to be fully vaccinated.
Managing cases in our school
We have a good contact tracing system in place so that if there is a confirmed case who has been at school while infectious, we can quickly identify who was a close contact of that person. We will then quickly advise those contacts of what they need to do.
Only if the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education advises to do so, would we consider closing the school and moving to distance learning for everyone. At Red we will keep everyone learning onsite for as long as we can.
Ventilation
We have used the Ministry of Education self-assessment tool to review all our ventilation in readiness for the start of the year. Providing fresh air remains the most important thing we can do in our learning spaces to minimise risk for students, so doors and windows will be kept open. We will also be receiving a CO2 monitor in the coming weeks to further support our ventilation plan.
Getting ready to return to school
The Ministry of Education has some helpful information on their Parents and Whānau website to support your tamariki to get back to school. There is also a very important reminder about how you can take care of yourself.
While this might all feel a little overwhelming at times, we know that all these measures will help our children return to school, reconnect with whānau and friends and do what they enjoy.
We are also here to help. Please get in touch if you have any concerns or need help in any way
Y7 First Day
Year 7s start school on Wednesday 2 February. Unfortunately we will not be able to invite parents into school for the initial welcome. Please drop your student off at the gate and ensure they are outside the main school auditorium by 8:25am; teachers will be there to greet them and show them where to go and to explain the day.
Y9 First Day
Year 9 students and families will be emailed directly by the Head of Year 9 outlining the details for the first day of school. They also start on Wednesday 2 February and will meet the Head of Year 9 at the bus bay at 8:45am.
Uniform
Full school uniform rules and expectations apply from day 1. Thanks in advance for supporting us with this, and ensuring students understand that the holidays are over and that ‘beach’ attire is not suitable for school.
In particular, please ensure students are clear on the following:
• Sandals, if worn, must have a back strap (so no ‘Birkenstock’ type slip ons)
• No visible undershirts are to be worn in Term 1 - for cooler mornings, students may wear the school jersey.
• Students must be clean shaven, and no coloured nail polish is allowed - this includes toenails. No ‘anklet’ strings or adornments please.
Enjoy the long weekend
Nga mihi nui
Tony Giles
PRINCIPAL
25 JANUARY 2022
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Happy New Year!
This is just a short note to welcome you to what promises to be an interesting and challenging 2022, and to welcome our new families to Mahurangi College.
We know there will be some anxiety in the community with the move to the Red setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework. The MOE are providing schools with Covid guidance over the next two days, and I am meeting with both North Harbour principals and local primary principals on Thursday to finalise our arrangements (schools are wanting to largely follow the same structures). Following these meetings I will email you with full details for the start of the year at Mahurangi College.
Early indications are that senior students have done exceptionally well in NCEA exams, irrespective of the covid adjustments. Pass rates and endorsements are at record levels, which is remarkable considering the disruption to learning. We are very proud of how well our students have done. Once results are finalised we will publish these and acknowledge student success.
On Saturday we are hosting a car-wash fundraiser on site, with all proceeds going to the Tongan Red Cross. This is a great way to support our Tongan students and community, and those with friends and relatives impacted by the disaster. $15 per car starting at 8am. Non-perishable goods will also be collected. There will also be Tongan food for sale, so please come along and support this great cause.
Ngā mihi nui.
Tony Giles
PRINCIPAL