COVID-19 INFORMATION

UPDATE SHARED VIA EMAIL 10/03/2022

Kia ora koutou 

In many ways, this Principal's message is a repeat of the information I communicated last week. We are still working our way through the COVID landscape, trying to keep our school community as safe as possible while also supporting learning, both face to face and online. 

My intention is to send out our active case numbers twice weekly, where possible. Our current case numbers are:

Year 13
Active cases isolating - 5
Household contacts isolating - 5

Year 12
Active cases isolating - 5
Household contacts isolating - 5

Year 11
Active cases isolating - 10
Household contacts isolating - 14

Year 10
Active cases isolating - 4
Household contacts isolating - 11

Year 9
Active cases isolating - 3
Household contacts isolating - 12

Totals
Active cases isolating - 27
Household contacts isolating - 47

Active Cases and Household Contacts Isolating - as at 9 March 2022

We do have a significant number of students learning from home. We currently have around 50 students who are considered household contacts and isolating, and therefore need to be supported through online learning. As such, we will continue to operate the three-period timetable from 14 - 18 March incl., starting with form time at 9.15 am and finishing at 2.15 pm each day.  Starting at 9.15 am allows us to continue running the before school sports programmes for all students who are opting to participate in these. When the timetable finishes at 2.15 pm. all students have the opportunity to either complete the assigned work for each day at home or at school.

As you will likely be aware, the isolation requirements will change from 11.59pm on Friday, 11 March.  Please check the following link for further information:

https://covid19.govt.nz/isolation-and-care/how-to-self-isolate/ 

Our message continues to be, do what you can, when you can if you can. Please continue to check your email as this is how we will keep you informed and updated. A reminder that our website contains some useful links to wellbeing and support information as well as extra assistance currently available to vulnerable families. Please do let us know if there is anything specifically, we can do to support your child, queries should be directed to your child's house deans. 

Look after yourselves and your whānau.

He waka eke noa.
A waka we are all in together. 

Ngā mihi nui

David Oliver 
Principal


UPDATE SHARED VIA EMAIL 03/03/2022

Kia ora koutou 

As case numbers continue to increase, we will continue to operate a three-period timetable next week, starting with form time at 9.15 am and finishing at 2.15 pm each day. An additional 15 minutes to each of the three periods has enabled more options for supporting student learning at the current time.  

We still have a significant number of students learning at home.  We would like to remind whānau and ākonga that we are taking all the necessary steps in ensuring that our kura is a safe place for our students and staff to be. If a student is well, the expectation is that they attend school for face-to-face learning with their subject teachers.

We are all aware that the number of COVID cases continues to increase at pace throughout Aotearoa and Hawke's Bay. This is reflected within the numbers of our school community, who have either been confirmed as having COVID or who are isolating because they are household contacts. Going forward, we will provide a twice weekly update to our school community of the number of those in our school community isolating as either confirmed cases or as household contacts. 

Year 13
Active cases isolating - 2
Household contacts isolating - 1

Year 12
Active cases isolating - 1
Household contacts isolating - 1

Year 11
Active cases isolating - 1
Household contacts isolating - 3

Year 10
Active cases isolating - 1
Household contacts isolating - 3

Year 9
Active cases isolating - 1
Household contacts isolating - 2

Totals
Active cases isolating - 6
Household contacts isolating - 10

Active Cases and Household Contacts Isolating - as at 3 March 2022

We appreciate these are unsettling times. Our message continues to be, do what you can, when you can, if you can. Please continue to check your email as this is how we will keep you informed and updated.  A reminder that our website contains some useful links to wellbeing and support information as well as extra assistance currently available to vulnerable families.  Please do let us know if there is anything specifically, we can do to support your child, queries should be directed to your child's house deans. 

Look after yourselves and your whānau.

He waka eke noa
A waka we are all in together

Piki ake. Kia maia.

Ngā mihi nui

David Oliver
Principal


UPDATE SHARED VIA EMAIL 21/02/2022

Kia ora koutou

As indicated in my principal’s message on Friday. This week, we will be running a 3 period timetable starting with form time at 9.30am, this will be in the normal timetabled form rooms (all students should check their KAMAR timetable for classes and rooming). 

We have made the decision to have students in their subject classes. Maintaining a high level of student and staff attendance will allow us to continue to implement this plan. This will also allow us to run face to face lessons with students but will give us the flexibility to switch to online learning in some classes if it is needed. The last teaching period of the day will end at 2pm, so that students have the opportunity to complete assigned work at home or at school.

There is a staff paid union meeting which has been scheduled for quite some time and is due to take place on Thursday, 24th February. Students will need to be released at 12.30pm on Thursday. The library will be available to any students who need to be supervised after this time. Our apologies for any added disruption this may cause.

I appreciate the support of everyone during this current period of COVID related disruption. We are working hard as a school to maintain flexibility and support the learning of all our ākonga, moving forward.


Ngā mihi

David Oliver
Principal
Taradale High School


UPDATE SHARED VIA EMAIL AND UPCOMING EVENTS 18/02/2022

Kia ora koutou

The arrival of COVID to our kura has brought some challenges over the last week but it has also shown the collective strength, tautoko, and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances throughout our community. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the whānau of our confirmed COVID cases and thank them for everything they have done to allow us, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Health (MoH) to respond swiftly. This has enabled us as school to respond as quickly as possible in terms of contact tracing and notifying close contacts. 

I would also like to thank everyone in our community for your ongoing support. As you are aware, we moved to our online learning model with students learning at home from Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 February. These three days have enabled us to undertake further contact tracing with the MoH and MoE and to ensure we have everything ready for students who are able to return to school on Monday, 21 February. 

Next week (week beginning Monday 21st February) we will begin the week onsite, with all students working online within their house whānau groups. This will allow us to carry out well-being checks with all students and will allow us to gain a clearer picture of how to move forward for the rest of the week. The school will continue running a 3-period daily timetable and school will begin with form time at 9.30am. The third period will end at 2pm with students then having the opportunity to continue with any assigned work from home or at school. Our aim is currently to run this timetable next week so we can respond to any COVID related changes should they be needed.  Students should check their KAMAR timetable on Monday morning to find out which room they are in and what subjects they are doing.

We continue to work closely with both the MoH and the MoE around supporting our school community and to ensuring that student learning can continue to take place, both online and at school.

The MoH have asked that we advise our community to only get tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact to a confirmed COVID case. 

Wellbeing is a priority for all of us. Our message continues to be do what you can, when you can, if you can. Our website contains some useful links to wellbeing and support information and extra assistance available to vulnerable families.  Please do let us know if you have any questions - these should be directed to your child's house deans.

Please read this week's Upcoming Events (of which this is also the Principal's Message) as to contains updates, information and links for the week ahead.

https://mailchi.mp/5d370116038a/upcoming-events-for-18-25-february-2022

Look after yourselves and your whānau.

E tu kahikatea 
Hei whakapae ururoa
Awhi mai awhi atu
Tatou tatou e 

Stand like the kahikatea
To brave the storms
Embrace and receive
We are one together 

Piki ake. Kia maia.

David Oliver 
Principal


UPDATE SHARED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA 16/02/2022


​​​​​​​As you will know, there has been 5 more positive cases in our school community announced yesterday.

We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to ensure the health and wellbeing of our children, staff and community is our top priority.

87 additional students have been identified as contacts, and have been contacted by us via email with instructions of what the next steps are, as advised by the Ministry of Health this morning.

Hawkes Bay DHB will guide us on further action once we have the results of these tests.

Testing

It’s important that we prioritise quick testing for those who may have been exposed.

Please only get tested if you are one of the 87 students identified at Taradale High School OR if you have symptoms.

Other whānau members do NOT need to get tested at this stage.

It is important that as a community we take all the necessary public health precautions to minimise transfer of the virus. The following is a reminder of what to do if anyone in your whānau has symptoms.

What you need to do

· You and your whānau should watch for symptoms

· If any develop, get tested immediately

· Then, stay at home until you receive the result

· If your whānau hasn’t been vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible. You can book on-line at bookmyvaccine.nz or by calling 0800 28 29 26. It’s free. · Find out where you can get vaccinated in Hawke's Bay here: https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19.../hawkes-bay/

Symptoms of COVID-19

· A new or worsening cough

· Sneezing and runny nose

· A fever

· Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste

· Sore throat

· Shortness of breath

Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability. For more information, go to https://covid19.govt.nz/.../about.../covid-19-symptoms/


UPDATE SENT TO PARENTS 15/02/2022 AT 4.30PM RE FURTHER POSITIVE CASES


Kia ora koutou


We have just had a number of additional confirmed COVID cases within our school community.


We are still working through the details with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.


We have made the decision that on Wednesday, 16th, Thursday, 17th and Friday 18th February, all students will be learning from home, except for those who need supervision. Students who need to come to school as they need supervision, please report to the Library at 8.45am tomorrow morning. Supervised students will be on site as normal from 8.45am – 3.15pm.


We will be operating a three period timetable with staff at school and all students at home over both days. This will allow time for further contact tracing with the Ministry of Health.  The online timetable will commence at 10am with three one hour periods.  The timetable will finish at 2pm each day.


The three period timetable will be accessible via KAMAR App and Portal from tomorrow morning.  Lessons will run through Teams, students should check their Teams page for each subject.


Families of students who are identified as school contacts will be informed by phone and email later by the end of the day tomorrow, Wednesday 16th February.


If you are symptomatic or become symptomatic, please isolate, get tested and let the school know.


We will send out further updates and changes as they become available.  Updates will be sent via email and social media with an app alert sent to notify you that an update is available.


We are taking all the necessary public health measures to ensure the health and well-being of all our students.


You can download the School App here if you do not already have it installed on your device:


https://ths.apps.school.nz/install/


Ngā mihi nui


David Oliver

Principal


UPDATE SENT TO PARENTS 11/02/2022 AT 6PM RE POSITIVE CASE


Kia ora

The health and wellbeing of our children, staff and community is a top priority.

We’re sending this letter as there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our school community.

As a precaution, we have contacted a number students who have shared the same space as the positive case and asked them to isolate and monitor symptoms whilst we work with the Ministry Health to identify close contacts.

What you need to do

· You and your whānau should watch for symptoms

· If any develop, get tested immediately

· Then, stay at home until you receive the result

· If your whānau hasn’t been vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible. You can book on-line at bookmyvaccine.nz or by calling 0800 28 29 26. It’s free.

What we’re doing

· School will still be open on Monday for those students not isolating

· We are working with the HBDHB to identify close contacts and to ensure the health and wellbeing of our school community is a priority.

Symptoms of COVID-19

· A new or worsening cough

· Sneezing and runny nose

· A fever

· Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste

· Sore throat

· Shortness of breath

Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability. For more information, go to:

https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/about-covid-19/covid-19-symptoms/

Noho ora mai

David Oliver
Principal

​​​​​​​

UPDATE SENT TO PARENTS 27/1/22 AT 5PM

Returning to School at 'Red' Level

The Ministry of Education has some helpful information on their Parents and Whānau website to support your tamariki to get back to school.https://parents.education.govt.nz/essential-information/covid-19-information-for-parents-and-whanau/back-to-early-learning-services-school-or-kura/There is also a very important reminder about how you can take care of yourself.https://parents.education.govt.nz/essential-information/covid-19-information-for-parents-and-whanau/back-to-early-learning-services-school-or-kura/#takecareAs you will be aware, we are working to continue to manage an evolving situation. We do have plans in place including changes to our timetabling and teaching should they be needed.It is important that we work together, support each other, and remain prepared to do things a bit differently for a while should it be needed. My key message during this time will always be to do what you can, when you can, if you can. We will keep you updated with any changes as they arise.Ngā mihi nui

David Oliver
PrincipalGetting ready to return to schoolMany people will be able to manage self-isolation with help from friends and whānau. There is help available if you need it – both with health support and access to food and other essentials.https://covid19.govt.nz/isolation-and-care/what-to-expect-when-self-isolating-at-home/https://covid19.govt.nz/isolation-and-care/getting-extra-support-if-you-have-covid-19-or-are-self-isolating/https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/c/covid-19-positive-managing-your-symptoms/If you know anyone in your community affected by COVID-19 and who may need help, such as food and other financial assistance, Work and Income has a range of supports available for individuals, families, employers and self-employed people affected by COVID-19.https://workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/Self-isolating at home because of COVID-19You can also prepare for COVID-19, making sure you and your household have a plan and know what to do. This will mean your whānau and community can help each other if needed. Find out more here:https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/be-prepared-for-covid-19/https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/resources/posters/COVID-19-Readiness-Checklist.pdfhttps://covid19.govt.nz/isolation-and-care/what-to-expect-when-self-isolating-at-home/Preparing for COVID-19It is vital that students and staff DO NOT attend school if they are unwell or displaying any cold/flu like symptoms, or if they have been instructed by public health officials to self-isolate. Anyone with cold/flu like symptoms should get a COVID test and follow instructions given to them by health care professionals.Below are some resources prepared by the Ministry of Health which may be helpfulSelf-isolation and testingThe school will work closely with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to manage any response. If there is a confirmed case who has been at school whilst infectious, we will use our attendance and timetable systems to identify close contacts. We will endeavour at Red to keep everyone learning onsite for as long as we can. Please ensure your contact details are up to date, so we can easily get in contact with you.Managing cases in our school communityThe school is currently looking to maximise the ventilation in rooms with the resources which we have at hand.VentilationThere may be several reasons why some students are unable to wear a mask e.g. we know that some students may have a health condition or disability that means they may not be able to wear a face mask. If your child has a valid mask exemption, please ensure they see the Deputy Principal of their House. Staff will be expecting students to be wearing masks when they arrive to their classes. The Deputy Principals will indicate on Kamar that your child has an exemption so staff will not need to ask or discuss mask exemptions with your child in front of others.Mask ExemptionsThe Ministry of Health and Education requires all ākonga/ students in years 4-13 to be wearing a face mask when indoors or in close contact with others. Teachers and staff must also wear face coverings for classes Years 4 and up.It is also now recommended that face masks be medical-grade mask (for example a Type IIR/Level2 masks or above). These include the widely available ‘blue’ medical-grade masks that many New Zealanders are already wearing. If your child doesn’t have access to a suitable mask, the school has some available. We appreciate your support in ensuring your child (children) will wear a mask when attending school.Students will not be required to wear masks when undertaking physical activity, e.g. PE and Sport.MasksOrdinarily, we would have all our Year 9 ākonga and their parents and caregivers meeting in the hall. Under Red, your child will instead escort you directly to their form room where the form teacher will welcome you and be able to answer any questions you have. You will also have the opportunity to observe a recorded message from the Senior Leadership Team. Please ensure you are wearing a mask (unless you have a valid exemption) and observe social distancing.Information evening for Year 9 ākonga/ students and their parents, Thursday 3 February, 5 pmUnder 'Red', we will be holding a Mihi Whakatau to welcome new staff, and a virtual online Mihi Whakatau to welcome all our new students which will be shown at form time on Tuesday, 8 February.Mihi WhakatauKia ora koutou katoaKei aku nui, kei aku rahi, tēnā koutou katoa i roto i ngā āhuatanga o te wāWelcome back after what we hope has been a wonderful summer for your whānau. Our staff are currently working hard to ensure all our ākonga have a smooth start or return to school.​​​​​​​