Kia ora e te whānau,

Returning to school at Delta Alert Level 2 will be different to our previous Alert Level 2 in a few ways. This letter will be split into three sections to help families understand how we’ll be proceeding from Thursday. Section 1 outlines the key difference between previous Alert Level 2’s and the new Delta version. Section 2 outlines the general principles of Alert Level 2 and how that fits to Twizel Area School. Section 3 deals with the inevitably disappointing cancellations and postponements that we know about at present.

Please read through the information with your child(ren) so that a general understanding is present before we return to school.

Ngā mihi,

Kate Staniford
Tumuaki | Principal

Section 1: Key Differences between historic Alert Level 2 and Delta Alert Level 2

• Students cannot leave school during the course of the school day unless for parent notified events such as doctors appointments or special education assistance (e.g. Year 13’s cannot go to local shops for lunch).
• Everyone over the age of 12 is required to scan the tracer app if they enter the school property this means outside as well as inside. You’ll notice more tracer scans external to the property for your convenience. This may affect you at morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.
• Everyone over the age of 12 entering the building must scan the tracer app and sign-in at the main office (unless a student of the school - they will be tracked using our normal roll call procedures). Those coming inside the building must maintain 2m physical distance. We advise only entering the building if you are dropping off a new entrant student or a student with special needs. All other matters would ideally be dealt with on the phone or by zoom.
• Masks are not a requirement, but are recommended.
• Students must bring a full water bottle to school each day as water fountains are not available.

Section 2: General Principles of Alert Level 2 that most will already be familiar with 

Students:

• If you are sick, you must stay at home
• You are required to ‘keep your hands to yourself’ and ensure you aren’t close enough to any other person where you could feel their breath
• Keep individual lunchboxes and drink bottles – no sharing
• You are expected to follow good hygiene practices –wash and dry hands regularly, cough into your elbow, don’t touch your face, and use hand sanitiser.
• If you are dropped off at school, or picked up, you’ll need to say goodbye at the door.
• If you use the school bus, keep the seats closest to the driver clear, use hand sanitiser.
• Activities at interval and lunchtime that involve physical contact will not be possible.
• You will be asked to sanitise your hands, high touch equipment and work spaces at every transition during the school day.
• Playgrounds and shared playground equipment (like balls and skipping ropes) can be used but you’ll have to clean them after use.
• Singing and kapa haka can occur, but must be physically distanced
• Assemblies cannot occur because we do not have spaces large enough to physically distance students

Parents:

• If your child is sick, they must stay at home. If they become sick during the day, we will isolate them in sick bay and ask for you to collect them.
• Visits to school should be kept to an absolute minimum. Call us rather than meet face-to-face. If a visit to the school site is essential, you must adhere to 2m social distancing rules, sign into our contact tracing register at reception, limit contact to the admin area. Classroom visits are not possible at this time.
• Avoid congregation. No pick-ups or drop-offs inside the school grounds unless by school bus. (Exceptions exist for students with special needs and new entrants).
• There will be no on-site meetings after 4.30pm.