Kia ora koutou,  

The quick move to Alert Level 4, high volumes of testing for COVID in the community, extensive wastewater testing, huge numbers of New Zealanders being vaccinated (more than 2.8 million people have now received their first dose) and an amazing response by Aucklanders to following the rules at Alert level 4, have given Government confidence that we might move to Alert Level 3 on Wednesday next week. Until then, we remain at Alert Level 4. 

When we do move to Alert Level 3, you legally must stay within your household bubble unless for essential personal movement, including going to work and going to school.  

All going well, PHS will be open on Wednesday next week, for only a small number of children who need to attend. As you imagine, it will not be school as we know it under Alert Level 2 or 1. All our usual safety precautions for Alert Level 3 will be in place which include following all the recommendations from the public health experts. Students in school will be completing the same work as their peers at home.  

We will regularly clean and disinfect high–touch surfaces, encourage everyone to frequently wash their hands and cover their coughs and sneezes, and keep everyone physically distanced from others as much as possible (one metre inside and two metres outside). We will also keep school bubbles to no more than 10 students. These bubbles will not mix with other bubbles. 

Our contact tracing systems will be in place, which includes our attendance register and visitor register, and we will be limiting staff onsite with the majority of our team working from home. 

You can also assist everyone’s safety by keeping your child at home if they are feeling unwell and please do contact your GP or Healthline, to seek advice about getting tested.  

We will continue to support all children who remain learning at home, through our distance learning programmes. 

While we know how difficult it is trying to work from home as well as support your child’s learning, please keep your child at home if there is an appropriate carer available. For those of you with no other option, we will look forward to seeing your child at school next week. Please complete this survey if your Year 9 or 10 student(s) will be attending school at Alert Level 3. There is no need to complete the survey if they will be remaining at home.  

https://forms.office.com/r/9Zn3KRwKr0 

We should be proud of how we have responded to this outbreak, but the mahi isn’t yet done. As you have been doing, please continue to follow all the alert level requirements at Alert Level 4 and stay at home. Please remember, too, the importance of as many of us as possible being fully vaccinated. It is the best tool we have to keep our whānau and community safe. 

Ngā mihi, 

Richard Barnett 
Principal/Tumuaki