Important Covid-19 update.
Dear parents/caregivers
Our thoughts and support go out to the Broadgreen Intermediate and Enner Glynn School communities that are currently experiencing Covid-19 exposure events. There are obvious links between our schools, so we continue to keep our community up to date with the latest information as it comes to hand. We are getting many questions around possible contact exposure. Information regarding contact definitions and actions required can be found on the Ministry of Health website.
In the meantime, school remains open with the following precautions in place:
- Face coverings are encouraged for staff and students
- Face covering are mandatory on buses
- We are mindful of room ventilation; windows will be open where possible
- We will continue to maintain and encourage good hygiene and cleaning
- We ask that students are mindful of their movements around the site (student centre, library etc)
- Students (and staff) should stay at home and get tested if they feel unwell
Covid Protection Framework
With Covid-19 now spreading in Nelson it is appropriate to remind families of implications for schools under the new Covid Protection Framework (traffic light system). This will come into force for schools from 2022. It is much more unlikely that schools will close under the new framework as the emphasis has moved from elimination to vaccination.
Curriculum-related events and activities
Under the new framework, all students are entitled to continue with on-site educational opportunities, regardless of vaccination status. Some examples of school-based curriculum-related events and activities that are exempt from vaccination rules include:
- assemblies
- physical education classes (including swimming)
- parent-teacher meetings
- examinations
- school plays or performances during class time
- cultural activities during class time
- pōwhiri ceremonies (for example, start of year/new student or staff welcomes)
- music during class time
- inter-school events during class time (such as inter-school sport events)
- science fairs
- trades academy courses (including off site)
Non-curriculum related events and activities
Any non-curriculum events and activities will be subject to the general event and gathering requirements under the traffic light framework. This means that vaccine passes may be required for parents to attend depending on the size of the event/gathering and the traffic light level. Some examples of events and activities that are not curriculum-related include:
- prizegiving events
- school balls and leavers’ dinners
- community use of swimming pools or other facilities
- out-of-hours music and art, and sporting and cultural activities held out of school hours
- school fairs and fundraising events
- PTA meeting
Sport Events
The board of School Sport NZ have confirmed that all School Sport NZ sanctioned events in Term 1 2022 (including the term 1 holidays) will be restricted to fully vaccinated participants, aged 12 and over, only. Where practicable, this mandate extends to spectators attending also. This decision will be reviewed post Summer Tournament Week 2022 and taking into account the latest Government advice.
This decision will have a significant impact on un-vaccinated students wishing to participate in sport, and un-vaccinated parents wishing to support their children.
Education outside the classroom (EOTC)
EOTC activities have been identified as having a potential impact on unvaccinated students. This is because school groups are subject to the traffic light setting of the setting that students are visiting. Examples include the Nayland Swimming Pool, State Cinema, Theatre Royal, Outdoor Education providers etc.
If your child is involved in an EOTC event offsite, they are likely to need a vaccination pass to participate.
Nayland College Response
Based on the information above, we now believe it is vital that we know and understand the vaccination status of our students. From 2022, we will be asking for evidence of vaccination for our records. If you wish, this can be done now through logging into the parent portal and following the on-screen instructions. We may also require parents to show vaccine passes when attending large non-curriculum events. A privacy statement is attached to this email. If you are not yet vaccinated, now would be a good time to consider this over the holiday break.
I understand that some individuals will be unhappy with the vaccine restrictions around non-curriculum-based activities, sport and EOTC. I please ask that you direct your concerns to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, as Nayland College does not set these rules.
I wish you all the very best as we navigate the last couple of weeks of school under these very interesting times.
Ngā mihi
Daniel Wilson
Principal
By Daniel Wilson
