​​While returning to learning kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) will be best for most children, this must be done in a way that is safe for students and staff. It is important to understand that the greatest risk for transmission is between adults (rather than between children and adults or children to children). This has been an important factor that has determined how we have structured our reopening for the remainder of the year. 

 

Minimising interactions onsite

Staff and students will be divided into three groups according to their teams. This means that only a third of staff will be onsite at any given time. To ensure interactions are further minimised, staff and students will remain in their classes and wherever practicable physically distanced from other classes, when inside and outside. Teachers will take the opportunity to teach outside where possible. Kaitiaki groups will not intermingle with other groups during learning or break times.  

 

Our reopening cycle

Te Rangi, Te Whenua and Te Moana will each have two days at school followed by four days of Distance Learning. According to our cycle, Day 1 and Day 2 will be at school. On Day 3, 4 and 5 of the cycle, Zooms will be at their regular time slot for 30 minutes. On Day 6 teams will organise what we have called a Team Meet. As of next week, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon Zooms will cease. 

 

The intention of these changes to our Distance Learning is to keep students connected, engaged in learning, while also recognising and balancing the workload and demand on teachers planning and running a Distance Learning programme as well as learning at school.