He Pitopito Kōrero
COVID-19 update - 20 September 2021
He Pitopito Kōrero
Kia ora koutou,
As you know, the recent response to the Delta variant happened quickly – but it’s been effective.
There have been high volumes of testing for COVID in the community and extensive wastewater testing, as well as huge numbers of New Zealanders being vaccinated (more than three million people have now received their first dose) – not to mention an amazing response by New Zealanders to follow the rules at Alert Level 4.
A wide net has also been cast around confirmed cases, as we saw this afternoon when it was announced that a Section 70 notice will be placed around the affected Hauraki community south of Auckland.
But all of this has given the Government confidence that it is safe for Auckland to move to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm on Tuesday 21 September. Alert Level 3 will be in place for a further two weeks, with a review on Monday 4 October.
The rest of New Zealand will remain in Alert Level 2.
As the Prime Minister said, thank you for acting quickly and for your perseverance. While there is a little relief at Alert Level 3, you’ll need to keep it up a little longer – there are still strict rules in place that will help us to contain the virus and there are additional requirements regarding the use of face coverings in secondary school settings.
Auckland schools and kura, you’re able to open on Wednesday 22 September for those students who need to attend, including those Year 12 and 13 students you have identified.
As we advised last week, the guidance we’ve provided for Alert Level 3 is up to date. We will, however, do a final check and go through a process of updating our guidance, particularly on face coverings.
If you’re in Alert Level 2, please note the information on changes to the ESOL funding status list process.
Nāku iti noa, nā,
Iona
New requirements for face coverings in Alert Level 3
As announced by the Prime Minister today, it is now mandatory for face coverings to be worn by students and staff who are in registered schools that provide secondary education (state, state integrated and private) when indoors at Alert Level 3.
In area or middle schools, it is recommended that Year 9 to 13 students should be grouped together in bubbles, with all students and staff wearing coverings. Staff are also recommended to wear face coverings in these same settings.
For children who are not in Year 9 or above, it is not mandatory to wear face coverings. Any children who wish to wear face coverings wrapped around the nose and mouth at schools or early learning services may do so if they want to. They are entitled to make this decision and should not be criticised for doing so. Public health recommend that the focus for children under six is on getting children to cough and sneeze into their elbow, and wash and dry hands/hand hygiene.
Alert Level 3 for Auckland
Last week we included guidance for you moving into Alert Level 3.
Alert Level 3 for Auckland – School Bulletin 14 September
Requirements at Alert Level 3 – Ministry of Education
The information covers:
- translations for your school community
- face coverings
- Alert Level 3 staffing
- health and safety for staff
- the emergency payment scheme
- school property
- school transport
- specialist schools
- arrangements for secondary-tertiary and workplace learning students.
If changes are made that impact on the information provided, we’ll notify you immediately.
A reminder that we’ve also drafted a letter template for you (the principal or board chair) to send to your school community if you wish.
10 things you need to know about Alert Level 3
1. Schools are open for children who need to attend
At Alert Level 3 more businesses and services are open, and some parents and caregivers will have to leave home in order to go to work. In these cases, any child who can’t be supervised at home by an appropriate person, needs to be able to attend school. Schools must be open for these children to attend.
Distance learning will need to be provided for all students who are off site including those required to self-isolate and those individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result.
2. More businesses and services are open at this level (not just essential services)
At Alert Level 3 a large range of businesses and services are operating (including schools and early learning services), which means that parents and caregivers may be required to go to work rather than work from or stay at home.
3. School bubbles will need to be put in place for those attending on site
For those who are on site, school bubbles of no more than 10 children/students will need to be formed and keep a two-metre distance from other school bubbles.
Where possible, it is recommended that teachers stay with the same school bubble of students.
4. Schools are not classified as gatherings
Schools are exempted from physical distancing requirements when people are there to receive, provide, or support education services. All other requirements specified in the COVID-19 Public Health Response orders do however apply.
See the table on our website for more details of physical distancing requirements within and between school bubbles at Alert Level 3.
Physical distancing requirements – Ministry of Education
5. Schools will close for cleaning and contact tracing if there is a confirmed case who was infectious when at school
Your Director of Education will work closely with you and health authorities should this occur. Please contact your Ministry regional office if you hear of a confirmed case in your school community but haven’t been advised about it by health officials.
6. Testing remains a crucial component in preventing an outbreak
If a child or staff member is sick, they should stay home.
If they have COVID-like symptoms they should call their doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested. If recommended to get tested, they should do so.
7. Sick people must stay at home
They should seek medical advice if they have COVID-like symptoms and get tested if advised to do so.
If that person displays relevant symptoms of COVID-19, tests positive for COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, they must self-isolate.
8. You must have a contact tracing system in place
This includes displaying QR code posters at your entrances, your timetable, attendance register and visitor register.
Contact tracing – Unite Against COVID-19
9. Fundamental public health measures continue to apply
Keep up healthy habits – Unite Against COVID-19
10. Your Ministry regional office team is available to provide support
Health and safety guidance – Ministry of Education
Going on site to prepare for the alert level change
Section 25 of the current Health Order allows people to go into a workplace to prepare the premises for opening (and to meet public health guidance).
With an alert level change announced, this means that as long as you follow public health guidance, some staff and contractors can access your school to prepare for returning to work.
This might include general cleaning, configuring classrooms, and reactivating processes to ensure compliance with public health requirements at the new alert level.
Preparing for opening at Alert Level 3 – Ministry of Education
Senior secondary school students return under Alert Level 3
As mentioned last week, at Alert Level 3 the governing bodies of schools have the option of bringing some of their Year 12 and 13 students back to school for face-to-face learning.
If you believe there is an educational need for a student (or students) in Year 12 or 13 to physically attend school, you’ll need to provide a brief description of your proposal and sign an attestation that you will meet the public health requirements (principals can do this on behalf of their governing body).
Form and attestation [DOCX, 63 KB]
You will need to email it to the Secretary for Education at Iona.holsted@education.govt.nz for approval.
Please note: if the numbers of children needing to attend school increases, you will need to submit a new application.
Travel across alert level boundaries
As we prepare to move to an Alert Level 3/2 split, please remember that there are very limited circumstances for permitted travel across these boundaries.
An exemption is needed from the Ministry of Health in order for someone to move between Alert Level areas. The approval threshold is extremely high, and we suggest in the first instance you discuss your request with your local education advisor as other options may be available.
Should you wish to seek an exemption, you can do this through the Business Travel Register, where you can also find additional information about travel across alert level boundaries.
International travel – United Against COVID-19
Please note that while we have a role in helping to process applications, we do not approve applications.
Alert level restrictions: Tips for parents from Dr Hinemoa Elder and Nathan Wallis
We have heard that many parents and whānau are feeling anxious about their children’s behaviour and routine changes through alert level changes and extended alert level restrictions.
Thank you for sharing these concerns – in response, we asked Dr Hinemoa Elder (child adolescent psychiatrist) and Nathan Wallis (neuroscience educator) for some tips and advice.
In the video we’ve made, they describe what parents can do if they have concerns.
Wellbeing tips with Dr Hinemoa Elder and Nathan Wallis – Ministry of Education
You can share the video with your school community through your school’s website, Facebook, newsletter or send it via email.
If parents are still concerned their tamariki aren’t coping, it’s important to remind them to reach out and talk with a health professional. There’s lot of support, information and help available.
Looking after your mental wellbeing – Unite Against COVID-19
Changes to ESOL funding status list forms process
We’re changing how schools receive and submit their ESOL funding status list application forms.
Previously, schools with active ESOL students received an ESOL funding notification email with a status list attachment and submitted their updated status lists via email. Moving forward, the ESOL team will no longer share or receive status lists by email.
ESOL funding status lists will be available to schools in the Secure Data Portal from Monday 6 September 2021.
Secure Data Portal – Education Applications & Online Systems
Ask your school’s Secure Data Portal user to download the status list. If you are not sure who your school’s Secure Data Portal user is then please check with a colleague, your principal or office manager.
From the next funding round (March 2022), the ESOL funding status list application form must be submitted as one Excel document through the Secure Data Portal. Ask your school’s Secure Data Portal user to upload the updated status list application form into the Secure Data Portal before 1 March 2022.
ESOL funding application form [XLSX, 73 KB]
If your school doesn’t have active ESOL students, download the ESOL funding application form for new students and email the completed form in the Excel format to info.esol@education.govt.nz by 1 March 2022.