BMPS Re-Opening Term 4

12 November 2021

Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Malo e Lelei, Talofa Lava, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Greetings

As announced by the NZ Government, schools can open for Y1-10 from Wednesday 17 November.  Schools have been given the authority to make decisions on how to do this based on their school community.  Thank you for emailing our teachers, so that we know if your tamariki will/will not be returning to BMPS this term.

BMPS is in a position to open full time for all tamariki who we have been told will be returning to school.  We are therefore very excited to be welcoming these tamariki back to school on Wednesday 17 November. We understand that for some of you, you will be thankful that school is opening and for some, you may be apprehensive about sending your tamariki back to school. Below is some information which we hope will answer your questions.

What procedures are in place to help to make school a safe place for our tamariki?

BMPS’s Health & Safety Alert level 3 Plan, which adheres to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education guidelines will be in place. This includes:

• All staff are following the vaccination mandate and will have had a negative covid test before returning to school.
• Tamariki (whose parents have informed us of their return to school) will be welcomed back to BMPS on the 17 November.
• The gates will open for children at 8.30am each day.
• Tamariki from year 4-6 MUST wear a mask (unless they have an exemption). See below.
• Children in Y1-3 do not need to wear a mask but are welcome to wear one.
• Staff will wear a mask inside and when appropriate outside.
• Tamariki will be in class bubbles.
• Wherever practicable tamariki will be physically distanced from other groups, when inside and outside (recognising incidental contact may be impossible to avoid).
• There will not be any team or school assemblies.
• There will be staggered morning tea and lunch breaks.
• Tamariki need to bring a bottle of water-water fountains are closed.
• Scooters, skateboards and bikes are not allowed at school.
• Good hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette will be followed.
• Classrooms will be well ventilated.
• High-touch surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected each day.
• Classes/areas being used will be cleaned thoroughly each day.
• No parents/caregivers will be allowed on-site. 
• Parents/Caregivers can collect their children from outside of the school gates (please ensure that your children know which gate).
• There will be a staggered home time: Kahu 2:40pm, Tui 2.40pm and Kiwi at 2.45pm. Kahu and Tui tamariki will meet their siblings under the canopy.
• Children must stay at home if they are sick-see absence procedures below. 

What do I do if my child is unwell and is not able to go to school?

Our usual attendance procedures apply. Please leave a message for the Attendance Officer on 092748271 or email office@bmps.school.nz. Please state your child’s name, class and the reason they are away so that we can code the absence appropriately in our student management system. 

As per our normal process, we will follow up on unexplained absences.

If we choose NOT to send our tamariki back to school, are they still able to do online learning?

Our teachers will be teaching their classes and will not be active in their Google Classroom. However, teachers will put activities online for their class. On Thursday 18 November we will have a learning pack available for you to pick up (more details later).

What happens if my child becomes unwell at school?

All children who are unwell will be taken to the sickbay, you will be notified to pick them up. If the symptoms relate to covid, siblings will also be sent home. 

For tamariki with covid symptoms-they will need to show the school a negative covid result before being allowed to return to school.

Please note that if your child goes to the sickbay because they are unwell, they will be given a mask to wear. 

What will happen if there is a covid case at school? 

If we have a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case at our school, we will be notified by the Medical Officer of Health or our local public health authority. Our regional Ministry of Education staff will work with us and the local health authorities to agree on a plan. BMPS may be closed for a period of time and a deep clean of the school would be undertaken. We would maintain good communication with our community.

Does my child need to wear a mask?

Masks are mandatory for tamariki in Year 4-6 (unless they have an exemption). For Year 1-3, we will support your decision if your child does wear a mask.

Mask for Year 4-6

Our Year 4-6 tamariki must have their mask on when they enter through the gate.  We ask that you provide 2-3 masks and 2 small bags-one bag for the unused masks and the other for the used mask. Tamariki will wear their mask inside and will be able to take it off when they are outside and are at a social distance.  Please note, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide masks for tamariki.  

Will BMPS provide lunches?

• Tamariki need to bring morning tea.
• Lunches in schools will start on Wednesday.

Please note, on Monday and Tuesday next week there will be work for tamariki in their Google Classroom but teachers will not be online. This time will be used to plan and prepare for school opening on Wednesday.

A special reminder for all tamariki who took home a device- if you are returning to school, please bring it back. If you are staying home, the device must be returned by Friday 10 December.

Bairds Kindergarten-please contact Pulusea directly for information.

Skids will be closed- please contact SKIDS staff directly for more information.

Mt Richmond (R1 & 2) will be open-please contact them directly for more information.

We would like to acknowledge that this has been a tough year for many. There is support available for businesses and the community. We encourage you to go to covid19.govt.nz for more information or please get in touch and we will endeavour to help you find the information and support that you need. 

Ngā mihi nui.

Fee