Month: March 2020

Dear Whanganui region Schools,

 

 

Due to the unprecedented COVID-19 situation,  from 24^th March 2020,  Whanganui DHB Community Oral Health Services will be changing our model of care in line with recommendations made by the Ministry of Health and Dental Council of New Zealand. 

 

Until further notice, we will be able to only provide urgent care for enrolled children in the Whanganui region. This means we will not be carrying out examinations at schools from tomorrow.   We have also cancelled all non-urgent appointments and will only provide urgent care that does not cause aerosol. The care provided may include assessment, x-ray, hand-excavation, temporary dressings, extractions, prescriptions as required.

 

We will have a fixed  dental clinic site open for children requiring relief of pain.  Initial enquiries from parents must be directed to Barbara Dewson, Clinical Manager Oral Health  phone / text 027 2299614.

 

 

 

 

Please would you kindly include the above two paragraphs in your school newsletters as soon as possible.

 

Also please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have further questions about the care of our children. You can contact me on barbara.dewson@wdhb.org.nz

 

Kind regards,

 

Barb Dewson 

 

 

 

Barbara Dewson  Clinical Manager, Oral Health  |  Whanganui District Health Board
p (06) 348 3420|  extn 8420|  m (027) 2299614|  www.wdhb.org.nz

Evening,

Today has certainly introduced unchartered waters not only within the education sector, but within all sectors. However, as a Board and as a school, dialogue has now, for some time, been centered around how we would potentially address and support distance learning should the need arise.

We are continuously being informed and guided by the Ministry of Education as information comes to light. Please note that during the next 48hours, schools are open only to children of essential workers/businesses; and to teachers who are preparing online resources to provide your children with a continuation of their learning from the classroom, to date. Please refer to the following website which clarifies who is deemed an Essential Business:  https://covid19.govt.nz/government-actions/covid-19-alert-system/

We appreciate the unique and difficult position our essential workforce are in and those in our community who will be part of this. Our thoughts will be with you as you embark on this difficult challenge.

Clarification regarding the change of school holidays has now been provided. Holidays will now begin next Monday, 30th March to Tuesday 14th  April inclusive (a reminder that the Tuesday after Easter Monday is always a closed day for schools). This means that your child/children will be provided with online learning from approximately Wednesday (as teachers implement online lessons/classes) until Friday this week, and that online learning will resume at the conclusion of the holiday period (Wednesday 15th April) until the conclusion of the Level 4 status lockdown.

We thank you for your understanding and your accommodation in keeping your children at home over the next 48 hours as we move, as a nation, towards a Level 4 on the alert system (exception of course to children of essential businesses). This is going to allow teachers to put measures into place to ensure your children’s learning is not compromised due to the current situation.

We, as a Board, would like also to acknowledge the tireless commitment of Greg and all the teaching staff at South Markirikiri who have been, for some time now, working on alternative solutions to what was presenting as an imminent eventuality.

Lastly, I would like to remind you and your families to adhere to the advice given by our government as we prepare for a minimum of four weeks lockdown and to be kind, keep safe, and look after each other as much as possible.

Kia Kaha,

Christina Belton

Board Chairperson

Following on from the latest Government announcement. South Makirikiri School will now be formally closed to all students for learning unless you are part of the essential workforce.eg doctor, nurses. All staff that are able to practically come to school on Tuesday will be putting in place all online learning programmes for students. If you are in the list of essential workforce we will work with you on the supervision of your child/children if needed. You will need to get in touch immediately if you are in this group.

Teachers will be taking a couple of days to get student programmes sorted via online platforms and more information will follow after our initial 48 hr period to get ready.

As we get more information we will be keeping you informed.

If you need to send your child/children to school as part of the essential workforce please email: principal@southmak.school.nz

This is really unprecedented times in my education experience. School will continue to be open for instruction this week until we are instructed otherwise by the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health.  All staff have been notified on the current alert levels and at this stage, we have a large number of the staff still in a position to run classrooms.

If you feel that it is in your families best interest to self-isolate we understand your reasons.

Vulnerable people
Information about who is considered vulnerable has been updated today on the COVID-19.govt.nz website and is as follows:

At risk people include:

• Those over 70: Older people often have underlying health issues, including respiratory issues that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19.
• People with medical conditions: Underlying medical conditions can make you more vulnerable to COVID-19. In particular, people with respiratory conditions such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), heart conditions, high blood pressure, kidney problems and diabetes.
• People undergoing a treatment for cancer and blood conditions: As treatments for cancer and blood conditions affect people’s immune systems, this makes them more vulnerable to COVID-19. 
• People without easy access to healthcare

Buses: Potentially we will have to modify the Bus run that does Makirikiri Road, Duddings lake and Whanganui Road. We will try and notify families once we have a confirmed time. We are thinking at least 30 minutes later than normal.

Absences: Please use the app, text messages and emails are appreciated so we know why students will be away. If you make the call to self isolate we will take that as the reason for absence until notified otherwise.

As a school, we will continue safe hygiene practices and limit non- essential gatherings of large numbers. Assemblies will be postponed until further notice and we will come up with some unique ways to recognise students achievements.   

Nga Mihi

Greg Allan