Term 3 – Week 8: Newsletter – Birkdale Primary School

FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

PRINCIPAL’s UPDATE

COVID-19 UPDATE

You’ll be aware that New Zealand has moved to a new, long-term approach to COVID-19. These changes have been made based on public health advice and reflect high levels of immunity and declining case numbers across New Zealand.

This new approach will only result in minor changes to the way we operate.

The very positive news is that household contacts of a person with COVID-19 do not need to isolate, but instead are asked to complete a RAT test each day, for five days. Therefore, ākonga who are household contacts but test negative and do not have COVID-19 symptoms, should continue to attend. It is the best place for them to be so they can be engaged in their learning, and connected with their teachers, classmates and friends.

Information on how to get RAT kits can be found here: Request a RAT– Ministry of Health

MASKS

Mask wearing is no longer required at Birkdale Primary School and is left up to individual whānau- although, we won’t be enforcing.

All the other recommended public health measures will stay in place as we know they reduce the spread of infectious illnesses including COVID-19. These include ensuring our indoor spaces are well-ventilated, maintaining good hand hygiene, encouraging everyone to cough or sneeze into elbows and, most importantly, staying home and getting tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Thank you for your ongoing support in protecting our community.

Noho ora mai

Natasha Teinakore

Tumuaki | Principal

ATTENDANCE

SCHOOL IS THE PLACE TO BE

After months of disruption, we’d really like to finish the year with as much stability as possible. Students and teachers need it, and so does everyone’s learning.

Our goal for Term 4 is regular weekly attendance of 90%. We’re not far off this goal, averaging 80-90% most days.

Mondays are the days recorded with lowest attendance so far.

Individually, 49% of students have achieved 90% regular attendance this term. Well done!

Attendance between 89-75% we are monitoring; below 75% is considered critical. If your child falls within this category, you will be notified before the end of the Term.

Ensuring your child attends school every day is really important for their social, emotional and academic progress. Irregular attendance makes it hard for them to form and maintain friendships and follow learning progressions. This raises anxiety around learning.

If you would like support with your child’s attendance, please let your child’s teacher or myself know.

PHONES @ school

School policy

Birkdale does not allow mobile phones, smart watches or any other device that can recieve calls, message or the internet, to be brought to school by students.

If you believe your child needs to have the use of a phone before or after school, please apply to the principal through email.

If permission is given, the digital device must be handed in at the office before school and picked up after.

PUBLIC HOLIDAY

School Closed for instruction

MONDAY 26th September

There is a one-off public holiday to recognise the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The school is closed for instruction, please don’t send them to school. There will be no one to send them home or look after them.

NEW Board of Trustees!

We have a new board!

To find out who they are, go to our school website. We will be sharing more about who they are and what they’re about soon.

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Call us on 09 483 7767

Email us at office@birkdaleprimary.school.nz

Cnr Birkdale & Salisbury Rds Auckland 0626

Term 3 – Week 8: Newsletter

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Term Dates 2024