Patea Area School

Highly Engaged Employees

Youll be aware that all of New Zealand (with the exception of Auckland) is moving to Alert Level 2 from midnight tonight. Our thoughts and positive wishes are with everyone in Tmaki Makaurau | Auckland. Extensive wastewater testing and the numbers of people getting tested across the country has given the Government confidence that it is safe to all... ow a shift down to Alert Level 2 across most of New Zealand. We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back onsite on Thursday morning. Tomorrow (Wednesday) staff will be onsite to prepare for re-opening to all on Thursday. At Alert Level 2 there is low risk of community transmission and it provides us with a lot more opportunities to engage and connect with others. However, there are still a number of public health requirements we all need to follow. Please do continue to monitor your health and do not send your children to school if they are not well (and please seek advice about getting a COVID test). For us, all the required safety precautions for Alert Level 2 will be in place which include following all the recommendations from the public health experts. This means we will regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, encourage everyone to frequently wash their hands and cough and sneeze into their elbow. While physical distancing is not a requirement in schools, we will be doing our best to keep students from congregating in very large numbers and keeping spaces well-ventilated. Face coverings are not required to be worn in school. The Director General of Health has recommended that children 12 years+ wear a face covering at school just as older children are required to wear face coverings in some other places. The decision to wear a face covering is up to you and your whnau, whatever your decision it will be respected. 1. Schools are open to everyone, and all children must attend. At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained but there is still risk of community transmission. It is safe for children and staff to attend school and for school ...Read More