Nau mai, haere mai, tena koutou katoa -Welcome

Bombay School Newsletter

2 February 2022. #1

~ Our Best Always ~ Ake Runga ~

2022 term calendar Concerns/ Compliments Uniform Shop Hours Information Booklet for New Families Chromebooks for 2022

Board of Trustees Corner	It would be wonderful to meet new parents who are interested in how the board works. With elections coming up next year, now would be a good time to see if trusteeship is something you would be interested in standing for 2022. Come and join us - we're a friendly bunch.
Who are the trustees?	Meeting Dates 25 Feb 29 Mar 24 May 28 June 26 July 30 Aug 27 Sept 25 Oct 29 Nov 13 Dec

Home and School Meeting Dates

14 Feb 21 Mar 16 May 20 June 22 Aug 19 Sept 17 Oct 21 Nov

Agenda items to: homeandschool@bombay.school.nz

Principal's Message

Kia ora koutou Bombay whanau,

Welcome

We would like to welcome everyone to the start of a new school year. Apologies for the length of this newsletter - there is a lot to cover, given our red light status in the Covid Protection Framework (CPF).

May I take the opportunity to express our sincere condolences to the Crook family on the passing of Mr Doug Crook. He was a dearly loved member of our staff and when school returns to normal we would like to hold a dedication ceremony on site to honour him.

I would also like to make special mention of new families to the school. While we did not want to be at red level when your child started, we will try our best to make you feel welcome. Here is a letter for new families. Please also read this full web page.

The Current Situation

School is likely to remain at the red level for term 1. The situation is constantly changing and we all need to be responsive and adaptable. Mistakes will be made and we may have to reverse decisions when new information comes to hand. Please bear with us.

On Tuesday evening the Ministry of Education released a bulletin and on Wednesday principals met with key Health and Education Ministry leaders. The content of this newsletter is based on the information from these sources. We will continually update our newsletter and home page of our website.:-

School will be open for all students

Our school opens 2 February for all students. The school will remain open at all colours of the CPF subject to health and safety settings. The school would only ever close if significant numbers of staff and students tested positive and the school could not open safely. (The Ministry of Education along with Public Health would help our BOT to make that decision if we ever faced that scenario).

Can my child attend if they are not vaccinated?

Yes. Every child can attend. There is no record of vaccinations kept at school. Schools cannot require evidence of a child’s vaccination status. Nor can a child be excluded from education outside the classroom (EOTC) based on vaccination status.

Will the school vaccinate my child for COVID?

No. The school is not a COVID vaccination centre. Children cannot be vaccinated without their parents' written consent.

Parents and caregivers now have the opportunity to protect their tamariki aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19, by being immunised with a child (by a paediatric) formulation of the Pfizer vaccine. This option may not suit your family. It is your decision.

For those who choose this option, the vaccine used is a children’s version of the Pfizer vaccine with a lower dose than used for adults. Children will need two doses of the vaccine and it is recommended to have the first and second dose at least eight weeks apart. There are a number of websites available with resources that will help explain what the vaccine is, how it works and whether the vaccine is safe for young people. Kids Health Health Navigator The Immunisation Advisory Centre

Who has to wear masks at school?

All adults who enter our site must be masked. All children from year 4 to year 8 must wear a mask when indoors. They will not need a mask when outside. In composite year 3/4 classes, we are asking that the year 3 children please wear a mask. This applies to rooms 12 and 13.

Year 4-8 students who travel on school buses are also required to wear a mask.

Here is a video for children - how to wear a mask.

Who must stay home?

People who are sick, cannot be a school. Sniffles, coughs and sore throats are significant indicators. Get tested immediately. Follow advice from your health practitioner. People with COVID-19 symptoms should get a COVID-19 test and remain at home until a negative result is received and they are symptom free for 24 hours.

Staff Vaccination Mandate

All workers in schools, paid and unpaid, have had two vaccine doses by 1 January 2022 and many staff will now be due for their booster dose.Booster doses must be received within 183 days of their second vaccination

Parents and visitors on site

We ask that parents refrain from coming into our buildings while we are at the red level. The only exception will be for a new entrant parent (1 per family) who has a child starting school. Please wear a mask, settle your child by having a quick handover with the teacher and then exit asap (2 mins) please. Note that you do need to sign in at the table at the front of the office door - so that we can capture your attendance at school.

There should be no non-essential visitors onsite at Red. Please transact business online.

We deeply regret that this is necessary. We would have preferred a more friendly start to school.

Events and activities

In light of the greater risk of infection with a likely Omicron outbreak, we will not hold events or activities that involve large numbers of students, such as school assemblies, when at Red traffic light settings.

We are instructed to group our students so that wherever possible they do not intermingle with other groups (keep a minimum of one-metre distance between groups). This is particularly important in primary settings where vaccination rates will be much lower than in secondary settings. Thus, we will not be cross grouping for lessons in term 1.

Swimming

Swimming will go ahead at school. Please ensure that your child has their own clearly labeled goggles.

Swimming will proceed at the Rec Centre provided they can host us within the correct safety protocols. We will confirm this asap.

Break Times and Dismissal Times + Pick ups and Drop offs

To minimise congestion, parents and caregivers are encouraged to do drop offs and pick-ups from outside the school grounds. New entrant children will be escorted to the front of the school. There are two entrances to the school, namely the Barber Road entrance and the front office entrance.

In light of the above, we will have staggered break times and dismissal times, as follows:-

2.35 - Kotare - Junior School Room 4-9

2.40- Tuhono - Senior Junior School Room 10-13

2.45- Kotuitui - Junior Senior School Room 1-3

2.50 - Kakahu - Senior School (Kereru, Kotuku, Piwakawaka)

New families

We welcome new families to the school. We are terribly sorry that your start happens at the red alert level. We know that you may have many questions - please feel free to contact me ppetersen@bombay.school.nz. I'm happy to help with any queries.

Bring your child to the gazebo at the main office entrance. This gazebo will be the pick-up and drop off point for your new entrant child - for the whole term.

If your child is anxious about leaving you at the gazebo - please let the DP or AP know. They will alert the teacher who will help you.

Kotare - the junior school dismisses at 2.35 pm. Your child's teacher will bring your child to the gazebo and wait there until they see you and can hand over safely.

If your child is booked into KAS, the KAS staff will collect him/ her from the class. The reverse applies in the morning. Stationery - Send it to school on the first day. The class teacher will sort it.

Swimming - wait for a newsletter/ seesaw post from the teachers about the days your child will swim. Kotare will start swimming from week 2..

KAS is OPEN

Our wonderful before and after school care provider, KAS will be open during red level. Please book via their website.

Chromebooks

We will be setting up your child's Chromebook over the first two days of school. Please send the CB to school, fully charged and without the charger. It can be handed it at the table that is in front of the office entrance.

Uniform Information

BOMBAY SCHOOL UNIFORM – important updates

Ordering during Covid at Traffic Light Level Red

The school uniform room will NOT be open during Covid Level Red however ordering via email and the school office will continue as normal.

Payment methods via online banking and via the school office will also continue as normal.

Order forms are available for download on the school website – once filled out, please email to the school office and submit your payment.

House Tees

We are pleased to announce that we can supply House Tees year round, and while this is a separate order form (one tee shirt per order form) payment can be included with other uniform orders. As House Tees are personalised, there will be a monthly ordering schedule (approx. 2-3 orders per term) ideally with delivery prior to a school sports or cultural event.

The next house tee deadline will be for orders placed by 4pm 14 February 2022 for delivery on 21 February 2022. There will be no refunds on house tees due to ordering errors.

Masks

Black cloth masks embroidered with Bombay School have been added to the order form at $6.50.

Bucket Hats

Bucket hats are now $17.50, and the “standard” size when you order Small is an M (Medium). Due to various reasons relating to the pandemic, some items have been hard to source. We have chosen to go with these hats with the adjustable tie which is helpful if a hat is a little too big.

Price Increase

For the first time in 11 years and from 1 January 2022, there is an overall price increase. The latest order forms with up to date prices can be downloaded from the school website.

New Entrant Uniform

In the absence of a face-to-face consultation with caregivers of new entrants who are buying school uniform for the first time, there is a New Entrant Uniform guide on the school website. It outlines how to select a size, which garments and how many.

Recycled Uniform

There is a limited amount of used uniform currently available in good and excellent condition. Request used uniform on a new uniform order form (write USED UNIFORM REQUEST), provide a cellphone number and Diana will contact you about condition, availability and price.

Uniform for 2022 ORDERING:

Please download a form from the school website and email completed order to the school.

COLLECTION:

Those families that ordered uniform by Friday 21 January 2022 will be able to pick up their orders at the school office between 8-9am Tuesday 1 February 2022. (Please remember to wear a mask).

Those families that ordered after Friday 21 January will be contacted only if their order is available to pick up on Tuesday 1 February.

Please also note that new uniform orders placed once Term 1 is underway may not be fulfilled as quickly as usual due to public holidays and other market demands while schools are starting back. Where possible please order as early as possible.

Diana O’Brien Paradigm Apparel

January 2022

Ask us a question 2022 Term Dates Order Stationery New Families Info

Quick Links

Chromebooks for 2022

Find out everything you need to know about chromebooks for next year. Year 2/ 3 parents - there is important information for you to read here too.

Some Insights

Important Notices