As you are aware, the Prime Minister this afternoon announced that the country will move to Alert Level 3 at midnight on Tuesday 21 September 2021. The period under Level 4 has presented all households with unique challenges and we trust that our community has negotiated that time as best they can. As a school, we express our thanks to those families that fulfil essential roles in our community.
Alert Level 3 is scheduled to continue in Auckland for a minimum period of two weeks.
The Prime Minister has stressed the importance of students continuing to learn from home through the duration of Alert Level 3. Students in Years 11,12, and 13 are to remain home. Students in Years 9 and 10 are advised to stay home during Alert Level 3 – more detailed information can be found below.
The forthcoming Alert Level 3 sees secondary schools effectively operating as if closed.
Students in Years 11, 12, and 13
As you may be aware – students in Years 11, 12, and 13 are not allowed to return to school at Alert level 3.
Students in Years 9 and 10
Students in Years 9 and 10 are advised that they are to remain at home if possible, continuing their distance learning through the duration of Alert Level 3. Our teaching staff will not be on-site during Alert Level 3, and will continue to deliver their online lessons from home. The school will continue to work with families in terms of distributing hardcopy materials and in some cases, laptops.
For students that are unable to remain at home (only students of essential workers, where no suitable care arrangements are possible), Massey High School must insist that they are registered prior to returning to school for health and safety reasons. Pre-registration is vital for the organisation of bubbles that comply with the conditions of Alert Level 3.
There are a number of very stringent processes that must be implemented prior to the return of any individual student. These measures are vital for contact tracing (if needed) and in terms of ensuring the health and safety of students (and their families when the student returns home) and staff at the school.
Accordingly, set out below are the processes to which we must adhere. Your child MUST be registered with the school prior to any physical attendance (please see the bottom for means to register).
It is likely that school bus services will not be operating.
Students on-site will NOT have their regular classroom teachers. They will be following the same course of learning as they would be from home. Please be advised that because our teachers are teaching for distance, we are unable to provide any teaching on site. Staff will be present in classrooms in a supervisory role only.
The wearing of masks is mandatory for secondary school students. Bandanas and scarfs are not recommended by the Ministry of Health.
Entry to school must follow a strict registration process each day for health and safety reasons.
Students must arrive at school on time for a 9am start – for health and safety reasons, the gates will remain shut – late students will not be able to be admitted to school (similarly, please do not drop students off at school prior to 8.45am).
Correct school uniform MUST be worn each day (this allows for clothing worn by your child outside of your home bubble to be isolated each evening).
“Bubbles” of no more than 10 students each need to be maintained (siblings will be kept together). Registration is needed to form these bubbles. Please be aware, if a student arrives at school and has not been registered by a caregiver prior it is likely that that student may be isolated for the duration of Alert Level 3 (after follow up with caregivers).
These bubbles are not allowed to mix with other bubbles at school during the course of the day. This includes during designated break times – students will not be allowed access to many areas of the school as their bubble must be supervised all day to ensure physical distancing is maintained.
Playing fields/courts/gymnasiums will be closed.
The school library, reception, and office will be closed during Alert Level 3.
The school tuck shop will not be operating. Students must bring their own morning tea, lunch, and bottles of water. Water fountains and vending machines will be off-limits.
Students must remain in the same bubble each day for the duration of Alert Level 3.
Students must bring all hard copy resources every day, and their laptop (those provided by both the school and by the Ministry of Education).
Students will use the same desk for each day of Alert Level 3.
Students will not be able to share any learning resources.
Students must sign out at the end of each day before leaving school grounds.
If your child is unwell at all, they will not be permitted to enter school grounds.
Any flu-like symptoms that students may exhibit must be reported immediately.
In terms of protecting the health and safety of staff and students, the following procedures will be implemented by the school in addition to those listed above:
Surfaces used by staff and students will be regularly disinfected.
Safe hygiene practices as recommended by the Ministry of Health will be followed by staff and students.
Hand sanitiser must be used when entering school grounds, and prior to entry to designated classrooms.
We advise that should your child be registered to attend, they must attend every day and for the full duration of each day.
For planning purposes, any registration must be completed by 10am on Tuesday 21st September.
Again, we remind you that the advice from the Prime Minister is that students should remain home through Alert Level 3 if possible.
School Ball
As you are aware, the School Ball was originally scheduled to take place on Monday 4th October. The School Ball is an event that can only take place under Alert Level 1. For this reason, we are unable to hold the School Ball on the originally planned date.
However, we realise that the School Ball is an important part of our senior students wider school experience. As such we will continue in our efforts to hold a School Ball if at all possible – please be aware though that there are a number of variables at play though in terms of Alert Levels in Auckland, and the availability of venues and dates. We will keep you informed of this process.
There will be further information regarding rescheduled examinations etc. over the coming days. Again, we thank you for the support you are giving our school community through these testing times.
Contact Information Please inform the school office immediately if your contact details change. An update details form can be collected from the Front Office.
Sick Students
If a student becomes sick during the daythey must go to the nurseand she will decide if a parent needs to be contacted to come and take the child home.
Some students decide for themselves that they need to go home sick and phone parents directly, asking to be collected. This is unsatisfactory and makes it very difficult for the school to keep a track of students’ whereabouts during the day, which we must do for their health and safety, if they have left the premises without following the correct procedure.
We ask parents to assist us in having their child follow the correct procedures regarding sickness at school.
Lost Property Please ensure that all property is clearly named. Any property that is found will be handed to our Lost Property Office which is located between H1 & H2. This Office is open from 1.30pm until 2pm each day. - Parking Massey High School does not have designated visitor caparking. Should you visit the school, during school hours, the only parking available is in the bus bay at the front of the BRPAC. This area must however, be cleared by 2.00pm each day. All visitors must report and sign in at the school office where they will be issued with a visitor’s badge. Visitors must make prior arrangements with classroom teachers. - - School Hours School commences at 8.45am daily and concludes at 3.10pm.
Massey High School runs a five day timetable (Monday to Friday) over a two week cycle of 10 days. The two weeks are divided into Week A and Week B. There are five periods per day, all one hour in length. Directly following Period Two, there is a compulsory 20 minute Tutor (Form) Period.
Senior students have identical timetables for both weeks.
Junior students alter slightly each week to incorporate an equal balance of Health and Physical Education.
