Return to School for Term 3
Important information regarding the return to school for Term 3.
As we near the return to school at the start of term 3, the rolling 7-day average of cases of COVID-19 in NZ is over 10,000 per day. At Massey high School, we will be continuing with our strong recommendation for students to wear masks when indoors at school.
Term 3 is an incredibly important term, particularly for those students undertaking their NCEA qualification. As such, we are looking to ensure that our students and staff are in the best of health in order to attend school. As in term 2, it is expected that the rise of other winter ailments, such as flu-like symptoms, may again lead to increasing absences. Mask use will help reduce student and staff exposure.
Wearing masks can reduce new cases of the virus by as much as 53%. It works alongside other measures including vaccination, good ventilation, staying home when sick, and hand washing and other hygiene measures, to protect our students and staff. https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/keep-up-healthy-habits/face-masks/
As with Term 2, there are a handful of classrooms where, due to immune compromised status of staff, the wearing of masks in those classrooms will be mandatory.
For those students who are no longer in possession of a mask, we will be obtaining a further supply of masks in week 1. However, we ask that students are organised before the start of term and ensure that they have an appropriate mask.
This recommendation does not include any situation where mask wearing might not be practicable, such as while eating and drinking, playing certain musical instruments, indoor sport, where it will have a significant impact on teaching and learning (for example, students with particular learning needs), certain activities such as singing or drama performance on stage, and PE.
Alastair Fairley, Principal