Coronavirus Update - 18 March 2020

Dear Parents/Caregivers

We appreciate that some of you have concerns at this uncertain time.

Awatapu College is following, and constantly reviewing, the advice of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and Government. We currently receive daily briefings from the Ministry of Education, and a number of other agencies, which inform us of the latest situation with any changes to guidelines and how we operate.

The school remains open at this stage and our expectation is that if students are well, they attend school. Keeping them home because of ‘fears’ around COVID-19 alone is not seen as a justifiable absence by the Minister at this time, and work may not be provided or sent home on this basis.

As part of our ongoing planning, the school is exploring if the curriculum can be delivered online and on mass (this may not be possible in all curriculum areas), but this is only on the basis that the government requires us to close for a lengthy period of time – which has not happened at this stage.

In the meantime, we have been asked to remind our community of the legal requirement for enrolled students to attend school unless they are unwell, or required to self-isolate.

We will keep our school community up to date with any activities that need to be cancelled due to COVID-19. However, I emphasise, Awatapu College is open for instruction and students who are well are expected to attend.

Yours sincerely,
Gary Yeatman
Principal