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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE
 
Dear Parents / Caregivers,
 
I write again in response to the changing situation in NZ in regards to COVID-19.  We continue to monitor and respond to all information we are receiving from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.  As we receive this information I will communicate promptly any matters that impact upon us as a college and continuation of  provision of education.

We will ensure this is done in a timely manner to reduce speculation regarding closure, suspected cases of COVID-19 within our community and other matters that will impact upon your son's attendance at the college.  We would recommend you accessing this link as the most accurate source of up to date information 
https://covid19.govt.nz/

We will continue to use this method of communication via email to regularly update you and also provide a link to recent updates from our website.

As previously stated, we continue to develop our response as a college to the changing situation with regular meetings of the Senior Leadership Team and monitor closely all developments via Ministry of Education & Ministry of Health communications.  In the event of school closure we will follow all direction from official sources with the health and safety of your son paramount in our actions.  We are well placed to provide online learning in the event of the school being directed to close
https://www.tbc.school.nz/.  Our teachers have been active in ensuring they can provide learning resources for your sons to maintain some normality to their teaching and learning programme.

We have an increasing number of students absent from the college for a range of reasons so our teaching staff are increasing the content available via Google Classroom to ensure these students are not disadvantaged through their absence.  If your son is absent I would encourage you to provide structure to his day and recommend he follows his normal school timetable during normal school hours.  We are receiving a considerable number of questions regarding the need for self-isolation.  If you have queries in this regard I would recommend you follow the information in the link below. 


https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-health-advice-general-public/covid-19-self-isolation

Should the college be closed, we will require classroom teachers to provide teaching material to engage your sons as they would in a normal school timetable e.g. Period 1 - Maths, your sons should work through the material provided through Google Classroom.

We are aware that a number of our families do not have access to the internet and will work to provide an alternative method of providing teaching and learning resources to those students.  Your support in this regard would be appreciated by communicating any updates either by phone call or conversation with a neighbour.  Over the last two days we have worked to ensure the accuracy of email contacts as this is our main source of communication.  

Talking to children and young people about COVID-19
 
Given the rise in the number of reported cases, there may be children or young people in your life who experience distress. As a trusted adult, you can help reassure and educate them about COVID-19 – it can be good to talk to them now, so they can understand the illness and be reassured. 
This can also be downloaded as an information sheet. 
 
Up-to-date information and advice 
A reminder that information and advice for students, whānau and the education sector is 
available here
While the website is being regularly updated with education-related content, the Ministry of Health is the Government agency leading the response to COVID-19
 
The Secretary for Education joined the Director-General of Health for the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 update today. You can view that, and all 
Ministry of Health updates here

R W Mangan
Principal
 
 
Copyright © 2020 Tauranga Boys' College, All rights reserved.


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