Phase 3 at Waimea College

Feb 24, 2022

New Zealand has moved to Phase 3 of the Red setting. See our Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Frequently Asked Questions for Phase 3

Who can attend school?

  • Students can attend school as long as they do not show any COVID symptoms. 
  • Please keep your teen at home if they are feeling unwell or are symptomatic.

What are the isolation requirements at Phase 3?

  • Only confirmed COVID cases and household contacts of a confirmed case are required to isolate.
  • If you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you are considered a household contact and will need to isolate for 10 days. You must get a test on Day 3 and Day 10 of your isolation. If you develop symptoms you should get a test sooner. If you are a household contact and you test positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days.
  • For more information check out the Ministry of Health guidance for household and close contacts

What about Contact Tracing?

  • Phase 3 means that contact tracing both in the community and schools will no longer occur. Cases themselves are now asked to undertake their own investigation to identify close contacts. 
  • Because contact tracing no longer occurs, this means that we will no longer be able to advise people who may have come into contact with a COVID case. We will of course continue to provide regular updates. 

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 that I should be monitoring?

  • A new or worsening cough
  • Sneezing and runny nose
  • A fever
  • Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath

Image by: Scott Haines

Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability.

For more information, go to https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/about-covid-19/covid-19-symptoms/(external link)

My teen has tested positive for COVID-19. What do I need to do?

  • Please inform us immediately if your student tests positive for COVID-19. Contact can be made via email to inspire@waimea.school.nz or by phoning 544 6099.
  • We will reach out to support you with your teen’s welfare and online distancing learning (if they are able). 
  • Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 and everyone who lives with them  will need to isolate for 10 days from the community to help stop the spread of the virus. 

    Start counting your 10 days from day 0. Day 0 is the day that your symptoms started or the day that you got tested if you do not have any symptoms. See HERE for more information.

  • Review the Ministry of Health’s advice for people with COVID-19

Are Masks still required?

  • Yes. The public health order requiring mask use for students and staff remains in place. Mask wearing is proving to be highly effective. 
  • As signalled in earlier communications, if your teen is exempt from wearing a face covering, please reach out to us at inspire@waimea.school.nz so that we can support them to stay safe and well without a mask. We request students carry exemption evidence with them.
  • Parents and members of the community are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings while on campus. 

What about Online Learning?

  • Over the coming days and weeks there may be times when teachers are working from home but students are in school, or when some students are working online from home while others are in class.
  • Teachers have already set their classes up for online learning through the Microsoft Teams platform. More information about how the Teams platform works at Waimea College can be found on our school website HERE.
  • A copy of our Online Distance Learning can be found HERE.

My teen is well but isolating at home.

  • We encourage all students to return to school, providing they are well and not a household contact. 
  • If your teen has significant health needs, please reach out to discuss this with us. 
  • Students choosing to self-isolate without good reason, may be marked as an unjustified absence, in accordance with Ministry of Education guidelines.

Have other questions or need help?

Please reach out to us via phone 544 6099 or via email at inspire@waimea.school.nz if you have any questions. 

I hope that this information is useful. Thanks for your support. 

Scott Haines

Principal

By Scott Haines