Kia Ora RVS Community,

Good news today from the Prime Minister, we are moving to level 1 as of midnight tonight (already there by the time most of you read this).  This has positive implications for us all, a return to 'almost' normal.  I have outlined some key points for RVS at Level One below:

 - You are now welcomed back into the classroom before school if you wish. Between 8:30 and 8:50 for Jnr school and 8:30 & 8:40 for Middle School.

 - You will no longer need to sign in, although the RVS app will still be operational for those who would prefer that to keeping note personally when you enter the classroom.  (See the Prime Minister's address for more regarding keeping a journal of your visits during Level 1)

 - The pickup time at the end of the day for Rooms 1 & 2 will return to 3pm as it was before beginning tomorrow (Tuesday).

​ - We will continue to clean surfaces with disinfectant regularly, encourage good hand hygiene and provide sanitiser in the classrooms.

More information will follow regarding events such as Cross Country and assemblies as we work through the advisory from the Ministry of Education when it arrives.

As we return to a semblance of normal, I wish to thank you for the grace and community spirit shown through the lockdown period.  You are a magnificent community.  I also wish to acknowledge the staff of RVS, they have managed incredibly well.

God Bless,

​

Dave Pauling
Principal

Kia ora RVS Community

​Thank you again for your quick response to the survey, we are looking forward to seeing most students back on Monday.  Please make sure you are aware that parents/caregivers are not permitted in classrooms, more info below.

We are working on readying the school for Monday.  This includes setting up systems and procedures for keeping us all safe in Level 2,  such as:
 - Sanitiser stations in classrooms
 - Washing of surfaces and handles at least twice daily
 - Robust hand washing routines for all
 - Parents will still not be allowed in classrooms or to congregate onsite
 - Some distancing measures, particularly inside
 - Playground measures
 - Drinking fountains are out of bounds, students will need to bring a named drink bottle
 - No school lunches available to purchase until further notice 
 - Students will not be allowed to enter school before 8:30am
 - Pickup for Junior School will be staggered:
          Rm 1 & 2 - 2:50pm
          Rm 3 & 4 , Lib A & Lib B 3:00pm
          Middle School 3:10pm

We are also aware that both students and parents may be feeling anxious about returning after such a long time. We will be working carefully to make our students feel safe and at ease as soon as they arrive.

Much of the information we are aligning with can be found on the Ministry of Education website HERE. Please talk with your children about the importance of distancing (as per the website) and hand washing before Monday.

Contact Tracing for All
Unfortunately, under Level 2, parents and caregivers are not to enter the classrooms, or the hallway in A block.  Schools, via rolls and classrooms are well set up for contact tracing, which is a requirement under Level 2.  Parents & visitors also need to register if they come onsite which is a significant undertaking.  We have three options for any non-student who steps onto the property.

1 - Remain in your car at drop off in the morning & in the afternoon, only leave your car to pick up you child from the grassed area. (Easiest and preferred option)

​2 - Use the RVS APP to scan a QR code that will be available at one of the 3 entries to the school.  You will need to have the app already downloaded and set up on your phone.  You will need to sign in and then out again. (There is an instruction page below this blog)

3 - If option 1 and 2 are not viable, sign in and out at the RVS office.  

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE RVS SITE UNLESS YOU HAVE DONE EITHER OPTION ONE OR TWO.  PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE CLASSROOMS OR THE A BLOCK HALLWAY.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

This will be difficult for us, because we love having you all in our classrooms and for some of you, as you like bringing your children into the classroom in the morning.  We pray it is not for too long and that we will be back to normal soon.  Please make contact if you have questions.

God bless and I look forward to seeing you all soon.


​Dave Pauling
Principal

Kia Ora RVS Whanau,

Level 2 is nearly here!  You will have heard, I expect of the PM's announcement yesterday that schools are to re-open on Monday the 18th of May at the normal times.  We are excited to welcome the students back and look forward to resuming.  

Level 2
While we will open and operate under Level 2, there will still be some restrictions and significant health and safety requirements for all of us as laid out by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.  This will involve actions such as:
 - Sanitiser stations in classrooms
 - Washing of surfaces and handles at least twice daily
 - Robust hand washing routines for all
 - Parents will still not be allowed in classrooms or to congregate onsite
 - Some distancing measures, particularly inside
 - Other TBC measures to keep everyone safe
I will communicate again near the end of the week with more information once I have been briefed by the government and other stakeholders.

Online learning this week
The staff of RVS will be meeting here at school all day on Thursday and Friday to plan for next week and to ready the school.  Online learning will continue as usual until the end of the week with the exception that teachers will be unavailable on Thursday and Friday.  The tasks on those days may look different for some students with this in mind.

Uniform
Even with the tireless efforts of those working on uniform procurement, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc with manufacture and delivery.  We have some items of uniform onsite but not enough to open the RVS Uniform shop yet.  Please continue to wear uniform that still fits or follow the guidelines found HERE.

Please complete the below survey for your family as best as you can with the information you have regarding Level 2.  While we expect most students to return, people with the following conditions, or who are in close contact to those with these conditions, should consider remaining at home:

• a compromised immune system
• liver disease
• cancer
• kidney disease
• heart disease
• diabetes mellitus

We will continue to provide learning support for those who remain at home.  Due to teachers returning to full-time classroom work, it will look considerably different to Level 3 distance learning.

Please fill in the form below as soon as you are able.
Thank you & God bless,


​
Dave Pauling
Principal
​

Kia ora RVS Community,

I pray you are well in your homes and that even in these difficult times, you are enamoured by the God-given silver linings.  

You will have heard the Prime Minister's address yesterday I imagine, outlining some of the detail behind Level 2.  The possible Level 2 drop announcement will not be made until Monday afternoon.  This makes my job difficult in being able to give you detail regarding how the future return to RVS will look and when this will happen.  

A couple of details I can confirm are:

 - Distance learning will continue through next week             

• Continue with distance learning next week as you have under Level 3.
• Thursday 14th and Friday 15th  will be planning and preparation days for teachers, they    will not be available for online help.  If you are one of the families attending in Level 3, please consider alternative care for these two days.

 - The Prime Minister has made it clear that schools will not be open before Monday the 18th of May.  

• This is yet to be confirmed, it could be later, but not earlier.
• You will receive more information on Tuesday or Wednesday next week regarding RVS opening again. 

 - Those who have health issues or who live with those who do will need to look at information on the covid19.govt.nz website and decide whether you child/ren will be back at school under Level 2

• We will survey the community to see who will be coming back under Level 2 early next week.
• We expect most students will return under Level 2 depending on directives from the government.
• We will continue to provide a form of online learning for those who feel the need to remain at home during Level 2.

Thank you RVS for your ongoing support and understanding as we navigate these times.  God bless and you will hear from me again soon.

I will also update you next week on the uniform progress.

Dave Pauling
​Principal

ANZAC weekend is upon us, lest we forget.  I hope it is a memorable one for your family.  I have heard that Mr Adamson has been practicing the Last Post on his bugle.  The RSA site HERE has some good activities and information about the StandAtDawn initiative.  

Monday is a public holiday and Tuesday is a teacher only day, enabling us to be ready to welcome the few students who are coming to school under Level 3.  Thank you for your fast response as a community to the survey I posted online.  It made my job organising Level 3 much easier having the data.

We have a small contingent of students who's situations mean staying away is simply not an option, this is our roll for the next two weeks at least, no other students are to be on site.  We will be in contact with the families/caregivers of Level 3 attendees shortly.  I will also keep you updated as we near the proposed end of Level 3 lockdown in two weeks.

For most of you, the next two weeks will look very much like the last two weeks, distance learning at home.  The only difference you may see is that it may take teachers a little longer to get to your questions etc as many of them will be teaching onsite also.  

Thank you again RVS for your ongoing support of us and each other during this time.  As mentioned, you will see your teachers online again on Wednesday.  Enjoy another staycation within your bubble and stay safe.

God bless,



Dave Pauling
Principal

Kia ora,

The Government has said that schools will be open from Wednesday 29th April for those that MUST BE at school due to both parents needing to return to work and no available alternative care. Children are asked to stay at home if they can continue to complete the home learning programme that has been set up by RVS staff.

We will be needing to know how many children will be attending school so that bubbles for school can be organised with children and staff. Students and staff will be organised into bubbles of 10. Bubbles will not be allowed to interact with other bubbles.

Once we have established who will be at school further information will be sent to these families regarding pick up and drop off times, health and safety procedures and requirements for attending school.

Teaching and learning for students who can return to school will not be the same as it was before we went into alert level 4. Students attending school during Alert Level 3 will continue with current distance learning tasks in small bubbles. Students may not be placed in a bubble with their normal classroom teacher or other students who would normally be in their class.

Start, finish and break times will be staggered, school playgrounds will be closed and students will not have access to sporting equipment.

Please fill in the form below to inform us if your child/ren WILL or WILL NOT be attending school in Alert Level 3 so we know how many students will be returning. A reminder all children are asked to stay at home if they have an adult at home to supervise. 

No children are allowed to attend school in Alert Level 3 if they have compromised health or someone in their bubble has compromised health. We do not want to put anyone at risk.

We need ALL families to please fill this form out by 9pm, Wednesday 22nd April. Thank you for your co-operation.

Ngā mihi nui,

​
Marlborough Principal's Association

Dear RVS Community,

I pray you are all coping well with lockdown level 4.  

As you will be well aware, the Prime Minister is set to make a call at 4pm today on the future status of NZ and how education will look moving forward.  

I will be working with RVS staff and BOT to work through the new information as quickly and carefully as possible.  We receive information, firstly from the PM via her live broadcast.  Then information starts to flow from The Secretary of Education, The Ministry of Health, The Ministry of Education, The Marlborough Principal’s Association & Community of Learning, The Teachers Council, The Teachers Union, The Principal’s Federation and other key stakeholders.  We look as carefully and quickly as we can at what we are required to do, as well as how we can best serve RVS in this difficult time.  

I will communicate with you in the days following the announcement as things become clearer regarding all things RVS.  No matter when lockdown finishes, distance learning looks like it will continue this entire week at least.

As we head into our second week of distance learning, I wish to acknowledge the amazing effort seen by both teachers (including. you) and learners.  I also remind parents/caregivers not to put undue pressure on yourselves during this time.  The wellbeing of your family unit needs to be considered over academic achievement and you will know what you are capable of in your situation.  The teachers will continue to deliver and monitor an excellent program, you just do what you can.  

God bless and stay safe.


Dave Pauling
Principal

​Kia ora RVS Community.

I pray all is well in your household as we head into the last two days of the Easter ‘staycation’.  It has been a difficult time for the nation as it does all it can to slow the spread of Covid-19, affecting us in different ways.  I wish to thank those amongst us who have continued working through essential services.  I also am aware that this lockdown will put huge strain on some families who face business and financial concern.  Please let us know how we can help you, as a community, how we can pray and be of assistance.  If you have seen a significant change in your circumstances due to Covid-19, please let me know.

The amazing meaning behind Easter weekend could easily be swamped by the media, lost to the worries of the day.  Easter is of course where we remember the climax of God’s plan for the rescuing of mankind, both now and for eternity.  Forgiveness, love, hope and peace, these are the fruit of our new life in the risen Lord, thank you Jesus.

As you will be aware, the beginning of Term Two is on Wednesday, this is when teachers will begin Stage Two of distance learning.  I know as much as every one else regarding re-start times and a return to Level Three.  At the moment there is planning, in case the current Level 4 is not extended, for school starting again on Wed the 29th of April.  Again, this is only conjecture from the Ministry of Education (MOE), NOT certainty.  

I am grateful to the staff of RVS who have put in much effort to deliver a quality program.  The Junior teachers are working in pairs while the Middle School teachers will be working as a full team, both with the support of their AP’s and myself.  We have opted for an online classroom setup that allows students to work at their/your pace rather than having to be in a certain place at a certain time for a face-to-face live classroom.  Google classroom will be well known to Middle School users particularly.

Here are a few of the main points:
 - Work/ideas for the following day will usually be uploaded by 5:30pm of the previous day.  This way, any working parents who wish to, are able to see the tasks and requirements before the children start.

 - In the first instance, please email you class teacher for task assistance and techsupport@rvs.school.nz for assistance with software or connection.  Please be patient waiting for an answer.

 - Teachers will be planning, assessing, conferencing, procuring resources and other jobs while often looking after their own families too.  They will be online intermittently between 9am and 3pm each weekday.

 - Please keep an eye on students using devices as much as practically possible. www.netsafe.org.nz is an excellent resource for tips and pointers regarding keeping or children safe.

 - Seesaw (Rm0-4) and Google Classroom (Lib A to Y10) will be the main source of communication from teachers.
 - Our goal is predominantly maintenance of current learning with some new learning, rather than all new learning.  

 - Some important links (click to access)
     - Official Covid-19 Site
     - Learning from home (MOE)
     - Home learning advice for parents (MOE)

We know these are trying times so we wish for you to make the learning fit for your family situation.  As a school, we have some parents/caregivers wanting up to 5 hours a day of activities/ideas, while others, for one reason or other may only manage a small amount.  

We will provide learning and extension work and facilitate learning via online tools, you as parents/caregivers decide how much is achieved.  We are well aware of the different situations from computer availability to mental wellbeing, caregiver availability and many other situations.  I also expect there are families keen for online learning to begin and for a semblance of routine to return.  We will work together.
​
In closing:
Cooking, vacuuming, dishes, cleaning and washing are all significantly positive learning opportunities, for all ages.  You can quote me on this if need be 😉 
I will keep you updated via email & the Principal’s blog of changes, news and upcoming dates etc.  I pray God’s peace in your homes and we step into the next phase on Wednesday.  ‘Trust in the Lord with all of your heart’ Prov 3.

God bless,


Dave Pauling
Principal