Kia ora,

I pray you are all well and doing ok under the circumstances.

RVS staff are working diligently behind the scenes to deliver a solid online program while preparing for a possible Level change.  Thank you staff and thank you parents for your ongoing communication and resilience.

NCEA
You may have seen the announcement yesterday from the Ministry of Education about the changes to the dates of NCEA exams. The examination period will now run from Monday November 22nd to Tuesday December 14th. At this stage we have very little information of the details surrounding this announcement and are waiting for more to come from our Ministry contacts.
The biggest impact of this change will be that the last teaching day for Year 11 before departing for study leave will now be Friday 19th November, two weeks after our previously planned date. This change also affects our Year 11 Visual Arts students who will have more time to complete their portfolios of work before the end of the year. Overall this change will give us even more time to be prepared for exams and is a welcome decision from the government.
We will update you with other details as they are announced.

Preparing for a possible change in alert levels
The government will announce any changes to levels this afternoon at 3pm.  In preparation for a possible drop to Level 3, I need more information on potential roll numbers for the few who fit the  guidelines to attend school onsite at Level 3.  

The Government guidelines for Level 3 attendees says that schools will be open for those students where BOTH parents need to return to work with no available alternative care.  Please note our Year 11 students are old enough to stay at home by themselves, this is only for Year 0 - 10 students who have no parents at home.  In the event of a Level change, students are asked to stay at home if they can continue to complete the home learning programme that has been set up by RVS staff.

I am needing to know how many Year 0 - 10 students may be attending school so that bubbles for school can start being organised with students and staff.  Students and staff will be organised into bubbles of max 20.  Bubbles will not be allowed to interact with other bubbles at all.

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 as more information from the Ministry of Education becomes available.

Please fill in the form below to inform us if your child/ren WILL or WILL NOT be attending school in the case of a change to Alert Level 3 so we know how many students will be returning. A reminder all children are asked to stay at home if they can.  Schools are significantly limited in the numbers they can take and spaces are intended for children of essential workers. 

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 fill this form out please.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Ngā mihi nui,



Dave Pauling
Principal

Tēnā koutou RVS

The Prime Minister has extended the level 4 lockdown through to Tuesday night, so as promised, I am emailing regarding the beginning of online learning on Monday.  The staff have been working on a comprehensive plan to help our young people continue to learn during this time.  They have planned for the weeks ahead in case the lockdown continues beyond Tuesday also.

Monday will be a day whereby teachers connect and ensure all families are able to access online learning with Tuesday being the official start of learning.  The main platform for this learning is:

Y0-4 Via the Seesaw app 
Y5-11 Via Google classroom

More information regarding how to connect will be sent on Monday Morning. We wish to remind parents of the continual need to remain vigilant around internet use and encourage you to do all you can to keep safe.  Netsafe is a good place to find information on this.

It is important no one is onsite during level 4.  If you have a device onsite that you need, please email techsupport@rvs.school.nz and we will work on getting it to you.

Please be patient with staff as many have their own families to look after also.  We look forward to seeing you on Monday, please reach out if you need help.

Below are details from each area of the school, please read carefully:

Stay safe and God bless,



Dave Pauling
Principal

Junior School
Our Year 0 - 4 students will use the Seesaw Class app for online learning and our 
Year 5 &6 students will have all their online learning through Google Classroom. We will post new school work every day at 5pm for the following school day.  Teachers will be available online between 9 -12 every day if you need any assistance and also to connect with students, mark any assignments and give student feedback on their work.

​Seesaw:
We already use the Seesaw Family app for communication with parents in Junior School and instructions on how to download and log in to the Seesaw Class app will be sent out Monday morning via email by your classroom teacher. Each student has a unique log in to ensure their work is only seen by them and their classroom teacher, it is not public.

Google Classroom:
The year 5 & 6 students have already used their Google Classroom accounts this year. They can use their email address to log in to access Google Classroom. 
We would like to see all students log in on their online learning platform on Monday and there will be some activities for them to complete to ensure they know how to find, use and submit work and assignments back to teachers. Lessons will begin on Tuesday.
If you require any further assistance, please message your classroom teacher on Seesaw, email me, or alternatively email techsupport@rvs.school.nz if you need help with getting connected.

God bless you all,
Malanie
mrs.vandervyver@rvs.school.nz

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Middle School
Years 7 - 10 will have scheduled “Google meet” time with their subjects teachers from 9am until 12 pm every day. These sessions will run for a maximum of 20 minutes each. After this students are to work independently on that subject on their google classroom page until their next lesson. 
Year 7 and 8: A timetable will be available on their Google classroom homeroom page. Year 9 and 10:  A timetable will be duplicated on their English, Maths and Science pages. Please check this with them. Any subject related questions please email your child's subject teacher. Teachers will be available online from 9am until 12 pm daily and will reply to emails when they can during this time. For any further inquiries or assistance for years 7-10  please contact Mrs Pigou who will be available online from 9am to 3pm daily. 

Mon 23rd will just be connecting with students online and explaining how the timetable will work. Lessons will begin on Tuesday the 24th at 9am. 

Blessings
Leah Pigou

Teachers email address are
mrs.pigou@rvs.school.nz
Mr.adamson@rvs.school.nz
mrs.connor@rvs.school.nz
mr.kerby@rvs.school.nz
mr.newton@rvs.school.nz
mrs.diekema@rvs.school.nz
mr.russell@rvs.school.nz
See below for an example timetable

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 11

Year 11 students will need to continue with their online learning during this time. They will have work set for them through their Google Classrooms by their individual subject teachers. It is important that they regularly check these Classroom pages for updates and new tasks.
As for the Middle School, teachers will be available via email from 9am - 12pm each day. We will also be running tutorial sessions via Google Meet for each subject for 30min on a rotation across the week. It is very important that students attend these sessions as teachers will discuss set tasks and work expectations.
We are still able to assess students for NCEA during a lockdown period and teachers will explain more details of this as the need arises with classes.
The prelim examinations that were set for next week have been postponed. A new set of dates will be announced once we have more details about returning to on-site learning.
Any questions about learning within a subject or about set tasks should be directed to subject teachers. Any technical questions or questions about NCEA can be directed to:
mr.adamson@rvs.school.nz

Teachers email addresses are:
mrs.pigou@rvs.school.nz
Mr.adamson@rvs.school.nz
mrs.connor@rvs.school.nz
mr.kerby@rvs.school.nz
mr.newton@rvs.school.nz
mrs.diekema@rvs.school.nz
mr.russell@rvs.school.nz

See below for the current year 11 Google Meeting time

Kia ora RVS Community,

Level 4 is upon us.  I pray you are safe in your homes and fully stocked.

You will have received an email from the RVS Office yesterday with links to important information sites and a note that there is no online learning this week.  We have been and will continue to work as a staff to be ready for online learning early next week if the lockdown is extended.  I will update this blog with more information as it becomes available.  Late Friday or Saturday I expect.

There will be a survey sent out tomorrow at some point, one from Jnr School and one from Middle/Snr School asking for info around internet connectivity and device availability.

The school site is closed under Level 4 and is strictly off limits.  Thank you for your understanding.

Please refer to the following websites for more information:
 - Ministry of Health
 - NZ Covid Website
 - Ministry of Education

As mentioned, I will be in touch via this blog tomorrow or Saturday when we have more information.

May our Lord bless you and keep you in this tricky time.  


Dave Pauling
Principal

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Dear RVS Whanau,
Please see below for the Camp & EOTC long term plan based on the consultation we did in 2019-20.  More detail about each event will come out nearer the event.
The idea of this plan is to ensure there is plenty of notice before events.  Camp fees are not compulsory due to RVS opting in to the donations scheme, but the payment of camp fees makes a huge difference to what we are able to do as a school. 

God bless

Dave Pauling
Principal

Dear RVS Whanau,

We are getting quite good at this now, oscillating between Covid-19 Levels.  Please find below the things we need to remember at Level 2.  It is very important that you scan the QR code of sign in manually before coming onsite.  

We are also aware at RVS of the effect constant media coverage, phone alerts etc can have on our young people.  Please get in touch with your child's teacher via email if this is the case.  

Ngā mihi and God bless,

Dave Pauling
Principal

​1. We are open to everyone, and all children must attend.
At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained but there is still risk of community transmission. It is safe for children and staff to attend school as there will be appropriate measures in place, including for children and staff vulnerable to severe illness.

2. Learning will be onsite with distance learning offered in some circumstances.
Distance learning should be provided for those required to self-isolate, only those individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result, or those choosing to remain at home because they are vulnerable to illness.

3. Schools are not classified as gatherings and a range of events and activities can go ahead.
For most day to day activities at schools, the rules for gatherings do not apply.  Schools are exempted from physical distancing requirements when people are there to receive, provide, or support education services.

4. Schools will only close for cleaning and contact tracing if there is a confirmed case who was infectious when at school.
Your Director of Education will work closely with you and health authorities should this occur. Please contact your Ministry regional office if you hear of a confirmed case in your school community but haven’t been advised about it by health officials.

5. Face coverings are not required at school or on any school transport.
This includes charter buses hired by the school to transport students and staff. Anyone who chooses to wear a face covering in any setting should be supported to do so.

6. Sick people must stay at home.
They should seek medical advice if they have COVID-like symptoms and get tested if advised to do so. If that person displays relevant symptoms of COVID-19, tests positive for COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, they must self-isolate.

7. You must use the contact tracing system in place.
This includes the QR code posters at RVS's entrance, or signing in at the office.

8. Fundamental public health measures continue to apply at every alert level:

• Physical distancing (not touching and not breathing on each other at Alert Level 2)
• Hand hygiene
• Cough and sneeze etiquette
• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces.