All posts by Ian Morrison

Latest from Ministry of Education about COVID-19 (at 13 March 2020)

Kia ora

 You may have seen that the World Health Organisation has now declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As noted by the Minister of Health, this doesn’t change what New Zealand is doing to respond to coronavirus.
 
The Ministry of Health has been working through its pandemic plan since January. You will also know the Government has already implemented a range of measures to minimise the impacts to New Zealand. This includes border restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate on arrival in New Zealand from China, Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea and immediate and detailed contact tracing of any confirmed cases. It is important to note those four countries account for more than 90% of cases globally and China and the Republic of Korea have significantly declining numbers of new cases.
 
We have 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and it is pleasing to know they are all doing well and are at home.  Their children, four students at Auckland schools, continue to be well and show no symptoms. While we expect that more cases will arise, the Ministry of Health says that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low in New Zealand. We all have a role to play in this.
 
Schools have been advised to develop their  pandemic plan so it will be ready to be implemented if needed. In the mean time we need to continue to focus on good hygiene practices. Hand washing and good cough etiquette are very important tools in preventing the spread of illness including colds, flu and COVID-19.
 
With that, there is a good video clip from Nanogirl that will help your children to better understand the virus – YouTube clip – Nanogirl
 
You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus: One other action we can all take is to be vigilant about our own health and the health of our children. Staff are encouraged to stay away from school if they are showing signs of illness such as coughs and colds.  Please do the same with your children. Colds and flus are common in schools and by staying away, seeking medical attention and practicing good hygiene, we can all keep any spread of illness to a minimum.
 
Ngā mihi

SchoolTV SPECIAL REPORT: Coronavirus – a guide for parents


Our new platform to support parents contains the following advice:


Coronavirus is an evolving international health concern. Around the world, people are being affected in many ways. Individuals of all ages from numerous nationalities are being diagnosed with the virus –– it doesn’t discriminate. Although children are considered at lower risk of infection, they are not immune to the multitude of news reports regularly seen or heard in the media.

This epidemic is a cause for great concern to parents, but it is also very worrying to young people. Many are wondering how best to discuss this epidemic in a way that will be reassuring to kids without making them feel more worried than what they may be already. Parents should not avoid such a discussion with their kids. Not talking about something can often make them worry more.

Although most children will have already heard about the coronavirus, it is important for parents and care-givers to take this opportunity to convey the facts about it and set the emotional tone. This may help kids feel more informed and reassured. Involving them and encouraging self-efficacy can also give them a sense of control and purpose.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers will be provided with some guidelines on how best to approach this topic whilst still ensuring the wellbeing of their child. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://mhjc.nz.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-coronavirus

Coronavirus – COVID-19 update from Auckland Regional Public Health Service

Auckland Regional Public Health Service – 04 March 2020

COVID-19 Information for parents

While a parent of secondary school students has been confirmed as the second COVID-19 case in
Auckland, please be assured there has been no exposure from this case at these schools or any other schools.
There will be concern in school and wider communities, and misinformation circulating through social media.

Here are the facts:
 The students did not travel with their parents.
 The students have been to school since their parents returned, but they were not infectious.
They did not have, and do not have, any symptoms.
 All of the family is in isolation, but the students are well and are at home as a precaution.
Credible, evidence-based information about COVID-19 can be found at the following places:
 The Ministry of Health COVID-19 webpage.
 The Auckland Regional Public Health Service COVID-19 webpage.
 The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 site.
Anyone seeking health-related advice about COVID-19 can also free call Healthline’s dedicated 0800
number: 0800 358 5453.

Special report from SchoolTV: Parenting Styles – What type of parent are you?

There are so many different opinions offered on how best to parent. New parents will often have firm beliefs about how they wish to balance love and discipline, but this ideal often goes out the window when a toddler throws their first tantrum in the supermarket!

Raising children can bring parents and caregivers great joy despite many learning ‘on the job’ and growing into the role through experience and understanding. Children will always flourish in a warm and loving environment, supported by clear guidance.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers can gain a greater understanding of the four defined parenting styles by taking part in the quiz. It can guide parents towards deciding which style they wish to adopt and the effects it may have on their children.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://mhjc.nz.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-parenting-styles

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update

Following advice from the Ministry of Education and the identification of the first case of the virus in New Zealand, the same advice remains for our students. Risk remains low of the spread of the virus and we remind the community to take normal precautions – practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence:
 – wash your hands often with soap and water before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet,
 – cover coughs and sneezes with clean tissues or your elbow,
– put used tissues in the bin and
 
– stay at home if feeling unwell.

Growing International Connections

We have enrolled our first international students who started this term. I thank our team including Mrs Dada and Mrs Clansey (International Student Coordinator) who worked hard to gain accreditation. This builds on the growing international connections which started with our annual attendance of the Hwa Chong Student Congress in Singapore and our reciprocal visit to our sister school in Nanching, China.

This reinforces the mantra “think global, act local” and helps our students to appreciate and understand other cultures and perspectives.

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake!

Happy Waitangi Day

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi – Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This important document helped to establish a formal relationship between the crown (Britain) and Māori. While there are still differences as to how the treaty can be interpreted and questions surrounding the legitimacy of those who signed it, the people of New Zealand/Aotearoa continue to work together to build a nation we can be proud of today.

MHJC is embarking on a journey this year to improve our collective understanding of the Māori world view which we feel aligns closely with the spirit of the treaty – “we are one people”. 

A quick example of how we can learn is the urgent need for the world to respect, honour and be guardians of the land.  The Māori phrase kaitiakitanga captures this perfectly and illustrates that we ignore lessons of the past at our peril. MHJC is fortunate to have a valuable resource, Tāne forest on our doorstep which we use to promote kaitiakitanga to each new generation of students which will extend to other areas of their lives. Making the world a better place.

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake!

Coronavirus update

There is no change to the advice given earlier this week. Please go to the following site for up to date information:

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov#status

At this stage we are planning for a normal start to school and look forward to seeing you at Admin Day on Monday.

Corona virus, translation for Chinese families

亲爱的家长朋友们:



新型冠状病毒



正如你们在媒体上看到的,关于新型冠状病毒的国际形势正在迅速演变。

我们的学校已经意识到这种新型冠状病毒的潜在感染风险,

卫生部、教育部和奥克兰地区卫生委员会(ADHB)地区卫生委员会已通知我们,该病毒表现出类似流感的症状,在大多数情况下可导致甲型h1n1流感轻微至中度疾病。如有类似流感的征状,或发烧。

来自病毒发源地的武汉市已对所有旅行关闭,因此该城市目前已被隔离。



作为预防措施,教育部要求我通知学校所有职员老师学生,如果你在假期期间去了中国,

最近在中国的工作人员和/或学生,或怀疑他们可能接触过该病毒的学生,都被要求在返回新西兰后推迟两周/ 14天开学。请大家学校办公室联系,告知您孩子的开学日期。

卫生部正在监测情况,如有必要将向我们提供进一步的建议。

像往常一样,身体不舒服的人不应该呆在学校。如果您有特殊关注,请拨打0800联系健康热线, 或听从你的家庭医生的医疗建议。 Healthline拥有150种语言的24小时翻译和口译服务,包括讲普通话和广东话的员工。

您也可以访问卫生部网站了解更多信息:

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/novel-coronavirus-china-2019-ncov

所有员工和学生的健康和福祉是我们的首要任务,我们很高兴这些措施取得了成效,感谢

卫生部和教育部都采取了行动。



祝好

初中部校长

IAN MORRISON

 

 

 

Coronavirus update

An email has been sent to all families about the virus following guidelines from the Ministries of Health and Education. As the situation is changing daily we will email updates or post to this web site.

In essence, we have no reported cases but we advise anyone who has travelled through China to remain at home for two weeks as a precaution, particularly if symptoms are shown. Please notify the school if this is the case.

More information can be found at:

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov