News

Dear whānau of Hamilton West School 

The health and wellbeing of our children, staff and community is a top priority to our school as always. 

We’re sending this message to you as a follow up to the notice sent out last night regarding confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our school  community. 

We are bound to follow Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health guidelines and  communications  with these events. This is what we have been doing over the last 12 hours or so.

Once a positive Covid 19 case is confirmed the role of the school is then to identify all close  contacts, all students and the staff involved with the learning area are notified and asked to isolate. 

This morning all families and staff involved as close and casual contacts of the cases have been spoken with and have received Public Health guidelines via email around this and are self-isolating.

We are very grateful to the whānau involved; they were prompt with their communication and response to this, all the way through. As soon as the families knew that they were close contacts of a case, they self-isolated and  got tested. When the test came back positive, they immediately contacted me yesterday. I was then able to liaise with the Ministries of Education and Health to identify and isolate the close contacts. This has  been vital to slow transmission of the virus.  

I appreciate the kindness and patience our school community is displaying at this time. While we know we must live with the virus, we are aware that this news can be quite surprising, and to some quite shocking. 

Unless your child has been identified as a contact, they are able to attend school. With all  children (and staff) this is what needs to happen all the way through this Omicron outbreak: 

What you need to do now is:  

• You and your whānau should watch for symptoms  
• If any develop, get tested immediately  
• Then, stay at home until you receive the result  
• If your whānau hasn’t been vaccinated, please consider doing so as soon as possible. You  can book on-line at bookmyvaccine.nz or by calling 0800 28 29 26. It’s free.

What we’re doing  

• Hamilton West School will stay open for learning 
• We continue to have appropriate public health measures and cleaning procedures in place 

Symptoms of COVID-19  

• 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

Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, 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/ 

Please contact Healthline 0800 358 5453, if you require any further.

Kia kaha e te whānau o Hamilton West School.

Mark Penman                                                                                                                                       

PRINCIPAL HAMILTON WEST SCHOOL

Kia ora Whanau

Late this evening I have had notification of 2 COVID-19 cases within the school community. We are
in the process of contacting close contacts to the cases and they and their
siblings will be self-isolating at home from tomorrow and not attending school.
If you are not contacted then your child is not a close
contact so school is open for them tomorrow. 

Please ensure that:

· You and your
whānau watch for symptoms

· If any develop, get
tested immediately

· Then, stay at home
until you receive the result

More information
will be provided tomorrow as is needed. If you have any questions contact the
Healthline on  0800 358 5453.

It is certainly a time more than ever that we support each other through
this difficult time

Regards

Mark Penman