Category: Announcements

Please follow the link to view the Metro bus school services and timetables: Metro Bus Services

Dental Care during the School Holidays

The Community Dental Service will be providing dental care for children enrolled with our service during the upcoming school holidays.  The clinics will offer treatment and relief of pain sessions by appointment only.   To make an appointment please call/email our Contact Centre which operates between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday throughout the holidays (closed between 25^th December to 5^th January).

The following Dental Clinics will be open during these school holidays:

• Woolston Clinic, 11 Hopkins Street, Woolston,
• Hornby Clinic, 2 Hei Hei Road, Hornby,
• Northcote Clinic, 24 Tuckers Road, Casebrook,
• Timaru Clinic, Level 1, 18 Woollcombe Street, Timaru

The clinics will offer appointments between 8.15am and 4.45pm for school-age and preschool children.  If your child has dental pain because of an accident, please contact your dentist in the first instance.

To book an appointment at one of our clinics please:       call 0800 846 983

Or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz

Our school year starts with ‘meet the teacher’ for all pupils where you book a 15 minute meeting online, on either Monday 1 February or Tuesday 2 February 2021.  On this day you have the opportunity to buy all of your stationery so you are well prepared to start school on Wednesday 3 February.

Details are in the Orientation Pack which will be emailed to you mid January.

If you did not receive this email by 15 January then please contact the office via email: school.information@kirkwood.school.nz

You will be aware that all of New Zealand, except for Auckland, has been placed on Level 2. For our school and our pupils and staff this will mean:

1. we will reinforce safe and hygienic practices;
2. we will not hold meetings of over 100 people at a time;
3. we will continue to take advice from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education;
4. all school transport continues to work as usual;
5. the School Disco is postponed for the time being;
6. Cross Country has been cancelled;
7. children and staff will continue to work as usual;
8. your help in keeping your child home if they are unwell is most appreciated;
9. please continue to sign in at the school office when you come into the school.

Thank you for your understanding and support. I will get back to you if anything should change.

Best wishes

Phil Tappenden
Principal

Please click on the link below to view the Ministry of Health Tracing poster

Ministry of Health Tracing QR Code

Ministry of Health – Support

The Ministry of Health have sent through details regarding welfare support which include tips on looking after your mental wellbeing and information and contacts on how to access support.  Please click on the following link to view: Ministry of Health COVID 19 Welfare Info Sheet

Mana Ake have information on their website which may help families over this time.  Please click on the following link to view:

Mana Ake: Health

Services and Support: Where to go for help

Important information for families on Online Safety during lockdown from the NZ Police.

Increase in Child Exploitation Material and Online Child Sexual Abuse during Lockdown 

Netsafe Stay Connected Stay Safe campaign launch

Further information and support

We know many parents are under pressure these days managing work, child-care and self-care. During this time our relationships with each other may be tested and parents may need some extra support at home.
Families can reach out to Parent Help for support:

Parenting Helpline
For support and advice on any parenting issue; if you need someone to talk to about what is happening in your family, or need some advice on how best to support your family, call our free parenting Helpline on 0800 568 856. Available from 9 am – 9 pm 7 days a week.

Online coaching
Online coaching to develop parenting strategies or coping skills you can implement straight away.

Our parenting coach can support you with strategies to help in chaotic situations, create structured routines that best support your family, suggest strategies to stop unwanted behaviour, create plans to achieve a calmer household and learn how to work together as a team, etc.
30 minute or 60 minute sessions available via Zoom. Call 0800 568 856 to book an appointment or read more here: www.parenthelp.org.nz/coaching

Affordable counselling
We understand that in this strange new environment we are in that all relationships can be tested and we urge you to reach out for support. Our counsellors offer therapy online via Zoom or via telephone. We offer a 30-mins free initial appointment.
Call 0800 568 856 to book an appointment or read more here: www.parenthelp.org.nz/counselling

Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 can include new onset or worsening of one or more of the following:

• Cough
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Temporary loss of smell

Health’s information on who should get tested notes that people with any of the COVID-19 symptoms who are close contacts of confirmed cases, have recently travelled overseas, or been in contact with recent travellers, should get assessed.

If anyone has symptoms but is unsure if they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should ring Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or their GP for advice. Over winter there are many other viruses about that can cause people to feel unwell and have symptoms similar to those of COVID-19.

Skinny Jump is flexible prepaid broadband: Only $5 for 30GB of data, no contracts or credit checks. https://www.skinny.co.nz/jump/home.html Skinny Jump is a not-for-profit service supporting those most at risk of digital exclusion, including families with children, job seekers, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees and migrant communities, those in social housing. 

Message from the CDHB re: Dental services

Due to the pressures on our health system from Omicron, we are suspending delivery of Community Dental Services within the Canterbury area effective Thursday 10 March 2022.  We will be redeploying our teams to support the delivery of essential health services.

We will be closing our clinics and removing our mobile dental vans from schools over the next few days and redeploying these to help in other areas.

Could the following be included in your newsletters or sent directly to parents’ mailboxes?

Community Dental Service is suspending some of its services from 5pm Wednesday 9 March 2022 to provide support to the Canterbury health sector in response to Omicron.

We will continue to provide relief of pain clinics by appointment only from Thursday 10^th March.  You can access these appointments by calling our Contact Centre on 0800 846 983.

For any dental advice please call the Contact Centre on 0800 846 983.

Please find below some helpful information to assist you through Home learning.

Information and resources to support wellbeing and support learning at home

• The Ministry of Education has developed a resource for parents, caregivers, whānau and family – http://education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/pastoral-care-and-wellbeing/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-coronavirus/.
• The Ministry of Health’s website includes Top ways to look after your mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdown.
• I AM HOPE is the youth and community focused support group run by The Key to Life Charitable Trust, started by Mike King – https://www.iamhope.org.nz/
• Nathan Wallis has some helpful videos on his Facebook page for parents and whānau – https://www.facebook.com/nathanwallisxfactoreducation/ –
• Tips on looking after mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 from the Mental Health foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/
• a website by the Health Promotion Agency to help New Zealanders recognise and understand depression and anxiety – https://depression.org.nz/covid-19/
• Although overseas-based this is a good list and highlights some things particularly important for children. Remember the rules of New Zealand’s level 4 lockdown still apply –  25 Mental Health Wellness Tips during Quarantine from Eileen M Feliciano, Psy.D.

As per Government announcement, school is closed at 2:55pm today until further notice.

The staff will be meeting to ensure they can provide some work for your children. This will happen over the next two days.