NEW 2020 DAY TIMES

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Latest Update - Coronvirus

We are actively following the information and advice being provided by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education with regard to the Coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we will continue to regularly update this page as information comes to hand.In line with Ministry of Health advice, any member of our school community, arriving in New Zealand on 2nd February or later, who has been in any part of China will be required to stay away from the Onslow College campus for 14 days. This will allow sufficient time to ensure that no member of our school community is unknowingly carrying the virus.

We are also asking anyone who has recently visited Wuhan City or Hubei Province, regardless of when they arrived in New Zealand, to stay away from the Onslow College campus until they have been away from those areas for 14 days. Please note that the Ministry of Health has stressed that isolation for people who arrived before 2 February only applies if they have been in Wuhan City or Hubei Province.

The Ministry of Health continues to assess the risk of an outbreak in New Zealand as low. Should the situation change, we will follow our pandemic plan for managing the illness, as we would with other infectious diseases such as measles, mumps and influenza.

Everybody should follow the basic principles of hygiene and cough etiquette to reduce the risk of getting an acute respiratory infection or passing it onto others. This includes:

• regularly washing hands (for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap and dry thoroughly)
• covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze
• staying home if you are sick
• avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
• if you feel unwell you should avoid public gatherings and events.

Supporting Our Children

As parents of adolescents you will know unexpected things will happen and young people will all react differently.

Sometimes young people will want to talk to you or another trusted adult about how they are feeling. Let them know it is ok to ask for help and you are available to listen or can help them contact other support agencies.

Some signs to look out for are:

• Changes in behaviour (tearfulness, sleep patterns, eating patterns, up and down emotions or heightened anger or irritability, becoming suddenly calm or happy after being down, feeling hopeless orworthless, guilty, whakamā or ashamed.
• Losing confidence, or a downturn in school or sport performance.
• Becoming isolated or withdrawn from whānau, family and friends, things that are normally of interest (hobbies, sports, friends).
• Talking about depression and death – expressing dark thoughts
• Not coping with day to day problems, or becoming overwhelmed with usual activities
• Using drugs or alcohol to cope with difficult feelings or thoughts
• An escalation of risk taking behaviours including self-harm or sexual activity or stopping taking medicine
• Giving away possessions, tying up loose ends,
• Physical symptoms that don’t have an obvious cause such as aches, pains, feeling sick

If you are worried about your child please contact the Guidance Counsellors during school hours Linda and Nicky on: 04 478 8189 extension 831 and 849.

Outside of school hours and term time:

You can also ring or text 1737

Youthline text on 234 (8am to midnight) or ring 0800 376 633 or email talk@youthline.co.nz

Lifeline 0800 543354