IMPORTANT: School closed 12-14 August

Dear parents and students, the Prime Minister announced at 9.15 pm tonight that cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in a South Auckland family. The family is employed at a number of different locations across Auckland and the government is in the midst of contact tracing.

To ensure the possible spread of the virus is contained, and to give the government an opportunity to complete their contact tracing, Auckland's COVID-19 Alert Level has been adjusted to Level 3 from 12 pm on Wednesday 12 August. This implies the following:

• All schools are closed from tomorrow morning for the rest of the week. There will be no school.
• People in Auckland are asked to remain home unless they are essential workers.
• If you have to go out for essential services (e.g. shopping), you are asked to wear a face mask.
• All people are asked to resume stringent hygiene, i.e. hand washing and coughing/sneezing into elbow.
• If you are sick, stay home and contact your health care provider.
• Auckland residents are not allowed to leave Auckland and people from regions outside of Auckland are not allowed to come to Auckland.

For Tyndale Park Christian School, it has the following implications:

• There will be no school for the rest of the week, starting tomorrow.
• Teachers will need tomorrow to prepare some remote learning material for Thursday and Friday. Please give teachers time tomorrow to prepare.
• Some remote learning options will be offered to students for Thursday and Friday. Be assured that teachers will aim to offer activities that can be done with what the students have with them at home. You do not have to come to school to get any books.
• There is no Science Fair on Saturday. For the time being, the Science Fair has been postponed.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's tramp has been postponed.

We realise this news is quite unexpected. If you have any questions, please email us at admin@tyndalepark.school.nz or call 09 274 9771 during office hours tomorrow morning.

Please join the staff and myself in prayer as we pray for God's protection over our community and over Auckland, and His wisdom and guidance for the government and DHB personnel as they try their best to deal with an unexpected situation. God answers prayer and He is sovereign over all situations. It is important to know that 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind' (2 Timothy 1:7).

Yours faithfully,

Barend Blom - Principal