Queenstown School Pandemic Action Plan

Introduction

This plan provides the framework for action in the event that this or any other pandemic disease should break out in New Zealand.

Pandemic Manager

• School Principal

Deputy Manager

• Deputy Principal

Primary Roles of Key Participants

Manager/Deputy

• To manage the school programme and environment, ensuring that health needs are given highest priority

Classroom Teachers

• To provide clear guidance to students on sound health protection procedures and ensure they are implemented at classroom level

Support Staff

• To ensure that vulnerable children are given additional support

Office Staff

• To maintain health supplies
• To maintain effective communications with families

Parents

• To ensure that students with symptoms of communicable diseases are kept away from school and provided with appropriate care

Students

• To follow health procedures put in place within the school

Emergency Supplies

The school is to contact Brendan Winder (Emergency Management Officer) if food supplies are required. Tents and gas-cooking facilities are stored at school as part of our ETOC supplies.

Key Contacts

Guidelines for Pandemic Management

1. Workplace cleaning practices are to be constantly monitored for highest possible standards
2. The school's identified isolation room is the sickbay room
3. Attached flow chart provides an action sequence summary in the event of a pandemic being declared. Refer to the "Queenstown School Influenza Pandemic Planning guide" for further details and guidance. Flow Chart download
4. Instructions from the Ministry of Education/Ministry of Health (via emails or updates on the website) and/or Medical Officer of Health will provide ultimate guidance in the event of a pandemic.
5. The Board of Trustees, in partnership with the Pandemic Manager, have final responsibility for closure of the school if required.

Primary Goal

To ensure the well-being of staff and students and rebuild education services

Critical Actions Which May Be Required

1. Clean and disinfect school - cleaning guidelines will be on MoH website. School is not opened until Pandemic Manager is satisfied with hygiene.
2. Debrief of pandemic event for staff and students. Although public awareness will have been extremely high, re-opening of school will be the first chance for many to talk about what has happened with peers and teachers.
3. Arrange trauma and/or grief counselling if necessary. Although services will have been at work in the community, students coming back together again will bring escalated trauma/grief.
4. Arrange memorial service for those who died in the pandemic
5. Assess staffing capacity to resume normal operations. Staff may have died or lost family members. Employment of relievers and/or new staff may be required
6. Re-establish communications with staff, students and parents. Keeping everyone well informed is critical to dispel heightened fears over children coming back together.
7. Arrange for ongoing monitoring and support to staff and students. Watch particularly for signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Arrange support for these people as required.