At Rangiora High School, with over 1600 students and 120 staff members, Principal Bruce Kearney reported that on some days, they could have 300-400 students absent and up to 30 staff members off sick.
Due to the high number of absences, Kearney mentioned the possibility of closing the school if there weren’t enough staff members available. He explained, “We have 120 teachers, and if more than 35 are off sick, we may need to consider closing as there aren’t enough relief teachers to cover all the classes.”
Winter illnesses have also impacted other schools in the area, with Kearney acknowledging that this season seemed a bit worse than usual. He emphasized the importance of keeping sick children at home to prevent the spread of illness.
However, Kearney highlighted the challenge of promoting attendance while also dealing with high rates of sickness. The school had been encouraging students to attend regularly to meet the government’s goal of 80% attendance for over 90% of the term by 2030.
Despite the difficulties faced during this winter season, Kearney remained optimistic and urged the community to prioritize health and well-being.
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