CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Groups recommence in Term 4!
Thankfully, we are now back in level 1 and so all the groups (choir, wind, cello and celtics) will recommence as normal in the first week of term beginning on 12th October. Fingers crossed we remain in level 1.
Group times are as follows:
Choir - Monday - 4.45-5.30 pm
Wind - Wednesdays - 6.00-8.00 pm (every other week, beginning week 1)
Cello - Thursday - 5.00-5.30 pm
Celtics - Thursday - 5.30-6.30 pm
There are plenty of opportunities to perform before the end of the year:
Wednesday 18th November - Wind Concert
Monday 23rd November - Solo/Ensemble Concert
Wednesday 25th November - Drum Concert
If you wish to take part in any of these concerts, please ensure you speak to your tutor.
Thank you.
Sunday 16th August 2020
Unfortunately, COVID is back in NZ and we are back in level 2. After much thought and deliberation it has been decided that all groups will stop until we are back in level 1.
Therefore, from Monday 17 August CHOIR, WIND, CELLO AND CELTICS will cease until we move back into level 1.
As tenants in the Music Studios, we have to remain vigilant. Staff from the Town Hall will regularly be coming to observe that we are adhering to the rules - hand sanitising, social distancing and contact tracing. If you can, could you please download the NZ Covid Tracer App and register when entering. You will see the instructions on the noticeboards. Otherwise, please confirm your details with your tutor each time you attend for lessons. Wherever possible, can just the student enter the building for lessons and can parents/caregivers stay in their car in the car park. One support person is allowed if needed. As soon as students finish their lesson they should vacate the building.
Stay safe and fingers crossed we will return to level 1 quickly.
Unfortunately, COVID is back in NZ and we are back in level 2. After much thought and deliberation it has been decided that all groups will stop until we are back in level 1.
Therefore, from Monday 17 August CHOIR, WIND, CELLO AND CELTICS will cease until we move back into level 1.
As tenants in the Music Studios, we have to remain vigilant. Staff from the Town Hall will regularly be coming to observe that we are adhering to the rules - hand sanitising, social distancing and contact tracing. If you can, could you please download the NZ Covid Tracer App and register when entering. You will see the instructions on the noticeboards. Otherwise, please confirm your details with your tutor each time you attend for lessons. Wherever possible, can just the student enter the building for lessons and can parents/caregivers stay in their car in the car park. One support person is allowed if needed. As soon as students finish their lesson they should vacate the building.
Stay safe and fingers crossed we will return to level 1 quickly.
Wednesday 12th August 2020
COVID 19 GUIDELINES: ALERT LEVEL 2
Alert Level 2 is not life as normal, some restrictions and other measures remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission. The Academy will adopt the following guidelines until further notice:
BRIEFLY STAYING SAFE:
ENTRY/COLLECTION INTO THE PREMISES: This applies to all academy students and one support person.
Please also note the following points:
ACADEMY TUTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
For the safety of all of our tutors please adhere to the following guidelines:
Note: All tutors will still be required to maintain accurate student records, both for COVID 19 and for the Ministry of Education. Any concerns or issues should be brought to the attention to the Academy Committee via email: enquiry@ncam.ac.nz
We want to do everything we can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at the Academy, therefore your cooperation with all of the guidelines stated above will play a part in keeping each other safe.
COVID 19 GUIDELINES: ALERT LEVEL 2
Alert Level 2 is not life as normal, some restrictions and other measures remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission. The Academy will adopt the following guidelines until further notice:
BRIEFLY STAYING SAFE:
- If you are unwell, stay home.
- Cough into your elbow.
- Use a small amount of hand sanitizer provided.
- All students must bring their own pen and pencil.
- All students must bring their own music stand (ensembles only)
- Students and one support person only will be allowed onto our premises (exceptions if there are families with multiple lessons on the same day.)
ENTRY/COLLECTION INTO THE PREMISES: This applies to all academy students and one support person.
- Entry/collection will only be from the carpark area located on King Street.
- All students must arrive 5 minutes prior to their lesson beginning.
- All tutors have a register of their students which will be completed at the beginning of each lesson. Government QR code posters are also on the notice boards for support person sign in.
- All students will unpack their instruments and will remain seated in the waiting area. Your tutor will collect you when they are ready.
- All students should handle their own equipment eg: books, pencils, instruments.
- Upon completion of your lesson, please wait for your tutor to release you.
- Instruments must be quickly contained within their cases
Please also note the following points:
- TIME KEEPING: Due to our strict requirements that the Academy must adhere to, if students are running late or are unable to attend your scheduled lesson time, we won’t be able to offer extra time to make up for time lost. Your cooperation would be most appreciated.
- PICK UPS: All children must be collected from the Academy suites and not outside from the carpark area. The academy will not be held responsible for any child waiting on the street. (This only applies if children are sent to lessons independently)
ACADEMY TUTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
For the safety of all of our tutors please adhere to the following guidelines:
- Wash your hands on arrival
- Use hand sanitizer between each lesson
- Set up your teaching area to allow for 1-metre distancing (wind instruments may require greater distances, this is at your discretion)
- Ensure your teaching area is comfortable for you and your student.
- In the event that you need to handle student books, ask first and record any direct physical contact.
- Upon completion of lessons, open the door and release students.
- Advise your next student to remain seated and that you will be with them shortly.
- Wipe down all high touch surfaces eg: music stand, piano keyboards etc
- When you are ready, invite your next student into your teaching environment.
Note: All tutors will still be required to maintain accurate student records, both for COVID 19 and for the Ministry of Education. Any concerns or issues should be brought to the attention to the Academy Committee via email: enquiry@ncam.ac.nz
We want to do everything we can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at the Academy, therefore your cooperation with all of the guidelines stated above will play a part in keeping each other safe.
Wednesday 20th May 2020
It is official we will be reopening our doors on Monday 25th May 2020!!
For the rest of Term 2 we are only able to offer lessons. But don't be sad, it is our intention to restart all of our ensembles such as Orchestra, Cello, Celtic, Wind and Choir, in Term 3. We promise to keep you updated.
All of our students and families should have now received an email outlining the Academy guidelines along with your revised re-enrolment plan.
(A copy of the Academy Guidelines can be found here). ncam_covid_guidelines_2020.pdf
It is important that you read these guidelines before your scheduled lesson day and time.
We would also appreciate it, if you can reply to the email that has been sent out ASAP to confirm your return. This will help us to prepare the relevant documentation for contact tracing purposes etc.
The Academy recognises that some families may not be in a position to return to lessons. If this is the case please consider touching base with us as we maybe to help. Certain conditions will apply, your circumstances will be kept confidential and treated with absolute respect. Here at the academy we remember that our families have been are our backbone for the past 35+ years.
If you have any questions or have not received any information regarding our "New" way of doing things, then please contact our lovely Administrator Jacqui Witt at: enquiry@ncam.ac.nz.
In the meantime, stay safe, stay musical. We look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 25 May 2020!!
Thank you for supporting the Academy, 35+ years and counting.
Tuesday 21 April 2020
ALERT LEVEL NEWS
The Prime Minister’s announcement at 4.00 pm today is that the country will move from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 at midnight on Monday 27 April. We will remain at Alert Level 3 for at least two weeks and then on 11th May, Cabinet will review the situation and make a further decision about the alert levels.
This is very good news as it shows that over the past four weeks, as a country we have done well in lockdown!!
As the academy is primarily an after school program, and the fact that parents (where possible) are being encouraged to still keep children at home we will continue to remain closed until further notice.
I hope that you are all well in your bubbles, please be informed that if you would like a lesson with your tutor then you are most welcomed to contact them directly. In the meantime please know that we are continuing to monitor the situation so that our return can be a smooth process.
Stay safe everyone.
* Monday 23 March 2020
To all of our Academy families,
Please take care, we know these are unprecedented times especially after today's announcement moving to Alert Level 3.
Please keep an eye on our NCAM website page for any news - Go to Notices then COVID 19 UPDATES.
If you have any questions or concerns send them to enquiry@ncam.ac.nz or send a message via our facebook page. These will be checked on a regular basis.
In the meantime, stay safe everyone, if in doubt - practice, practice,practice and play music.
* Sunday 22 March 2020
NCAM URGE ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION:
NCAM DOORS CLOSED MONDAY 23 MARCH 2020
Apologies everyone for bombarding you all with yet another update, the current health situation has led us to evaluate things almost hourly.
It is understandable that there is an increasing level of anxiety and that families will want to limit their movement in the community (we all have families of our own so we understand this mindset). The health and well-being of all our families are one of our priorities.
Therefore after much consideration and for reasons mentioned above, the Academy has decided to close its doors commencing Monday 23 March 2020. At this stage, we are unable to give you an idea of when or if we will reopen.
I would like to remind families that all outstanding accounts for Term 1 need to be paid. Thank you to those families who have paid their accounts in full. We will be issuing credits over the next couple of weeks, so please bear with us.
On behalf of the Academy, I would like to thank you for your support and hope that life returns to some type of normality soon.
Stay safe and take care.
* Saturday 21 March 2020
Hi Everyone
We realise that the government has announced that all Christchurch City Council facilities are now closed and you maybe wondering if the Academy will be open.
In short, yes we are, all lessons will continue as normal. We are however assessing the status of all our ensembles, choirs etc.
Our understanding is that the Waimakariri District Council is not part of the Christchurch Council, therefore at present we will remain open until we receive a definitive answer from the Council. As soon as we have been informed, we will email everyone immediately and update our Facebook and Website pages.
We do ask that you remain vigilant with washing your hands before and after each lesson and that you do not linger after your lesson has finished.
Rest assured we are monitoring the situation very closely.
Thank you for your patience and stay safe.
It is official we will be reopening our doors on Monday 25th May 2020!!
For the rest of Term 2 we are only able to offer lessons. But don't be sad, it is our intention to restart all of our ensembles such as Orchestra, Cello, Celtic, Wind and Choir, in Term 3. We promise to keep you updated.
All of our students and families should have now received an email outlining the Academy guidelines along with your revised re-enrolment plan.
(A copy of the Academy Guidelines can be found here). ncam_covid_guidelines_2020.pdf
It is important that you read these guidelines before your scheduled lesson day and time.
We would also appreciate it, if you can reply to the email that has been sent out ASAP to confirm your return. This will help us to prepare the relevant documentation for contact tracing purposes etc.
The Academy recognises that some families may not be in a position to return to lessons. If this is the case please consider touching base with us as we maybe to help. Certain conditions will apply, your circumstances will be kept confidential and treated with absolute respect. Here at the academy we remember that our families have been are our backbone for the past 35+ years.
If you have any questions or have not received any information regarding our "New" way of doing things, then please contact our lovely Administrator Jacqui Witt at: enquiry@ncam.ac.nz.
In the meantime, stay safe, stay musical. We look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 25 May 2020!!
Thank you for supporting the Academy, 35+ years and counting.
Tuesday 21 April 2020
ALERT LEVEL NEWS
The Prime Minister’s announcement at 4.00 pm today is that the country will move from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 at midnight on Monday 27 April. We will remain at Alert Level 3 for at least two weeks and then on 11th May, Cabinet will review the situation and make a further decision about the alert levels.
This is very good news as it shows that over the past four weeks, as a country we have done well in lockdown!!
As the academy is primarily an after school program, and the fact that parents (where possible) are being encouraged to still keep children at home we will continue to remain closed until further notice.
I hope that you are all well in your bubbles, please be informed that if you would like a lesson with your tutor then you are most welcomed to contact them directly. In the meantime please know that we are continuing to monitor the situation so that our return can be a smooth process.
Stay safe everyone.
* Monday 23 March 2020
To all of our Academy families,
Please take care, we know these are unprecedented times especially after today's announcement moving to Alert Level 3.
Please keep an eye on our NCAM website page for any news - Go to Notices then COVID 19 UPDATES.
If you have any questions or concerns send them to enquiry@ncam.ac.nz or send a message via our facebook page. These will be checked on a regular basis.
In the meantime, stay safe everyone, if in doubt - practice, practice,practice and play music.
* Sunday 22 March 2020
NCAM URGE ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION:
NCAM DOORS CLOSED MONDAY 23 MARCH 2020
Apologies everyone for bombarding you all with yet another update, the current health situation has led us to evaluate things almost hourly.
It is understandable that there is an increasing level of anxiety and that families will want to limit their movement in the community (we all have families of our own so we understand this mindset). The health and well-being of all our families are one of our priorities.
Therefore after much consideration and for reasons mentioned above, the Academy has decided to close its doors commencing Monday 23 March 2020. At this stage, we are unable to give you an idea of when or if we will reopen.
I would like to remind families that all outstanding accounts for Term 1 need to be paid. Thank you to those families who have paid their accounts in full. We will be issuing credits over the next couple of weeks, so please bear with us.
On behalf of the Academy, I would like to thank you for your support and hope that life returns to some type of normality soon.
Stay safe and take care.
* Saturday 21 March 2020
Hi Everyone
We realise that the government has announced that all Christchurch City Council facilities are now closed and you maybe wondering if the Academy will be open.
In short, yes we are, all lessons will continue as normal. We are however assessing the status of all our ensembles, choirs etc.
Our understanding is that the Waimakariri District Council is not part of the Christchurch Council, therefore at present we will remain open until we receive a definitive answer from the Council. As soon as we have been informed, we will email everyone immediately and update our Facebook and Website pages.
We do ask that you remain vigilant with washing your hands before and after each lesson and that you do not linger after your lesson has finished.
Rest assured we are monitoring the situation very closely.
Thank you for your patience and stay safe.