Covid 19 Update (26/03/20)

By Simon Clarke | Posted: Thursday March 26, 2020

Three important points.

School Buildings and Playgrounds - It was a very strange and sad feeling yesterday, locking the school up and setting the alarms for at least the next 4 weeks.  The Kaikorai School buildings and grounds are closed at least until April 28.  The Ministry of Education has asked that no one enter the school.

Home Learning - We have created a page on our website that will continue to grow over the next few weeks for home learning so that everything is in one space.  https://kaikorai.school.nz/curriculum/online-learning-during-covid-19/?stage=Stage  Please contact your classroom teacher for username and passwords for everything apart from google(see below).

Please remember that the school holidays begin on Monday and make sure you take this enforced time to spend some quality time together as a family.  You may now have the time to do the things with your children that you have put off in the past.  I have enjoyed hearing the stories of families playing board games and teaching their children how to do jobs around the house.

 I received many positive comments from one of my articles about lowering the stress and for students at this age, 4 weeks or more off school will not have a long term effect on their educational outcomes.  Nathan Wallis is a neuroscientist and educationalist and summed it up better than I did.  He is well worth a look.  I have spent the morning trying to work and also home school my own two children and it just reinforced how hard it will be for many of you who are working remotely.

We will keep in touch over the month-long lock-down, and our teaching team are keen to connect with the children after the school holidays around April 15, during our learning-on-line period.

Google Doc for Juniors and passwords - We are in the process of ensuring that everyone has access to google apps for education including all of the junior students.  This virtual space will not be so much for them but a chance for you to find out how you can support learning at home if you wish to.  Please make contact with me if you don't know what your username and password are.  It may take me a few days to get back to you all.

Stay safe and well, kia kaha

Simon Clarke

Principal