Covid 19 Update - 8/4/20

By Simon Clarke | Posted: Tuesday April 7, 2020

Emergency Remote Teaching beginning 15 April. Important information and a survey everyone must complete for the Ministry of Education.

We hope that children and families have had a chance to have a "break" during the school holidays and the lockdown.  I know for us at home here, it has been lots of baking, practising our sports in the back yard and games of Monopoly and Cluedo.

The teachers have been preparing our Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) plan and resources during this holiday period.  We call it ERT as we have never trained or prepared for this in an organised way, unlike an organisation who have deliberately set up a distance or online learning programme.  We are not expecting parents to replicate what we do at school and you shouldn't expect teachers to do what we do at school, in your home.  We should note that these are exceptional times and that all of us can only try our very best.

The plans will reflect the following premises which have been based upon following experts advice.  

• We are entering a period of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) and not online or distance learning

• Teachers, families and students mental health is the priority.

• Missing a few weeks or even a few months of school when students are primary aged will have little impact on their long term educational outcomes.

• The content of distance learning will be a mix of Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Sustainability (Term 2 Topic), STEM and life skills delivered through a smorgasbord approach.  Learning will be synchronous or asynchronous.

• Families and children can do as much or as little as they like of what is provided but can’t ask for more than what is currently being provided.  Providing additional meaningless worksheets to keep children "busy" does not help anyone.
  

• Equity will be an issue for some during ERT and we will check to make sure everyone is coping.
  

Teachers will be emailing you or using seesaw over the weekend with links to a google classroom which will house all of the necessary links and all of the details of what is to be done and when.  From what I have seen so far it looks excellent and I am excited to see how it works.

Perhaps the most important thing we can do is to provide a chance for students to connect with their peers face to face via google meet.  At this stage we will start with 20-30 minute sessions each school day at the following times.  This will be a chance for teachers to read a story, have some show and tell and share what everyone has been learning about.  Once again, details on how to connect will come out before April 15 via google classroom or seesaw.

Room 1 - 2:00-2:30pm

Room 1A - 10-10:30

Room 2 - 10.30-11

Room 2A - 1.30-2pm

Room 3 - 11:00 - 11:30

Room 4 - 10-10:30

Room 5 - 11:00 - 11:30

Room 6 - 11:00 - 11:30

Room 7 - 9.30-10am

Room 8 - 10-10:30am

Room 9 - 9.30 - 10 am

Room 10 - 9.30-10.00am

Room 12 - 10-10.30am

Writing Extension - 2:30-3:00pm

Math Extension - TBC

The Ministry of Education has requested information about every student in the country and their ability to learn while our physical spaces are closed. This information is very important to the Ministry (and ourselves) and should be completed asap.

The Ministry plans to deliver physical resources to students who are a priority (age and students identified as being most at risk and most needy.)  I cannot guarantee that you will receive either a device or hard materials before April 15.

The Ministry are also looking to broadcast educational material via television.

I realise that this is similar to the previous survey but we need to provide new and updated information in one place.  We will have to make a phone call if it is not completed so please save us a lot of time and complete the form.

Please complete one for each of your children.

To see what is included in the physical pack please click this link. https://learningfromhome.govt.nz/supporting-learning/years-1-10-hard-copy-resource-packs

• Room 1
• Room 1A
• Room 2
• Room 2A
• Room 3
• Room 4
• Room 5
• Room 6
• Room 7
• Room 8
• Room 9
• Room 10
• Room 12

If you know someone who might be struggling there are a large range of supports in place that may be able to assist including:

• Mental wellbeing

• Supporting children and young people at home

• Manging self-isolation

• Care options for children of essential workers

• Financial support for employers and employees

• Staying safe online

• Preventing harm from bullying

• Family harm

• Responding to discrimination – through the Human Rights Commission

• Accessing healthcare

• For people vulnerable to COVID-19

Information in languages other than English:

• COVID19.govt.nz

• Office of Ethnic Communities