Kia ora koutou

We have started into a new phase of New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 and it is very different than anything most of us have ever experienced.  I wanted to reassure you that our school staff and Board of Trustees will continue to be available to support your child’s learning and wellbeing in the next weeks.

Today is the last day of school for Term One. The school holidays have been brought forward and will now run from Monday 30 March until Tuesday 14 March. The first day of school for Term Two will be Wednesday 15 March. However, as we will still be in lockdown, your children will be learning online, instead of coming to school.

You will understand the importance of routine for your family. If your routine has been shaken up, like you’re now working from home, it’s good to structure your time. Routines are reassuring, and promote health and physical wellbeing. The below timetable (targeted at children) could be something your household adapts to use over the next weeks. A school holiday version will likely look a little different, but some form of routine will still be important as we go through the lockdown period.

Daily Schedule:

Before 9:00am
Wake up
Eat breakfast, make your bed, get dressed, put any dirty clothes in the laundry
9:00-10:00
Morning walk
Family walk with the dog, bike ride,
Yoga if it’s raining
10:00-11:00
Learning at home
School-led learning or Sudoku, books, flash cards, study guide, journal etc
11:00-12:00
Creative time
Legos, magnatiles, drawing, crafting, play music, cook or bake etc.
12:00 pm
Lunch
12:30
Helping at home
# wipe all kitchen tables and chairs
# wipe all door handles, light switches and desk tops
# wipe both bathrooms – sinks and toilets
1:00-2:30
Quiet time
Reading, puzzles, nap, radio NZ stories
2:30-4:00
Learning at home
School-led learning or iPad games, Prodigy, Educational show
4:00-5:00
Afternoon
Fresh air, bikes, walk the dog, play outside
5:00-6:00
Dinner
6:00-8:00
Free TV time
Kids shower time
8:00
Bedtime
All kids
9:00pm
Bedtime
All kids who follow the daily schedule & don’t fight

*Adapted from a resource developed by Jessica McHale Photography

There are also links below, to more wellbeing information to support your family during the lockdown.

Some good news to support you either working at home and/or studying at home – Spark, Vodafone, Vocus/Slingshot, 2Degrees and Trustpower have all advised they have removed their data caps and the possibility of any extra charges based on usage. Farmside has also just announced that there will be no extra charge for data used between midnight and 9am.

Parents can email teachers and myself (Principal) and Wendy Taylor SENCO for support with learning at home when our term begins on 15 April. You should have the teachers emails already, but if not, they are on our website. All teachers have been in contact with every child and/family in their class and have already established great links.

Information and resources to support wellbeing and support learning at home:

This last one has just arrived!!!

 

Nga Mihi Nui

Gillian Bray