Kia ora everyone
This is the last email from me for now – I promise.
As you will have heard, the Level 4 lockdown will continue until at least Tuesday 24 August. This means the school is closed and no one can be onsite unless they meet very strict criteria. This will carry on until we move to Level 2.
Our plan for teaching moving forward is to have a week-long work package to your email on either Sunday night or Monday morning. It will outline work that the teacher of your child would like them to complete by the end of the week. The first week will focus on reading, writing and maths with some optional activities included should you wish.
We have made a change to our expectations for most levels of the school in terms of completing work. For each work package teachers send there will be some compulsory work and some optional work. This is in response to the feedback we had last year from our parent community. Having said this, every family is in a different situation and if you find it just not possible for your child to complete the compulsory parts then please just communicate this to the teacher and they will adapt around this. We are here to support you as a family.
You will find the work package sheets are the same across the school but the work in them will be different based on levels. Your child’s teacher will clarify our system for you and is the first port of call for questions you have. Each teacher will contact the families of their class next week and this could be a good time to clarify any questions or issues you may have.
If you need a computer device for each child then please complete the agreement that was emailed out today. We have about 180 devices and we will work to get these distributed early in the week coming. Having all the forms completed by Sunday night would really help. We will communicate directly with families who have indicated they would like a school device.
Like you, we have no idea how long this situation will last but we will work week by week to support your child in their learning.
As we go into the weekend remember 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully”. You may notice this is from the Amplified version and it makes it really clear – our God will carry you. Give him your concerns, talk to Him about how you feel, what you think, what scares you. Share with him the weight you carry…because He cares for you and answers your cry in surprising ways!
Grace and peace.
Mark Richardson
Virtual Principal
