Last update for Term 1

Principal's Patch

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 school staff and Board of Trustees will continue to be available to support your child’s learning and wellbeing in the next weeks.

Thank you for your understanding of our very generalised learning support over the days this week since school formally closed on Monday. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday with most of the staff at school, preparing for the lockdown. This included developing plans for continuing to upskill teachers around what digital learning might look like, and helping all teachers to develop the skills for uploading videos, using online tools such as Google hangouts for team meetings and exploring options for linking up with students next term.

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. Obviously, this is just one example, and what it might look like for each family will be different, depending on your situation.



If you need to get in contact with anyone from school over the next two weeks of holidays, please email me using principal@beckenham.school.nz
Our teachers will be communicating during school hours, once the term starts again on Wed 15th April. Please also bear in mind that teachers have their own lockdown lives to manage too. Like many of you, some have children and other whānau in their homes, and may also be trying to share a workspace with others on their kitchen tables!
We would ask that you use email as the primary way to contact teachers during the lockdown, rather than texting or phoning, in the first instance. This means that teachers can manage their time and schedule work time at home too.

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.

If you do not have a data plan at home, Skinny Jump is flexible prepaid broadband: Only $5 for 30GB of data, no contracts or credit checks. https://www.skinny.co.nz/jump/home.html Skinny Jump is a not-for-profit service supporting those most at risk of digital exclusion, including families with children, job seekers, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees and migrant communities, those in social housing. If you think this sounds like a plan can support you, or someone in our community please share with them and make contact with Skinny Jump

For our Pacific families, if you are not aware the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ has been working to ensure useful information is available to Pacific peoples. A one-hour special will be aired on Tagata Pasifika’s segment on Saturday at 9am; and on Sunday at 7.35am, Tagata Pasifika will share messages from community leaders. The Ministry is asking you to reach out to all your family members, community groups, friends and group chats to ensure our Pacific community groups are watching the programming on both days.

A big thank you to all of you for taking the lockdown so seriously. As the Prime Minister has noted staying at home will break the chain and save lives; breaking the rules could risk someone close to you and if the rules are not complied with, this could risk the lock down period being extended or could risk the virus being spread to thousands

Ngā mini nui
Sandy and the team!

Reminders from the Ministry of Education

I am getting daily, lengthy email bulletins from the Ministry of Education, much of which contains reminders for our community about what the Level 4 lockdown means. These have included the following for whānau and community:

Key dates reminder

26 March            Alert Level 4 commenced
28 March            School holidays begin
10 – 14 April      Easter including the Tuesday after Easter
15 April              Term 2 begins (through distance learning)
22 April              Current date for ending of lockdown period
27 April               ANZAC Day observed

Key lockdown messages from the Prime Minister (Select Committee Media Briefing 25 March)

If the virus is left unchecked it will have an unacceptable toll on New Zealanders

  • Staying at home will break the chain and save lives
  • Breaking the rules could risk someone close to you
  • if the rules are not complied with, this could risk the lock down period being extended or could risk the virus being spread to thousands
  • Success will not be instant. The benefit of actions taken today will not be felt for many days to come. People need to expect the numbers to continue rising, because they will. Modelling indicates that New Zealand could have several thousand cases before today’s measures have an impact. However, if everyone sticks to the rules there will be change over time
  • Act like you have COVID-19. Every move you make could be a risk to someone else. That is how New Zealanders must collectively think now
  • All New Zealanders are urged to be calm, be kind, stay at home
  • If people have no explanation of why they are outside the Police will remind them of their obligations and can take enforcement actions if they feel it is necessary
  • New Zealanders will want to do the right thing. The Government is being as clear as they can on the guidance and Police will be working with people to help them understand
  • Government’s goal is to keep people connected to their employer through the wage subsidy, and said if that was not happening then they have the backup mechanism of the welfare system
  • In regard to those overseas - even under the most difficult of circumstances - New Zealand is their home.

Update on the provision of home-based supervision and care for the children (aged 0-14 years) of essential workers

The Government has agreed that three large home-based providers (Barnardos, Edubase and PORSE) will provide additional support to essential service workers, where workers are not able to make their own arrangements. These providers have national coverage.

The level of demand from essential service workers is not yet clear and we are exploring all options to make sure that essential service workers can do the important work necessary. In particular we are working with the wider network of home based providers to identify additional carers in areas of high demand.

Essential workers should still continue to contact one of the following three providers if they have been unable to make their own arrangements:
Barnardos - covid19enquiries@barnardos.org.nz
Edubase - Home Grown Kids & Kids at Home 0508 44 54 37 or info@hgk.co.nz
PORSE - porse.co.nz 0800 023 456

Access to school sites

School sites, including all buildings, playgrounds and grounds, are completely closed and off-site to the public, school communities and school staff.

Further information to support wellbeing


https://www.iamhope.org.nz/- I AM HOPE is the youth and community focused support group run by The Key to Life Charitable Trust, started by Mike King.

https://www.facebook.com/nathanwallisxfactoreducation/ - Nathan Wallis has some helpful videos on his Facebook page for parents and whānau

https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/ - tips on looking after mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 from the Mental Health foundation

https://depression.org.nz/covid-19/ - a website by the Health Promotion Agency to help New Zealanders recognise and understand depression and anxiety.

25 Mental Health Wellness Tips during Quarantine from Eileen M Feliciano, Psy.D. – although overseas-based this is a good list and highlights some things particularly important for children. Remember the rules of New Zealand’s level 4 lockdown still apply.


Kōwhai News Week 8

Here is the latest from the Kōwhai team.


Kapa Haka

Last week, we began our Kōwhai Kapa Haka programme with Whaea Cath. She will be taking the whole team for kapa haka each Friday so all children can experience kapa haka. We are lucky to be able to provide this opportunity for our students. Here we are in action as we learn the actions to a new karakia.







Miniball

A huge thank you goes out to Nathan, Jamie and Mike who kindly offered to coach our three miniball teams this term. Without your support, we would not have been able to enter teams into the Pioneer competition. We very much appreciate the time you have given to encourage, coach and support our tamariki with beginner basketball skills. 
Due to the term, being cut short, please keep your child's miniball top in a safe place. We need these to be returned to school when it reopens next term.


Learning Through Play

We have seen many of the children lifting the level of their learning during our Te Taikario time each day. There has been a huge improvement across the team especially in relation to problem-solving, being creative, working co-operatively and asking questions for inquiry. Here are some of the activities the children have been undertaking.








Learning at Home

As Sandy explained in her post earlier in the week, the holidays have been brought forward to the start of next week. We understand that every family will be different and as you settle in to this new normal, schoolwork may be far from a priority for you. Below we have listed some learning activities that are part of the normal weekly routine for the children in our team. If you would like your child to engage in learning over the next few days, the list below could guide you. Prior to school finishing, we set the children up with a login book for them to be able to access their codes from home. Here are some options that your child might like to explore.

Maths
* Study Ladder
* Maths Games

Reading
* Epic
* Sunshine Online
* Ready To Read 

Writing
* Google Docs
* Google Classroom Literacy

That's all for now. Please stay safe and enjoy your time at home with your family. We are looking forward to seeing you after the holidays and Easter break via our new online learning programme! Until then...

Kia Kaha

Kōwhai Teaching Team





A message for Kauri Kids from Nicky, Megan, Jenny and Hannah

Kia ora everyone,

We hope that life at your place, inside your bubble, is going well. As this is the last day of term and term finished in a bit of an unexpected rush on Monday, we just wanted to touch base before the holidays. This afternoon we got some of our pets together online to say a quick hello. Hannah has posted this video onto the Kauri Google classroom. Pop over and take a look. If you want to send us a quick pic or wee video, you are welcome to email us.

Ngā mihi
Nicky, Megan, Jenny and Hannah






Kauri Whānau: some learning for the next few days

Kia ora everyone. We hope all is well in your household as you settle down into lockdown.

As Sandy explained in her post last night, the holidays have been brought forward to start next week. That means there are just a few days left of this term. We understand that every family will be different and as you settle into this new normal, schoolwork may be far from a priority for you. Below we have listed some learning activities that are part of the normal weekly routine for our Year 7&8s. If you would like your child to engage in learning over the next few days, the list below could guide you. I have written this list to your child.

Maths:

  • Xtra Maths
  • Maths Whizz

Writing:

  • Continue writing your leadership essay. Jenny has created a screencast that will be added to the collection of resources for this assignment on google classroom.
Reading:


  • Nicky's group: either independent reading, shared reading or Steps Web for those who are signed up for this.
  • Megan, Hannah and Jenny's groups: complete your Figurative Language example slide. This is on the Kauri google classroom, complete with instructions. 

Genius Hour OR Kete Blogging

  • If you have everything you need at home for your Genius Hour Project and know what your next steps are, go for it - keep learning. If it won't work to continue your current Genius Hour Project, you may like to start another that is better suited to doing at home. This could be a great opportunity to learn some new skills from your parents.
  • OR finish off any unfinished blogposts and post about other ways you are living our school values, either already this term, or what you are doing at home. E.g. leadership week, cheese roll making, duathlon, swimming sports, or making a meal for your family, helping to tidy out cupboards etc.


Dave, our 24/7 Youth Worker is keen to support our Year 7 & 8 tamariki over the next four weeks. If your child would like to touch base with him, they can email: dave.bisgrove@beckenham.school.nz


Leadership talks

We had two fabulous guest speakers last week. Mark Inglis was an amazing example of being proactive no matter what life throws at you. He had the children enthralled throughout his hour long presentation. Then on Tuesday Lucy Schrader-Manuera, head girl at Cashmere High, shared lots of practical tips about self leadership. Her experiences really resonated with the children and led to some great questions. She was very appreciative of the leadership experiences and knowledge she gained during her Year 7 & 8 years at Beckenham. 

The children are now applying the knowledge they have gained from listening to our speakers and their learning in class and leadership week, to write an essay on what makes a good leader. 


Mark and his climbing mate Phil spent nearly two weeks in an ice cave, the size of the space under this table. The boys were glad to get out of the cramped space after 2 minutes. 


Keeping it fun

With our new normal involving a few less of the extra experiences we usually offer in Year 7 & 8, we are looking for opportunities to keep the highlights coming. Last Friday this was in the form of a basketball game between staff and students. It was a hard fought game with some stunning basketball on display from both sides, possibly a bit more from the students. They beat the staff well and truly!

Theatre Sports

A big congratulations to our 2020 theatre-sports competitive team. The members are: Archie DeClifford, Max Graham, Tess Pratt, Amelia Reid, Connor Colquhoun and Syesha Mee. We will start weekly practices when school resumes and are looking forward to our heats in late October. The name of the team is Mission Improvable! 

Important newsletter: Tuesday 24 March

Kia ora koutou

Our staff have been at school today, getting our heads around the implications of the Level 4 COVID19 situation and what it means for us as teachers, and also as individuals who have families, elderly parents, friends and loved ones who also need supporting over the coming weeks.

Changes to school holidays

As part of the changes announced yesterday, the school holidays have been brought forward two weeks. This means that Term 1 finishes this Friday, and Term 2 officially begins (at home) on Wednesday 15th April (after Easter Tuesday).

Between now and Friday, we are all adjusting to this new way of being and we do not anticipate that you will want to necessarily be focusing on learning.

We have created a new page as part of our website called Learning at Home. You can either click on the link above, or go to the school website, and find it by clicking on the link (as shown below) on the Learning at Home icon.

This page has some suggestions from the Ministry of Education about how you 'could' engage with learning if you want to over the next three days, or not!

By the end of the holidays, our staff will have created and made live more detailed options for learning that will be team based and from which you can then select, as you need.

Until then, we wish you all the very best with these challenging and important changes for our country.

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy, and the team.