Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Just a brief newsletter today to say "Thank you" for the way that you have engaged with our staff this week, as we have been contacting you to help understand how your bubble is working and where learning at home might fit in for you and your family. I also want to say a huge "Thank you" to all of our staff, for their flexibility, adaptability and 'courage' in embracing new online platforms and ways of working to bring learning to your children at home.Our first priority this week has been to make contact with each family and make sure that every family could access the different online platforms that we are using. We have encountered such a range of different situations that you are all trying to manage - from 'prefer to carry on in holiday mode', through to 'feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of keeping your own work-from-home life going whilst trying to oversee childrens' learning', and everything in between.
We are all in this together, and this is a work in progress for everyone, in our school and across the country. Our staff are completely united in focusing on having the wellbeing of our children at the centre of everything we do, and are energised (as well as being occasionally overwhelmed) by the new challenges that learning online has presented us.
Now that we have a better sense of where our families are at, we will be continuing to adjust the learning options that we offer.
We acknowledge that many of you are also dealing with significant other challenges in your lives at the moment, that the lockdown has only made more difficult and isolating to deal with. We may be able to connect you to support networks, including Mana Ake and a Christchurch Methodist Mission Social Worker, and there are other pathways we may also be able to recommend. If you would like to discuss any needs, please email Sue, our Deputy Principal sue.leadbetter@beckenham.school.nz and she will be very happy to offer support.
Moving to Alert Level 3
As you will have heard yesterday, the government are starting to outline what life might look like when we move to Alert Level 3, and to describe with more clarity what this timeline will be.
They have shared some initial thoughts about what this will mean for Education. Like you, we are waiting to hear what this means for school in more detail, and we understand that the Ministry of Education will be working frantically over the coming days to provide us with more clarity.
I do expect that there will be things that we will be
- required to do,
- recommended to do, and
- given scope to design ourselves, to meet our community needs.
We also expect the information to come will include: public health requirements in an education setting, workforce guidance, and advice for identifying students who will be attending school on site during Alert Level 3.
Until we know what these parameters are, we are not able to provide any more detail than you already know. Do be reassured that our staff are focussed on continuing to support the wellbeing and learning of all of our children, and have already demonstrated that they can be adaptive and flexible in these new times. We will get there together!
Welcome to our new bubbles...
Our staff have all been working in their bubbles, just like you have. Our bubbles vary in size and complexity - some are in a bubble of one, whilst others have large bubbles with children, adults and pets all trying to work, learn, play and relax alongside one another... you know the score!
Our school phone system is working again...
We have managed, this week, to get the school phone system diverted to Jacky's home and my home, so calls can now be made to the school number 03 337 1404 between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, and Jacky will answer them, and she can put calls through to me! (or call you back if you leave a message).
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The new Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto office...slightly smaller but just as efficient! |
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Rowe in her 'at home office' with her furry companions |
Anna at her 'kitchen table classroom'
Sandy at her new office, complete with board games to prop up computers!
Just one of the many and varied staff meetings through different media platforms over the past weeks...
So... from our bubbles to yours, stay safe over the weekend, and we look forward to connecting with you again next week.
Sandy and the team
Getting Support during times of challenge...
To access a variety of activities and ideas to support wellbeing at home, visit Sparklers.org.nz/parenting/
Parenting Helpline
Online coaching
Online coaching to develop parenting strategies or coping skills you can implement straight away.
Our parenting coach can support you with strategies to help in chaotic situations, create structured routines that best support your family, suggest strategies to stop unwanted behaviour, create plans to achieve a calmer household and learn how to work together as a team, etc.
30 mins or 60 mins sessions available via Zoom. Call 0800 568 856 to book an appointment or read more here: www.parenthelp.org.nz/coaching
Affordable counselling
We understand that in this strange new environment we are in that all relationships can be tested and we urge you to reach out for support. Our counsellors offer therapy online via Zoom or via telephone. We offer a 30-mins free initial appointment.Call 0800 568 856 to book an appointment or read more here: www.parenthelp.org.nz/counselling