Kia ora koutou
I hope everyone is safe and well and getting a chance to enjoy the sunshine. I wanted to touch base with everyone and share some resources that might be helpful with distance learning, as well as updating you with other relevant information.
Resources for Distance Learning
The Ministry of Education has developed a couple of websites that include online teaching and learning resources (with guidance for parents). The websites are Learning From Home and the Māori medium site Ki te Ao Marama The Ministry has also reinstated Papa Kaīnga TV – the learning from home television programmes. The list of programmes will be published on the Learning From Home website (link above) so everyone can plan ahead. For the first two weeks, there’ll be a mix of brand new content and some familiar content, such as Karen’s House.
The programmes are available on Duke+1, Freeview 18, Sky Channel 504. Online episodes will also be available on TVNZ on Demand.
Household Internet Connections
If there are any secondary students still requiring a Wi-Fi internet connection at home then please email office@aotawhiti.school.nz We will contact the local Ministry office. If you are experiencing connectivity issues then please contact your internet service provider.
Vaccine FAQs (including information for 12 to 15-year-olds).
The Government has sent out a document to support any questions you might have around vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds. The link to the document is Vaccine Information
We have been told that the use of schools and kura as vaccine sites is not currently considered critical to the roll-out plan for 2021, as there are opportunities for families to be vaccinated in other settings such as local GPs, pharmacies or community vaccination centres. We will keep you updated with any information we receive around the vaccination roll-out.
Supporting families who are struggling with access to food and essential items
If families are struggling to get access to food and essential items then here is a link to a fact sheet that will provide information around how to get access to these items. Fact Sheet for getting access to food and essential items Here is a link to a directory that will link families to the supports that are available in our area. Directory of Support
The City Mission Foodbank is also open for contactless pickups. The number to call is 0800 787 855.
NCEA
NZQA and the Ministry of Education are working to ensure that lockdown isn’t resulting in students being unfairly penalised in their NCEA assessments. They are also looking at how to run external assessments, including exams, remotely – if that becomes necessary. Please have every confidence that the school and NZQA will support you with the gaining of your NCEA qualification.
Finally, please do have a look at the school’s Facebook and Instagram accounts as there are great examples of lockdown learning and lockdown experiences being shared by students and staff in our community.
I would like to thank our fabulous Learning Advisors and Support Staff who are working hard during lockdown. Please do not hesitate to contact them, or your Community Leader if you have any concerns or queries. I see that we still have no cases in the South Island, so hopefully we will be able to see everyone back on site sooner rather than later.
Ngā mihi
Anita