18 August 2021
Kia ora e te whānau
As you know we are now all in Alert Level 4 which means that our school will not be open onsite until further notice, but we expect that the situation to last for 7 days from today. We all need to be prepared that this could last longer, and we will keep you informed as we receive more information. All activities, like sports or in-person meetings are also on hold and will be rescheduled later where possible.
It is important we do everything we can to keep our community safe. Alert Level 4 means we need to stay home in our bubbles and avoid any travelling as much as possible. Supermarkets, pharmacies, foodbanks and other essential services will be open – but remember to wear a face covering if you are out and about (even a scarf wrapped around your mouth and nose will help). Check in using the NZ COVID Tracer App wherever you go and please also keep a distance from people you don’t know and wash your hands well and often, especially before and after using any public facilities.
DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN
Our distance learning plan will therefore kick into action. Full details of our plan are on our website https://www.thameshigh.school.nz/online-learning/
With such short notice we couldn’t hand out devices or hard copy packs to students in order to support distance learning. We will monitor the situation as it evolves, but now, no one is allowed at school.
Your child’s teachers will be in touch today or tomorrow morning with some information to support learning from home. As a staff we have met today to make sure we all know what is expected and are getting ready for full online learning.
Today, Wednesday 18 August, is a time to get ready for full online learning from Thursday 19 August.
As parents you can help to make sure students can access all their online classes. Plans will be sent by student (school) email. Check emails with your child and get them to explain to you what they need to do each day. Offer encouragement to give it their best effort and seek help.
Our online learning platform is Google Classroom where each class has an online ‘space’ where instructions and resources, and tasks are set for all students. This can be accessed by any device. While a phone is not ideal, it is what many students use to access. Other online resources may be used, but the main classroom space is Google Classroom. There should be a plan for at least a week ahead to say what is coming up, but lessons may be prepared day by day. Lessons will be set by 8.30 am each day.
All students are expected to participate in the online learning unless sick or for some other justified reason, that needs to be explained. Use email or text to contact the school. Not phone messages please as no one can clear these. Refer to the online learning page for details: https://www.thameshigh.school.nz/online-learning/
Attendance/engagement will be recorded for every class. Being present means attending any online classes/discussions and/or completing set tasks set for that time. If the teacher has not required a class meeting or discussion, then the evidence of being present is to complete the task set for that time.
It is important to keep to the regular schedule of the timetable, this includes having regular breaks. There is flexibility and we know tasks may not be completed at the same time, but they do need to be completed that day. Any concerns or issues please contact teacher(s) and kaitiaki to explain.
Attending rōpu and whānau time is also vital – to check in about well-being and to stay connected. Refer to https://www.thameshigh.school.nz/online-learning/ for details about Getting Help.
Students who have additional support from a teacher aide will continue to get that support. Teacher aides will be added to the Google Classrooms so they can help.
If there is trouble accessing learning plans (for instance no device is available) then please contact the teacher in the first instance, or your child’s rōpu and whānau kaitiaki.
Staff contact details are on our website: https://www.thameshigh.school.nz/staff/
As we are in the Coromandel Peninsula, if you haven’t done so already, go to the Ministry of Health (MoH) website to see the list of locations of interest where the first confirmed case visited while they were considered to be infectious. If you were at one of those locations and at the same time as specified on the website, then please follow the relevant instructions to isolate and potentially to get tested. Please keep checking the MoH webpage as new locations may be identified over time https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/contact-tracing-covid-19/covid-19-contact-tracing-locations-interest
Our focus, as always, will be to support the learning, safety and wellbeing of our taiohi and we continue to be here to support you as well.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s kaiako / teacher or me, if there is something you need assistance with.
Ngā mihi
