Home News & Events News Stay home to save lives!

Stay home to save lives!

By Belinda Hirst | Posted: Friday March 27, 2020

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

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 or at the conclusion of the holidays (15 April). 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.

Daily Schedule

  • Before 9:00am Wake up, Eat breakfast, make your bed, get dressed, put any dirty clothes in the laundry
  • 9:00-10:00 Morning walk. Family walk with the dog, bike ride, Yoga if it’s raining
  • 10:00-11:00 Learning at home, School-led learning or Sudoku, books, flash cards, study guide, journal etc 
  • 11:00-12:00 Creative time, Legos, magnatiles, drawing, crafting, play music, cook or bake etc.
  • 12:00 pm Lunch 
  • 12:30 Helping at home # wipe all kitchen tables and chairs # wipe all door handles, light switches and desk tops # wipe both bathrooms - sinks and toilets
  • 1:00-2:30 Quiet time, Reading, puzzles, nap, radio NZ stories
  • 2:30-4:00 Learning at home, School-led learning or iPad games, Prodigy, Educational show
  • 4:00-5:00 Afternoon fresh air, Bikes, walk the dog, play outside
  • 5:00-6:00 Dinner 
  • 6:00-8:00 Free time, Kids shower time
  • 8:00 Bedtime, All kids
  • 9:00pm Bedtime for all kids who follow the daily schedule & don’t fight!

*Adapted from a resource developed by Jessica McHale Photography

There are links below to more wellbeing information to support your family during the lockdown.
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.

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 Saturday at 9am and on Sunday at 7.35am. 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 lockdown period being extended or could risk the virus being spread to thousands. We are moving into the school holidays as of Monday. If you need some support during that time you could email your child's teacher but rest assured they will be in touch with you before the end of the holidays regarding your child's programme for next term. The Ministry of Education is working hard in the background to support and enable schools to provide distance learning. This holiday break will enable time to put things in place. 

Ngā mihi
Mary Healey

Information and resources to support wellbeing and support learning at home

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