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24 April 202024 April 2020

Hei mihi ki to tatou rangatira Hei mihi ki to tatou rangatira - - --

A tribute to our leader

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Hello to allOn behalf of the PTA, I would like to take this opportunity to farewell Andy Wood, for his years of hard work and dedication to the students of James Hargest College.

I’m sure that the school feels like a second home for him, and he will have lasting memories of friendships with teachers, parents and students alike.

It is always hard to put into words the HUGE thanks we owe Andy, as the Senior Leader of hundreds of teachers over many years, not to mention the thousands of students and their parents, over two campuses.

That alone tells me a well earned rest is long overdue!!

We admire his contributions, and his friendly approachable manner. We wish Andy well in his next chapter. Given the current circumstances it is difficult for the PTA to have a more formal farewell, but please take away from this, our gratitude and thanks.

Stay safe and take care.

Monique Shirley

JHC PTA President

PTA Report

Monique ShirleyPresident

Principal’s Comment

Andy WoodPrincipal

It has been humbling leading such an outstanding team of educators and support workers for the past ten years. I have thoroughly enjoyed my return to Hargest, and want to express my deep appreciation for the confidence shown in me by the staff and school community over that time. There are many, many aspects of school life I shall miss - but above all, the camaraderie of a team working hard with a shared purpose, and the infinitely varied, energising, full-of-surprises company of the students.In this current situation of online delivery, I believe the staff and school community have “set to” with a will. We are learning fast as we go, we are listening to feedback, we are trying things out, we are failing sometimes and succeeding often. Such is the reality of any true learning journey. It is challenging for everyone - staff, students, and you, our parents. The next phase (Level 3) will be similarly testing. But with your support, Hargest will continue to provide what it needs to. Last month, I reported on the timely arrival of a gift originating from folk who helped Brigadier James Hargest make his dramatic escape from a POW camp, and invoked the spirit of his courage, determination, and loyalty. As we go into the season of Anzac Remembrance this weekend, it is entirely appropriate that I finish by focussing on a man who gave everything - including his life - for the safety, life and identity of his beloved country.

Kia oraWhen I made the decision to finish as principal from the end of term 1, I did so deliberately, believing it would be the best possible timing for such a significant leadership transition. Little did I know that Easter 2020 would see us weathering the most significant national crisis since WW 2, with major implications for the school - and here we are, changing principal right in the middle of it all! (This weekend in fact.)Mr Mike Newell, who will be introduced to you in the next newsletter, will make a fine principal of James Hargest College; I congratulate him on his appointment, wish him every success in the role, and commend him to you. I know you will support him warmly as you have supported me. We have been working closely together in recent weeks.

Cover Artwork by Logan Dennis - Head Boy 2020 This page: Poppy Artwork by Jeanette Chilton Smith - Associate Principal (Junior Campus)

Let us remember who our school is named after, and why.

At this time of national crisis, let us all who are associated with the name of James Hargest College, aspire to be worthy of his sacrifice. It is now our turn to step up for the country we love.

Ngā mihi nui, me kia waimarie ki te whānau whānui o te Kura o Hēmi Hākena!

Warm regards, and best wishes to everyone in the Hargest community.

Māku te ra e to ana; kei a koe te urunga ake o te ra.Let mine be the setting sun; yours is the dawning of a new day.

Andy WoodPrincipal

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Whanau Report

Mā te kōrero i te reo e ora ai. Mā te ora o te reo ka rangatira.Language lives through speaking. Chiefliness lives through language.

Ki ngā mate o te wā te karanga kia hoea i ō koutou waka ki te wāhi tapu o te kōroria. Ki ngā whānau pani i tēnei wā ka tuku aroha. Ā kāti! Ki te whānau whānui o Hēmi Hākena i raro i te maru o te iwi kainga tēnā tātou katoa. Let safety and kindness to each other keep us safe.Matua Rākau (Mr Wood) you have engendered patience and deliberateness which has allowed the James Hargest College community to thrive. Māori language and culture is no exception.

From the Māori Language Curriculum Document’s opening mihi comes this quote - ‘He nui ngā āhuatanga whakaako, arā, ngā waka kawe i te reo Māori, e rere ana ināia tonu nei’. Literally “Teaching takes on many forms, for example, those who have the language and speak it right now”. Mr Wood, under your leadership our Māori language and customs are secure. Gratitude for all you have done to embrace genuine ‘kiwi’ citizenship is only the beginning. E te rangatira nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. We will miss you very much.For any inquiries or queries please email ntane@jameshargest.school.nz.

Mauri ora!

Neitana (Nathan) Tane

Matua Neitana Tane

BELOW: The last whanau form time before lockdown

From the Boardroom

Chris O’ConnorBOT Chairperson

Tena koutouI remember when I was first thinking about joining the James Hargest board, eight years ago now, I asked someone who I knew could give me an honest answer – “How good is the principal?”

I was told “He is very good!”I had always believed that if you want to have a great school, having a good principal maybe wasn’t the only thing you needed, but it was probably what you would look for first.After eight years of working with Andy including the last four as Board chair, my thinking is still the same.It takes a special type of person to lead and manage a school like James Hargest College. When you think of all the stakeholders who have an interest in how the school performs: The Board, the Ministry, the staff, the parents, the wider community and especially the students – that is thousands of people who rely on the principal to perform to a high standard.Hargest has been fortunate to have had that high standard of performance from Andy.I have always thought that it would be very easy for Hargest to be “just another co-ed secondary school” – maybe what you would describe as “ordinary”.

Andy’s vision, leadership, critical thinking and high standards have enabled our school to continue to be “extraordinary”.I know that our Board of Trustees and myself personally, as the current Chairperson, extend our gratitude to Andy for his guidance and wisdom as our Principal. I can not remember a single issue where we have not been able to speak openly, discuss it rationally, balance all views and think our way through to a solution.That speaks volumes to me of the relationship we have had as a Board with our Principal.As with any retirement you always lose something but Andy leaves a legacy behind at Hargest for us all to build on.From myself and the current James Hargest Board of Trustees, we wish him all the best for his retirement.

Chris O’Connor BOT Chairperson

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For the past ten years Mr Wood has guided James Hargest College through increasingly challenging times and he has left us with a legacy of which he should be very proud.

Mr Wood undertook tertiary education at Otago University and teacher training at Christchurch Training College. He then began his teaching career at Cargill High School in 1978. After several years teaching Mr Wood and his wife, Jenni, took up the calling to work for two years with Volunteer Service Abroad in remote Kiribati.

Poroporoaki ki to matau rangatira rongonui Farewell to our illustrious leader

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ABOVE: Mr Wood in 1993

It is with pride and sadness that we farewell Mr Andrew Wood as Principal of James Hargest College.

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Returning to New Zealand, Mr Wood took up a teaching position at what was then known as James Hargest High School.

Originally he taught Mathematics and English, but in due course his responsibilities widened to include Teacher in Charge of the Library, Year Nine Dean and Co-ordinator of the Outdoor Education Programme.

Mr Wood has always demonstrated a love of the outdoors and believes in the opportunities it gives to young people.

Poroporoaki ki to matau rangatira rongonui Farewell to our illustrious leader

ABOVE: 4th Form Camp in 1994

In 1992 Mr Wood became Deputy Principal of James Hargest High School.

In this role he had responsibility for day relief, school buses, discipline and the day to day running of the school. It was in his role as Property Manager that he has left a very visible legacy.

The Hargest Centre, E and F Block upgrades, the foyer and administration area and, of course, the library, are notable physical reminders of Mr Wood’s ability to see major projects through to fruition. We continue to benefit from Mr Wood’s vision.

ABOVE LEFT: Mr Wood as Fagin in Oliver! 2014 ABOVE TOP RIGHT: Deputy Principal 1991 - 2003ABOVE RIGHT: Brigadoon 2003

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2010

‘I have felt both humbled and energised by the vitality, drive, commitment and idealism of so many here”

There have been many challenges during Mr Wood’s career, one of which is in the forefront of all our minds right now. In these challenging situations, Mr Wood is always calm and realistic, and his sense of humour does not desert him.

RIGHT: Mr Wood stands in the charred remains of the classroom block hit by arson January 2013.Photo credit: The Southland Times

ABOVE RIGHT: The Pirates of Penzance, 2010

Professional leadership has been a hallmark of Mr Wood’s career. He has a strong commitment to his own learning and in 2003 Mr Wood took study leave to complete his Masters in Educational Administration and Leadership.

The C Block fire in 2013, which coincidentally occurred on Mr Wood’s birthday, is an example of how he steered a negative event into something positive. We all value our state-of-the-art facilities in C Block.

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2014

‘It is the people, not buildings who make this school the wonderful place it is. It is the people who make memories, many of which last a lifetime.”

ABOVE LEFT: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 2011

ABOVE RIGHT: Mr Wood played the lead as Brig. James Hargest in the 2008 production

BELOW: A visit from former Prime Minister, The Right Honourable John Key

This was followed by eight years as Principal of Central Southland College.

In 2010 Mr Wood returned to Hargest as Principal of the now James Hargest College, a school of two campuses. It is testament to Mr Wood’s character that he embraced the opportunity to lead this model which is unique in New Zealand.

Other responsibilities have included oversight of the Murihiku Young Parents’ Learning Centre, the Invercargill Student Services Network and the Activities Centre.

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As a team builder, Mr Wood has worked effectively and tirelessly with a wide range of senior managers in diverse environments.

A commitment to every student is apparent in all that Mr Wood does. He has redefined what success means for our students. It is not only traditional academic achievement which interests him. Mr Wood recognises students’ success in every aspect of school and community life.

TOP RIGHT: Mr Wood puts a poppy on the grave of Brigadier James Hargest in Normandy, France, while on a Woolf Fisher Fellowship. Photo credit: The Southland ExpressMIDDLE: Mr Wood and Windsor North School principal Andrew Smith hold their Woolf Fisher fellowship awards.Photo credit: The Southland Times

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“We all remember the people who had an impact on our lives.”

ABOVE RIGHT: Southland Girls’ High School principal Yvonne Browning and Mr Wood promoting Southland to international students. Photo credit: Fairfax NZ

ABOVE LEFT: Farewelling former associate principal Nadia Rose. Photo credit: The Southland Times

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Ma mua ka kite a muri. Ma muri ka ora a mua.

Those who lead give sight to those who follow. Those who follow give life to those who lead.

BELOW: The plate was a gift from the couple in the French Resistance (WW 2) who risked their lives by sheltering Brigadier Hargest immediately after his successful breakout from his POW camp in Florence,and escaped into France.

He has encouraged and modelled the use of Te Reo and culturally responsive practice, and has consistently demonstrated inclusiveness.

Mr Wood has also been a strong supporter of the international programme and a key to its nationally acclaimed reputation.

Being recognised with a Woolf Fisher Award is testament to the high regard in which Mr Wood is held by community and educational leaders.

There is no doubt that James Hargest College has been led by an outstanding Principal for the past ten years.

To have a leader of such integrity, grit and passion has been of immense value to both staff and students.

Thank you Mr Wood for your legacy to James Hargest College.

BELOW: RocketLab’s founder and CEO Peter Beck, (right) an old boy of Hargest, on his visit back to his old school. Shown left with Mr Wood.2nd ROW LEFT: Welcoming international students 2nd ROW RIGHT: Photo credit: The Southland Times3rd ROW: Paddles Up

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Head Students’ Message

Mr Wood, our Principal, has been the head figure of James Hargest College, since 2010.

It’s hard to not immediately visualise the friendly face of Mr Wood whenever thinking about this school. To students he has always been our very enthusiastic Principal who wears awesome ties. Mr Wood took his role as principal further than he had to, and one of the main things we would like to acknowledge is his support of all students, no matter their motivation, ability or circumstance. He has a strong belief that all students need to be encouraged regardless of their abilities, and puts in great effort to ensure we are all treated equally. This is part of what makes our

school so amazing - that despite our diversity, we are all treated fairly and encouraged to the same extent.

Mr Wood has helped guide Hargest through many changes over recent years. Whether this is social change, especially in times like these, or changes in technology, he always strives to lead strongly, guiding and encouraging all of us to better ourselves.

“As a member of Hēmi Hākena’s kapa haka group, I know we always appreciate Mr Wood’s support. Mr Wood would always come to watch our performances at Polyfest at Stadium Southland and come backstage after our performances to share his words of wisdom. He would always say how beautiful our performance was.

He attended our whānau hui to hear updates on the kapa haka group, getting to know all the students and their families. We thought it was pretty cool to have the principal of the whole school support our kapa haka group,” - Ruby

PHOTO ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Head Girl: Katie Heads, Head Boy: Logan Dennis, Deputy Head Boy: Max Nally, Deputy Head Girl: Ruby Borland-FraserLEFT: Sketch by Logan Dennis - Head Boy 2020

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Students may not always have acknowledged Mr Wood’s hard work. However, we are thankful for how we are consistently respected in his decision making.

The change to increased use of technology throughout the whole school to assist learning, especially the BYOD program, has seen great success and Mr Wood’s ability to adapt as a leader has been essential. Over the years, parents and students alike have been able to trust his guidance and decisions with the comfort of knowing he will put us first.

Through the recent introduction of gender neutral uniforms and other developments, we can see that student voices are heard and actions are taken, which shows a strong relationship between students and school leadership. Knowing that our ideas matter and that we are able to have input is one of the many reasons that students admire Mr Wood, as we know he values our opinions.

Mr Wood has interests in all parts of school life, whether that be cultural, sporting or academic. We can see his passion for helping us succeed and, most importantly, ensuring we have fun. All the different extra curricular groups within school such as sports teams, choirs, production casts and especially Hēmi Hākena Kapa Haka truly value Mr Wood taking personal time to come and support them.

As the Principal, over the last seven years we’ve been at this school, Mr Wood has helped us grow and become ready for the world ahead. Nearly two thousand students are a lot of names to remember and a lot of kids to lead, yet he always puts in an effort to get to know us better and he forms a strong school community. His kindness and positivity will be missed by us all.

“You are a natural born leader. You are wise for your years and enjoy the simple things in life. You are happiest when those around you are happy and when life is harmonious. Sometimes you bear the weight of the world on your shoulders, but you genuinely want what is best for others and will make the sacrifices to achieve it. The world is a better place with you in it!” - Papa Smurf

LEFT: Mr Wood with the last kids standing (children of essential workers) at the Junior Campus on the last day before lockdown.

Mr Wood, we would like to personally thank you for all the guidance you give, not only through your words of wisdom, but also in your actions. From all of the James Hargest students, teachers and the wider community, past and present, we thank you for the immense contribution you have made to this school, and wish you well for your future.

Logan Dennis, Katie Heads, Max Nally and Ruby Borland-Fraser

Head Students 2020

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Farewell to our Exchange Students

We were very sad that they needed to return home due to the lockdown. In all cases they made an outstanding contribution to James Hargest College and were fantastic young people to travel overseas as ambassadors. We wish them all the best in their home countries and will be interested to learn of the pathway their country follows.On a happy note we are pleased to have Wilma Muller remaining in New Zealand and at James Hargest College.

RIGHT: Caroline Berg

from Denmark

Florenz Feistle from Germany

Lilly Juvan from Austria

Caroline Nielsen from Denmark

Yuina Nakano from Japan

Junior Campus News

Charlette Miller

Ava Wairau and Kaylin Windle

Caitlyn Crawford

Room 4’s Maths class have created videos to teach others what they have recently learned. Scan the QR codes below to watch three different strategies.

Room 1 at Omaui beach, which was one of the last camps held before lockdown!

Room 1 has shared some of the activities they are doing:

‘Take a photo of an interesting cloud formation and describe it.’

‘What is your favourite pet?’

Lego challenge

Baking

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Welcome New Staff

Praneeta RamsayThe Science department is delighted to have Mrs Praneeta Ramsay back with us, after having worked with us in 2018. Her considerable experience as a Biology teacher coupled with her wonderful classroom skills will benefit those learners immensely.

Term 2: Friday 3 July: End of Term 2

Term 3: Monday 20 July: Start of Term 3 Friday 25 September: End of Term 3

Term 4: Monday 12 October: Start of Term 4 Wednesday 9 December (TBC): End of Term 4

Term Dates for 2020

Science2020 Agriculture & Horticulture Classes

Radical Moves NecessaryWhen you read about the teacher shortage in NZ, we assure you it’s true! We have not been able to make any appointment to our vacancy teaching Ag/Hort classes this year, following Ms Carters’ shift to another school over the Christmas holidays. This is after extensive advertising both in NZ and overseas! As a result, we regret to advise:• Year 9 Ag/Hort will not be offered this

year. Students who wanted to choose this subject will be allocated their next choices based on their preferences when “Tasters” finish soon after normal school resumes.

• Year 10 Ag/Hort will not continue this year. Students in this class are in the process of being allocated to other Option subjects based on their preferences. These changes will take place when normal school resumes. We regret this very much. Please note that students will be able to resume studying Ag/Hort in Yr 11 next year if we can find a teacher.

• Mrs Brown’s Year 11 Ag/Hort will continue as normal.

Get set for winter and return to school with a puffer jacket.

Sorry we have run out of small size jackets and cannot get more. Our medium sizes are suitable for smaller kids and we would hope you get many years out of the product.

They are quality products at a give away price of $50. They have a zip out hood as an added bonus.

When school returns contact student admin staff to try one on!

We also offer merino scarves for $35.

Jackets

Winter Uniform UpdateBoth Campuses

A reminder about the correct wearing of James Hargest College uniform for the winter season.• Kilts or A-line skirt may be worn

throughout the year at both the Junior and Senior Campus. Skirts must be of a reasonable length, neither very short nor longer than mid-calf.

• Undergarment may be a plain white t-shirt, merino or polyprop worn under the uniform tops for extra warmth (should not be visible below blouse/shirt hems or sleeves).

• Blazers may be worn at both the Junior and Senior Campus.

• Scarves and beanies are optional but must be the school standard cardinal red with gold stripe.

• Black or other coloured scarves are not to be worn.

• Gloves may be black.• Any plain black weatherproof jacket

(not cotton) may be worn to and from school.

• Mrs Ramsay’s Year 11 Ag/Hort will transfer to Te Kura (the NZ Correspondence School) so will continue as a timetabled class, with supervising teachers, based on the course provided.

• Mrs Ramsay’s Yr 12/13 are already on Correspondence School work. They will continue this course in their timetabled periods, with supervising teachers.

• Mrs Patterson, a retired Ag/Hort staff member, taught all these classes for most of term 1, but is no longer available. Mrs Ramsay then took over, but she is no longer available in a few weeks’ time either, due to taking up another position at Hargest. We are grateful to both these teachers for their invaluable assistance.

• Finally, we have engaged the help of another retired Ag/Hort teacher in Invercargill to act as advisor for the Senior NCEA classes and their supervising teachers; he will be able to give us some excellent help for the remainder of this year.

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ALERT LEVEL 3 SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS (Expected to be at least the next 2 weeks)Please note that next Tuesday, 28 April, has been designated a national TEACHER ONLY DAY. There will be NO online teacher presence or contact that day. This will enable students who are feeling a bit overwhelmed, the time to catch up; staff time to prepare, plan and mark; and school leaders time to finalise arrangements at school for the supervision of students registered to attend.

We are now working hard to plan and prepare for Level 3. The underlying principle we are working on is as stated by the Prime Minister:

“We still want the vast majority of people working from home, and learning from home. We are asking parents that if they are able to keep their children at home, they do so.”

Any students attending school have to be pre-registered to enable each school “bubble” and associated staffing to be arranged in advance. If your circumstances change during the Level 3 period, and you require your children to begin attending school, please contact the Associate Principal of either Junior or Senior Campus directly:

Senior Campus — Mrs Jocelyn Auld jauld@jameshargest.school.nzJunior Campus — Mrs Jeanette Chilton Smith jcsmith@jameshargest.school.nz

From now to the end of Level 3 (expected to be at least 2 weeks), all teaching will be ONLINE ONLY, regardless of whether students are sent to school or not.• Students sent to school will be SUPERVISED ONLY IN THEIR

ONLINE LEARNING. i.e. They will not have “normal classes” of any kind.

• Students sent to school will be in a group of about 10, the same group all day and each day, in the same room, with the same small roster of staff.

• Breaks will be staggered and will be confined to the same bubble as far as practicable.

• There will be NO CANTEEN services available, nor any permission to visit local shops during the day. i.e. All students must bring their own lunch and snacks for the day.

• Students will need to be equipped with their own device, as they may not be in a room with desktops - and most of our school devices are now loaned out already.

• Students with permission to attend will be contacted and told which room to report to immediately upon arrival; they should use the school entrance closest to that room, and not “mix and mingle” with other students. Students are not to arrive until shortly before 9am, (not before 8.50am) otherwise we cannot maintain the requirement of limited and known contact.

• Normal rural bus routes will NOT be operating. There may be limited bus routes operating depending on the capacity of the Bus Company. This will be established after we give the bus company the names and addresses of bus students planning to attend, this weekend. Information will be passed on to you as soon as possible. (Note: Students from different schools cannot mix on the buses so the implications for bus runs are significant)

• Normal school uniform is to be worn by students attending school.

We understand that the provision of school supervision is being made in order to help the economy start to liven up, and we accept that we have an important part to play in this. Social distancing, which we are instructed to enforce, is of course a mind-boggling concept in the school setting! Also, the staff supervising at school will be doing so in addition to their online teaching duties with their own classes. For these reasons, we can only accept students whose parents cannot arrange supervision. (i.e. not students who simply want to come to school - as most will feel like, to see their friends!)

Thank you for your support!

Coming Events for 2020April Mon 27 ANZAC Day ObservedTues 28 New Principal Mike Newell starts Teacher Only Day - no online lessonsWed 29 First day of Alert Level 3 for schools (Only for students registered)MayThurs 14 BOT MeetingTues 19 PTA MeetingFri 29 Teacher Only Day

JuneMon 1 Labour Day

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Junior Campus6 Layard Street, Invercargill

Phone 03 2179250Email: juniorcampus@jameshargest.school.nz

Website: www.jameshargest.school.nz

Senior Campus288 Layard Street, Invercargill

Phone 03 2176129Email: office@jameshargest.school.nzWebsite: www.jameshargest.school.nz

E-mail NewslettersThe next newsletter will be issued via

email on Friday 5 June 2020.Hard copies of the newsletter will be

available from either the Junior or Senior Campus office.

You can view the newsletter on the Hargest web site www.jameshargest.school.nz

Information Updates

If you have any changes to your details (e.g. address, phone numbers, medical

details, emergency contacts, etc), please let the school know as soon as possible in

order to keep our records up-to-date.

Please email Mrs France (Senior Campus) with any changes at

office@jameshargest.school.nz

or phone 2176129

or Mrs Cribb (Junior Campus) atjuniorcampus@jameshargest.school.nz

or phone 2179250

Parent, Caregiver, Whanau and

Community EngagementAt James Hargest College we are

always interested in engaging with our community and listening to parents,

whanau and the wider community. If you have any good ideas or there is something

special that has happened regarding Hargest, or there are issues, concerns or

complaints we should be aware of, please contact the school office Senior

Campus (2176129) or Junior Campus (2179250) or via email,

office@jameshargest.school.nzYou will be put in contact with an

appropriate staff member

The next PTA meeting will be held in the Brigadier’s Room at the Senior Campus, scheduled to start at 7.30pm.Tuesday 19th May 2020 (hopefully) Tuesday 21st July 2020Tuesday 15th September 2020Tuesday 10th November 2020

PTA Meeting Dates

ONLINE LEARNING at James Hargest College IN PRACTICE How is James Hargest College working to make online learning as accessible and successful as possible?

1. We have issued over 120 school-owned devices to students for their use during Lockdown. This followed several different methods of trying to find out who needed help - including personal contact with families without email addresses! Our processes enabled many to get under way much faster than would have been achieved under the nationally organised rollout of devices. Please take good care of your devices, and ensure they are returned after lockdown.

2. We have put in place a randomised, sample-based system of getting feedback from both parents and students about how we are pitching our online delivery. Mrs Anna McDowall has been carrying this out and feeding the comments back to staff. Thank you to those who have responded! Remember, we are happy to hear feedback from anyone. Please contact her by email — amcdowall@jameshargest.school.nz. So far about half the feedback has been really positive and appreciative, whilst the other 50 % have told us we are, in some cases, expecting too much and delivering too intensively. The staff have been asked to carefully review their expectations.

3. Meanwhile, there are processes in place to follow up students who are not engaging with their teachers (i.e. “missing in online action!) There could be a variety of reasons for this, and we are not making any assumptions. We have a system for teachers to refer non-engagement to the Year Level Deans (Senior Campus), who are following up by trying to make contact with home to see whether there are things we

need to be aware of, whether there are connectivity/device issues, or whether students are in fact not engaging in school when their parents think they are!! On the Junior Campus, Homeroom Teachers are making the home contact.

4. Online learning is only possible, and successful, when students take a step up in terms of personal responsibility. Many teachers and students are experiencing excellent class sessions with teaching and learning moving forward! We are aware of some students who are not hooking in, for any one of many possible reasons.

5. The regular contact, visually, with both teachers and classmates is important to help our kids feel connected and hold on to some sense of the familiar and the normal. In any crisis, we know that holding onto familiar and normal routines is a vital part of our kids feeling secure and OK. Even more than the actual schoolwork being covered, this aspect of online learning is really important.

Online school is not nearly as effective as “normal” school. But it’s a long way better than nothing! So we want to thank you, mums and dads, for your hard work, patience, and the energy spent on top of your own day’s work, for your part in supporting your kids’ learning at home.

Thank you! Let’s make the most of the next 2 weeks online, and just all do the best we can!

Andy Wood and all the teaching team

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