Kia ora whānau,

This is a further update around our ‘Learning at Home’ plan as we head towards the start of Term 2.

The plan is the same as it was when we entered lockdown;

• Staff maintaining connections with their students
• Staff sharing what they are up to, and encouraging children to do the same
• Staff sharing some learning activities across the week.

The plan is summarised in the above image and the rest of this notice explains in further detail;

How should I engage my child?

The COVID-19 pandemic will have impacted each Douglas Park School family differently. The level in which you will be able to engage in your child’s learning from home will differ depending on your own unique situation. We know that many of you will be cooped up caring for preschoolers, some working from home and trying to juggle the household, some will be essential workers at the front line coming home tired, and others work situations may have changed altogether creating uncertainty. We want to reassure you that it is up to you and your family situation how much your child engages in the learning. For some an hour a day would be success, for others it could be more, or it could be less. Trust your judgement here, you will make the best decision for your family.

What will the learning look like?

The emotional needs of your child comes first. If your child is feeling worried, we trust you will make the right decision for your family. If you would benefit from cuddling up with a book as a family, walking the dog, or enjoying a movie together at home, we would encourage you to do so - family comes first. I’ve said it before, and will state it again… we are not trying to replicate school at home. This is not homeschooling, this isn’t teachers broadcasting live to student devices… this is ‘Learning at Home’. Learning will come from across the curriculum and is based on our DPS Curriculum Framework, the 3 circles.

The DPS Kid

Involve your child in thinking about what each day might look like, what they might choose to work on and when. Make sure you build in time for each part of our Curriculum (3 circles), as well as things like time to be active, time to play, time to do ‘not much’, and time to contribute to the running of the house (chores). This will be different for each of you. Some may need a schedule, some may need to have the schedule ripped up, some can handle long periods of work, some will not. You know your child best.

Relationships

We are big believers in the power of relationships… the better the relationships, the better the learning. This is still very important now, but it just looks a bit different for teachers. Across the school week teachers will be reaching out to maintain their relationship with the students, and with you. This could happen in several ways… a call, a txt, an email, a message through Seesaw or Google. For you though, this is also a very important time as a family. Your rhythms, routines are important, as is involving the children in these. Time as a family is learning, sitting down for a meal or doing some chores… that is learning as well.

Core Beliefs (Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Learner Agency)

These are 4 big drivers of learning for Douglas Park, and many of the things that children naturally do in ‘play’ help foster them. Giving your child the chance each day to be a kid, to play, make or create is important. Building with LEGO, playing with toys, drawing on paper, using some recycling to ‘make’ a creation, playing a board game/screen based game, doing some baking or just simply giving them time (let them get a bit bored, and see their creativity come out).

Teaching + Learning

Each teaching team across the week will send out via Seesaw or Google some learning activities for children to work on. You can do as much (or as little) as suits you. We are in no way trying to fill up the normal length of a school day, the aim of the activities is to keep children engaged in their learning… not to introduce new ideas or concepts.

We sent out some hard copy learning activities prior to lockdown, and digital versions of these are still available on our Facebook page. Additionally some of the Ministry learning packs are being sent to members of our community. At this stage I cannot confirm when this might happen. As well as what we are providing, the Ministry of Education has set up two TV channels that will broadcast educational content across the school day, one channel in English and one in Te Reo Māori. While we have not seen the content of the channel, I trust that the Ministry will be providing what they think is a useful service for whānau… it will be worth checking out. They have also created a website, and collated some useful activities/programs that you might want to have a look at: https://learningfromhome.govt.nz/

A balance between all of the above is vital… learning is far richer than just literacy and numeracy. Playing, being active, connecting with teachers + peers, and being a family… these should be the bigger part of your child's day.

When will teachers be available?

Teachers will not be available all day! Teachers will be available to support learning at home each usual school day, although they will not be online & interacting this whole time. This is the time that teachers will be posting activities via Seesaw/Google Classroom and responding to student work. There won’t be ‘instant’ responses, this is new for us as a school and many staff are also juggling being full time parents with their work (as you are). You know us though, if you reach out we will respond.

Where to next?

We will be seeking your feedback throughout this learning at home period. DPS is a place of real learning, and as always, we will be looking for ways to improve. Keep an eye out for surveys.

The Minister of Education has given a possible timeframe for returning to school, although this depends on many factors and he has been clear that not all schools will open at the same time, and possibly not to all students at once. The government are announcing ‘what next’ on the 20th April, and the Ministry of Education are involved in their planning. We will keep you informed via our school Facebook page.

Stay safe, be kind and wash those hands

Gareth Sinton