Distance Learning 2022

Island Bay School

This site is your 'one-stop-shop' for all information regarding Island Bay School's Distance Learning.

Message from the Principal

As we move into our second year in this continuing global pandemic of COVID-19, we want to assure our community that our kura is open. We’re being as safe in our practices as we possibly can. If you are reading this page you are likely self-isolating or have COVID-19.


As we learnt in our previous lockdowns, it is important that we navigate these strange times together. There is a huge benefit in being a collective.


Our plan here at Island Bay in the Omicron phase of COVID-19 means we are trying to make learning opportunities connected to our local curriculum and based on the experience of being in the home, only for short periods of time. The intention is to empower our local curriculum in a holistic way that fosters students’ love of learning. We want the children to look forward to each day and to have fun engaging in the range of experiences teachers are preparing for them.

As we have said in previous lockdowns our intention at Island Bay School is that we are not thinking this is business as usual for teaching and learning even though it is from home rather than school.

Please again consider the following points and how they work for you:

  • It is absolutely not possible to facilitate distance learning with a primary aged child and work from home at the same time. If you’re trying to do that, please stop now. You can certainly have activities where your child learns, but your focus is your job and survival. Again, unprecedented. Please don't put this pressure on yourselves.

  • It is absolutely not possible to support your primary aged child with learning if you are sick.

  • It is also important to remember that if your child is sick they also need to rest and learning from home is not important.


Our distance learning alongside teachers should support the children in learning at this time. Please use the coaching sessions with teachers to support this. Please note there may be periods of time where teachers are unwell and this may result in no connection.


You are as parents/whānau, and always have been, your child’s primary educator. If you decide during this period that your child isn’t going to engage with anything sent to you and you decide you are going to spend the entire period playing in the dirt, baking, or watching TV, that is your choice. If you decide to only complete one Seesaw post per week and abandon all ‘Google Meet’ sessions. That is your right. There is nothing to stress or feel guilty about.


Rest assured, Island Bay School is again in uncharted territory alongside all schools in New Zealand. The school will endeavour to support you and your whānau with a distance learning plan that will endeavour to keep your children engaged, connected and ideally having FUN!


Deborah Fenton

Principal

Online Support

If you are having any technical difficulties, you are welcome to contact our Digital Technology Team:

Jacqui Innes – jacqui@islandbay.school.nz

Mel White – mel@islandbay.school.nz


If you need to contact a member of the Senior Leadership Team, please do not hesitate to send an email or set up an online conversation:

Caitlin van Ballekom (Deputy Principal) – caitlin@islandbay.school.nz

Jacqui Innes (Deputy Principal) – jacqui@islandbay.school.nz

Deborah Fenton (Principal) – principal@islandbay.school.nz

We are available to call you, if required.

Student Well-being

We need to put wellbeing and relationships front and centre – because we know that feeling emotionally and physically secure and connected gives tamariki the strongest foundation for being able to learn at home and online.

As we progress with our online distance learning during this school closure, we recognise and appreciate all the work that parents, students, and staff are doing to adapt to this new situation.

Every family will face challenges and have successes.

Remember that with patience, kindness and by taking care of ourselves and each other, we will get through this.

Creating a Healthy Home Learning Environment

  • A quiet and calm environment will help your child to feel safe, relaxed, and comfortable.

  • Natural day-light will improve the overall mood of the room and give your child a little extra energy.

  • Taking small breaks throughout the day is important, just as it is at school. When children take scheduled breaks from online learning, ensure that they stay hydrated, stretch, stand-up, take regular exercise and limit screen time.

  • Exercise routines, visits outside (keeping it local and at your discretion), social opportunities (online) with peers, and reading are all beneficial to the student during the online school day.

  • We ask children to learn in a shared space so that a parent or caregiver can check that they are on-task, safe and responsible online. If a shared space is not available, and the workspace is a desk in the bedroom, ensure that the door is kept open so that conversations can be monitored from time-to-time.

  • Ensure that devices are charged in a central area of the house. Keep bedrooms device-free so that children have a good night’s sleep and do not spend too much time on screens.

Time Inside

It is important to be aware of you and your child's emotions and energy levels. Some may be experiencing feelings of anxiety, confinement, and/or isolation, resulting in higher stress levels, low energy, difficulty concentrating, etc.

These feelings are not uncommon, and it is important to recognise how they might be affecting our thoughts and behaviours.

However, there are measures that you can take to deal with these issues:

  • Keep exercising. Find exercises that fit your space. Take time to research ways to exercise inside.

  • Try to get outside, if possible. Keeping in mind washing your hands and avoiding groups of people. Try to find time to get fresh air and natural light.

  • Keep up daily routines if possible. Children find security in routine.

  • Monitor your screen time. Too much screen time will not counteract (and could contribute to) higher stress levels, low energy, or difficulty concentrating. Healthier indoor activities for you and your family may be reading, playing board games, trying out a new hobby, solving a puzzle, drawing or colouring, journalling (writing down how you are feeling generates self-understanding), etc. Our 'Switch It Off Challenges' should help with this.

  • Take time for self-care. Sometimes family members may need a healthy time-out from one another. Allow each other to have those moments to refresh.

  • Find healthy avenues to socialise - Facetime, phone calls, Google hangouts etc. Try to understand and help one another during this period.

Teachers' Video Message





Here is a fun video message to make you smile. Sent from the Island Bay School teachers to the children and families of our school community during Level 4 Lockdown in 2020.

We miss you, stay safe!

Here is a fun video message to make you smile. Level 4 Lockdown 2021.

We miss you, stay safe!