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Welcome to Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
My name is Helena and I will be your Kaimanaaki (Learning Advisor.)
What is Te Kura? We are an online distance education provider (State School) where supervisors and students work together, at home, to complete assigned school work.
How do we learn at home? Te Kura is the school, but your home is the classroom. The supervisor is the "teacher on the ground" and works through each lesson with their student at home. The Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that their student attends school each day and completes work in a timely manner. The Supervisor also constructs the weekly school timetable, remains in the room when the student is attending any online classes, and checks and confirms each assignment is complete and accurate before it is submitted for feedback. The Supervisor also emails the Learning Advisor if the student is sick and cannot attend school for the day (just as parents would in a face-to- face-school).
How many hours do we need to study each week? All children under the age of 16 are legally required to attend school full-time. Te Kura is a state school with the same attendance requirements as a face-to-face school. This means a minimum of four-hours of supervised study each day (this does not include morning tea and lunchtimes).
What does my Learning Advisor do? I oversee your Programme of Learning, and assign and provide feedback on the assignments students complete with their Supervisor's guidance and support. You will have some classes to attend each week. This is a great opportunity to make friends with other students. You will usually have set homework to complete before the next week's classes. We also have short homeroom meets and roll-call at the beginning of most school days (usually starting around 9-9:30 am), just as you would in a face-to-face school. This is your chance to plan your work for the day and ask questions. You can stay after class has finished for some extra help with your school work. For internet safety reasons, supervisors must also be present when we meet online. However, the majority of your school work will be completed at home with the help of your Supervisor.
My Kaimanaaki (Learning Advisor)
Kia ora,
My name is Helena. I have been teaching for over 30 years. I have taught in preschools, primary schools, high schools and even university.
I am based in Christchurch and my ākonga (students) live in Canterbury, Otago and the West Coast. My ākonga range in age from 5 to 21 years.
I live at home with my 19- year-old son, a very large rescue dog and a cat that chose us as her family after being abandoned in the Christchurch Earthquakes. I love my garden and try to grow as many vegetables as I can (even though it is a very small space).
My student contact hours are 9 - 3 Monday to Friday, in term time.
I look forward to working with you.
Ngā mihi,
Helena
Please use ONLY your Te Kura school email address for all correspondence. Supervisors should check and read all emails and Google Classroom notifcations with their student each day.
Getting Started
Before you can begin your school work, you need to learn how to navigate our system. Supervisors must complete this learning with their student. There are a series of videos and readings that must be completed before beginning work. This should take about 3 days.
Log onto your home page using your student ID number as both your username and password.
Click on the "sandpit" (picture that says "The Hub", (see the picture on the left).
3. When you click on "The Hub", it will open to a new page.
4. Click on the red rectangle "Getting started at Te Kura". Watch the videos, read the information and follow the instructions. Download Google Chrome if you don't have this browser already.
5. Once you have completed that section work through the other sections: Set up, My Courses, Submitting work, Receiving Feedback and Online Safety. Do NOT begin any work as you will have an placement module to complete first. Please skip Virtual Classroom as we are using Google Classroom and we will have a separate session on this.
More Information
Please click on these hyperlinks. They will provide more useful information.
What next?
Now that you have taken 3 days and worked your way through the modules in The Hub and have read the information provided in the hyperlinks, please email me. I will provide information on how to complete your next steps in the onboarding process.
Joining the Library
My Korowai - (Completing personal information about you, that will help inform your learning programme and a Well-Being survey).
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact me:
Helena Ballard
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
Year 1-10 and Learning Support Kaimanaaki
Aoraki - Southern Region
Private Bag 4965
Christchurch 8140
helena.ballard@tekura.school.nz
Please use ONLY your Te Kura school email address for all correspondence. Supervisors should check and read all emails and Google Classroom notifications with their student each day.
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