COVID-19 UPDATES

Auckland continues to be at Level 4 until at least next Tuesday 14 September. The school grounds are closed at Level 4. 

Learning At Home

For staff, children and whanau it doesn’t get easier.  Learning at home is difficult for everyone.  Everyday is hard and so we need to keep looking at ways of keeping us all happy and content.  Well being is the most important thing during this time.

• Stick to a routine.  Getting up at the same time each day, lunch, bedtime, time to do something versus play time.
• It is okay to only do a few things and then reward them with something your children like to do.  When you complete…. Then….  Sticker chart, computer time, play fight time etc.
• There are no expectations of how much a child does at home.  Nathan Wallis has got some great short videos around this.
• Learning can look different at this time.  Learn to bake, learn to grow vegetables, learn to play a game with your family, draw a picture, learn to do a handstand, juggle, backflip on the trampoline, fold the washing are all just as important as learning times tables, spelling etc
• Learning from the tv is okay if it creates peace in the house. Click here to watch Home Learning tv channel.

Most students are able to learn independently using a device.  Children are tech savvy and pick things up easily.  With this in mind…

1. Be a positive role model and be aware that children like to imitate your behaviour
2. Talk to your child about potential risks online
3. Spend time online with your children.  Take an interest in what they are doing. See where they surf, understand their interests, find out who they are communicating with.  Supervise uploading and/or commenting
4. Create rules around using devices at home and away from home  (set consequences if the rules are broken)
5. Set time limits for how much time they spend online
6. Keep the device in a central location such as the family room or kitchen (not the bedroom)
7. Make it clear that together you will randomly check their communications, blogs etc. to help ensure they are safe
8. Check the device for security settings, safe searching etc.  Most social media sites are designed for 13 years and older eg. facebook,  youtube, snapchat etc  
9. Do not give out your passwords to change privacy settings or to buy apps
10. Teach children online safety, communication skills.  Treat the cyber world the same way as we would the real world (face to face).

• N4L  free safety filter for all learning from home  – Recommended by Ministry of Education 
• Vodafone parental control 
• Norton Family Filtering