Hero photograph
 

A message from the Principal

Burnside High School —

To Students, Staff, and Whānau


Tēnā koutou katoa

Kia kaha, kia mau, kia haere tonu: Stay strong, hold fast, keep on course.

This afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that all New Zealand stays at Alert Level 4 until midnight on Tuesday 31 August, when everyone south of Auckland and Northland will move to Alert Level 3. The cabinet will review these alert level settings on Monday, 6 September. Ms Ardern said “Lockdown is making a difference, but caution is required in moving down alert levels”. What has been decided today gives the government time to monitor the number of COVID cases; to see the levelling off, then a decrease in the number of new cases that will give them the confidence required to move down the alert levels.

Although we may have slightly fewer restrictions at Alert Level 3, the overriding principle is stay at home and limit our number of contacts as much as possible. We are doing well, stick at it! Our thoughts are with our colleagues and peers at the many Auckland schools with positive cases, who are to remain at Alert Level 4 for a longer period than the rest of the country. At last count, 12 Auckland schools have positive cases identified, with all staff and students considered close contacts.

Today’s announcement means that we will be in Alert Level 3 on Wednesday 1 September until at least Monday 6 September. Therefore, remote online learning continues. Alert Level 3 for Schools is very restricted. It allows only those students in Years 9 and 10 onsite whose whānau are essential workers unable to make alternative childcare arrangements. The students continue to learn remotely, supervised by teachers who are rostered on throughout the day. Therefore, Burnside High School is still closed to all students except those children of essential workers who have special exemptions. The aim is to restrict the students and staff to an absolute minimum. Health and safety protocols will be in place, including scanning, logging details, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) where required. More details will follow on Monday after we receive guidance from the Ministry of Education.

Remote Online Learning

The key message for students and whānau is the need to connect with the school every day. As always, we will keep you informed through messages and announcements on the BHS website and Facebook page, via Schoology, and emails. Please check these regularly. Thank you to our students who have engaged already, and to whānau for your ongoing support and encouragement in this.

We are acutely aware that remote learning brings challenges; and that every family’s situation is different. We encourage you to have realistic expectations of yourselves and each other. We ask that you have realistic expectations of us too. We have high-quality, committed teachers with good systems in place. They will provide learning via Schoology and email; but they, and you, know that not everything will go smoothly all of the time. There will be frustrations and tensions, so we ask that, as always, you are patient, calm and respectful. Our school value of Manaakitanga – being respectful to everyone is never more important than in uncertain times.

Relying on technology brings challenges. Please contact your Dean if you need help or support with a device and/or an internet connection.

We now have the weekend to readjust our thinking. I encourage you to find ways to have fun and keep feeling positive. For me, my daily walks with my wife Sue means I have restarted my step counter. The Red Zone nearby has become our second home; and we reacquaint ourselves with the wonderful aspects of our local area which we usually don’t take advantage of!

I finish with a poem by Mikaere Greenslade, Head of Counselling at Burnside High School:

So there

happy doesn’t make us

happy

more soft comfort

than joy

protected from the gifts of

ache and loss

you have to walk

miles

to get callouses that

do their job

no couch can give

you that

Have a good weekend.

Ngā mihi nui

Phil Holstein