Quick read: Term 2 starts Wed 15 April with lockdown rules - stay at home Check our website for news, learning and wellbeing including a timetable Tell mentor teachers if you need any help Do the best you can which will look different for everyone and that’s OK - be kind to yourself and others

Kia ora koutou

I hope you’ve all enjoyed the weather and our area, which is a great place to be during lockdown. I know that for some in our community life has been very stressful, with loss of income and difficult home life, and my thoughts are with you.

Next Wednesday, 15 April, we start term 2 under COVID-19 alert level 4 i.e. total lockdown. We’re using the phrase “teaching and learning at home” because not everyone will be online. The date we get back to school is unknown at the moment.

I’m very proud of the work done by all of our staff over these holidays, to be ready for Wed 15th. Please bear in mind that our staff also have families and home challenges, and although we’re very well placed for this move due to our Toki Pounamu connections, working entirely from home is new to us...so please be kind to our staff!

The Ministry of Education is doing a great job with support for us, students and parents:

• New TV channel Home Learning TV | Papa Kāinga TV, on TVNZ, which will run from 9am to 3pm on school days on TVNZ 2+1 and Sky channel 502. Some lessons will also be available on TVNZ On Demand

• More online resources available through the Learning from Home and Ki te Ao Mārama websites

• Paper resources for families who can’t access online learning

• Changing NCEA systems to support students

• Commitment to getting access to the internet for families who want it but don’t have it.

Our new website is still www.greyhigh.school.nz but it will soon look very different to make your access easier. It has 3 sections: news and contacts, Akoranga - Learning Hub, Hauora - Wellbeing Hub. The learning page links everything we’re doing by classes and has a timetable which will be updated again on before Wed morning. Every student and parent needs to use this site.

Our mentor teachers will be calling homes and checking on your access to learning. We want to know if we can help, for example with learning support, getting Chromebooks to homes that don’t yet have one or getting telcos to reconnect houses; or whether you need paper resources. We cannot yet get into school to supply new devices or do repairs but we hope to be able to soon. Please just be as open as you can and we’ll do all that we can to help. Teachers can also be emailed directly and will do their best to respond within 24 hours.

Despite the huge effort from our staff, we know that many of you will be struggling to get learning going at home and we won’t be upset if you can’t do all that we offer you. Please do what works for you, ask for help, be kind to us and most importantly be kind to yourselves.

Noho ora mai

Andy England, Principal