Monday the 25th - Friday the 29th May

Experts from the University of Auckland and consultants Cognition Education said the Christchurch earthquakes and Australian bushfires showed that teachers should resist the temptation to launch straight back into normal lessons after a major event.

"Racing back to catch up is about the worst thing that you can do. The research, the evidence, tells us that spending time there and then on children's wellbeing pays dividends much later and further down the track in terms of re-engaging children with learning." (Peter O'Connor, University of Auckland)

At Oaklands School we are utilising the resource Te Rito Toi which makes connections between the themes in a range of picture books with the arts. “The resources are based on years of experience by University of Auckland researchers who have worked in schools post-disaster. They are recommending teachers use an arts and wellbeing approach to engage children with the changed classroom environment,” says Professor O’Connor.