Learning and NCEA in the Bubble

Mrs B. Davidson, Deputy Principal —

It is wonderful to be getting out of Alert Level 4 and moving towards being back learning at school again.

We will have a limited number of Year 9 and 10 students back at school next week and we are grateful to the teachers who are coming in to supervise these students as well as simultaneously teaching their own classes online! Seeing at least some students and teachers back at school will be heartening I am sure.

Meanwhile it has been an intense time for Year 11 to 13s as this week correlates with what would have been the last week of Term One in terms of learning weeks. It is normal for students to feel a sense of being overwhelmed at this time and it is important to acknowledge the change in learning style and the big step up in independent study that they have undertaken in the past four weeks. It is also important to acknowledge their own heightened emotional state at this time and the patience that is required to undergo four weeks in a state of lock-down.

All students should be reassured that they are doing very well! We are super-impressed with the attendance at Zoom classes and the progress on assessments and assignments. Don’t give up now! We are progressing through the alert levels and there is light at the end of the tunnel! The academic prefects have given excellent study tips and advice in their Instagram posts so do encourage all students to look at these and the other posts.

Sunshine, eating well, exercise and drinking plenty of water are great antidotes to stress and help us to balance feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. Take one week at a time, take control of your calendar and diary, do what you can, when you can.

If you have any concerns at all, please contact mentors, Heads of House, whanau teachers, Maori or Pasifika Deans, Senior Leadership Team, Heads of Department, Careers Department, Counsellor or Learning Support Coordinator, depending upon your need. The school office (admin@otagogirls.school.nz) or school website (www.otagogirls.school.nz/contact) can direct you to the appropriate person. All of these people are working virtually and are here to support the girls’ learning. Ms Seward is also available to provide Literacy support.

Normal reporting and parent interview cycles will resume on return of all students and teachers to school. We look forward to this next stage in the virtual/ real-life learning of the school and express our thanks to you as parents and whanau supporting your young person’s learning journey.