We have had a lot of information to deal with since 17 August so today's newsletter is very brief with a few links to explore.

I hope everyone is safe and happy in their slightly larger Level 3 bubble. If we all keep doing the right thing we will be back to Level 2 and then Level 1 as soon as possible.

Level 3 school started on Wednesday this week. We are providing bubbles to accommodate children whose parents are essential workers or are required to start work and cannot arrange childcare. If your circumstances change in that regard please email me paul.kingston@pps.school

For those families who are continuing to Learn at Home - thank you for all that you are doing.  I have seen some really fun and interesting things on Seesaw.  Many of the activities are being posted onto our website so you can see what other children and classes are doing. We have also added a Learning at Home page on our website.

This extract is from a blog shared last year but is still very relevant.

“How am I supposed to be my kids’ teacher?”
So here’s the answer you are so desperately seeking – it’s all good, you’re not. At least you’re not expected to be a ‘teacher’ in the sense of the profession. You have always been your child’s teacher in life though and that’s the lifelong gig you signed up for. 
Despite the fact that our tamariki are now engaging in school work from home, your job is unchanged. You’re still their life coach, cheerleader and chief snack engineer. Put simply, you’ve got this learning at home lark in the bag, you’ve been holding this down since ages ago!

As with the last Lockdown our advice was to prioritise wellbeing - your child's and your own, rather than feel you have to do a lot of 'formal teaching and learning'.  When the (happy) children get back to school they will be ready, willing and able to reconnect with the curriculum and continue their school learning.

Keep up the good work.

Kia kaha te menemene - keep smiling

Paul