Now we are back at school our focus is on teaching, teaching, teaching, and more teaching. We are also aware of the impact that lockdown may have had on some of our children and are monitoring student wellbeing to make sure everyone is settled as quickly as possible.

Thinking about student wellbeing we are using the 3 'Rs' approach:

Relationships - reconnecting with our students will be the foundation for learning and building resilience. We will be rebuilding connections through simple actions such as personal greetings, asking how they are doing, lots of positive acknowledgment, and providing an environment with familiar 'things' so they can connect with friends over favorite activities and of course checking in throughout the day.

Routines - providing a routined and structured environment, one in which students feel safe and supported. An environment that is predictable and stable; no surprises.

Reassurance - talk to students in a developmentally appropriate way about what is happening. Taking the time to answer questions they may have.

We are loving having the children back but should you have any concerns about your childs return to school please do not hesitate to contact their teacher.

Home Learning Survey

Thank you to everyone that took part in the Home Learning survey.

Home Learning is so new for all of us which makes your opinion and feedback even more important. Your comments have been really insightful and will help us to be prepared should we go to Level 3 in the future.

What also came through the survey results was the community's overwhelming support of staff and the school. Your many kind words and acknowledgment of the effort that they have put into creating a high-quality Home Learning platform were very well received and have inspired us all that we are going in the right direction.

Welcome to the Team

On 11 September (a few weeks ahead of schedule!) we are looking forward to welcoming our new Deputy Principal, Scott Boniface, to the team. We are all looking forward to getting to know Scott and finding out about all the exciting learning he will bring to SBS:

Kia ora koutou

My name is Scott Boniface and I am originally from Taranaki. I graduated from Palmerston North Teachers College and completed my registration teaching Year 1 and 2 at Puketapu School in Bell Block.

I travelled to the UK where I taught in a variety of Inner London schools (Years 1-6), for ten years, before returning to New Zealand. I then taught at Belmont Intermediate in the capacity of a Y7 and Y8 teacher and team leader. Alongside this, I was also a Team Leader of the Specialist teaching team, teaching Materials Technology and Food Technology for 7 years.

I was fortunate to secure a fully paid NZ Teach study award in 2017 and subsequently completed a Post Grad Diploma in e-learning.

I then moved to Auckland Normal Intermediate School in the role as Y7 Dean.

I have three children, Olivia, 21, Emily, 19 and Matt, 17. I live with my partner Janie in Devonport with our Tibetan Terrier puppy, Indi. I love being part of our local community and enjoy the local area, also the odd bit of travelling and spending quality time with family and friends.

I am really excited to be taking up the role of Deputy Principal at Stanley Bay to ensure our young people develop into confident and capable learners and leaders. I believe in listening to our future generations and empowering them to be the voice in shaping their learning through leading by example. I love all sporting codes, especially basketball, and look forward to cheering on all of our Stanley Bay teams from the side lines.

I am sure to see you around the school, and if you happen to see me on crossing duty, please come and introduce yourselves. I am very much looking forward to being a visible part of our community.

Cheers

Scott

Last week we also welcomed Grace Chapman to the team. Grace has relieved at Stanley Bay for a while and is adored by the children! Grace will be team teaching this term in Room 1 and 2. In term 4 we will be opening our fourth new entrant class which Grace will be teaching in Room 3. We are delighted to have her as part of our team:

Hi family and friends of Stanley Bay School, my name is Grace Chapman. I am very excited to have joined the Stanley Bay School community. Having grown up and been educated in the local area, it is a pleasure to embrace this opportunity to work with such collaborative staff and students alike. I am the youngest of three children from a family that have resided in Devonport for a century. I studied at AUT where I completed my Bachelor of Education. For the last 6 years, I have taught at Belmont Primary and Vauxhall School. I enjoy playing tennis and have spent many years coaching on the peninsula as well as overseas at Camp America.

I am really looking forward to returning to the classroom full time and creating a fun and welcoming learning environment. My teaching strengths lie in the junior syndicate, as I am passionate about the early stages of learning, particularly literacy, numeracy, art and sport.

Classroom Modernisation Completion

Good news! During Level 3 the building work has continued at full speed, the end date for this project is 11 September. The school is looking bright and light and most importantly, the new spaces support our approach to teaching and learning.

On 4 September Room 4 will be moving into their new room and a week later on 11 September Room 2 will be back in their room. This also means that the library will be back in action.

We can't wait for you to be able to come to school and have a look at the end result!

Face Coverings

Many of you have been asking about face coverings at school. Based on a review of the evidence around COVID 19 in educational settings, and at the experience of other countries. Here is a summary of the statement from Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay:

"When reviewing the evidence for children and young people, we have considered the potential benefits of reducing the spread of the virus, and any potential harms or risks.

The purpose of wearing a face-covering wrapped around your nose and mouth is to prevent the spread of infection between people. With the other public health measures we have put in place in schools and early learning services, coupled with the reduced risk of transmission at Alert Level 2, we consider the risk of infection is low.

At Alert Level 2 schools and early learning services are reinforcing good hygiene practices, are undertaking regular cleaning, and staff, children and young people are staying away if they are sick. Where practicable, physical distancing is in place, particularly between adults.

Overall, we think it is important not to interfere with learning as much as possible, so it's about balancing up the benefits against the potential harms. Our experience in New Zealand and overseas with COVID-19 shows that it does not affect children and teens in the same way it does adults. Compared to other places, schools and early learning services are not environments where we have seen a significant spread of COVID-19. Household members and work colleagues who are in close contact with people with COVID-19 are the most common sources of transmission.

Children and teens don't become as unwell if they do get infected, and they don't tend to pass the virus on so much as adults in the classroom setting.

Based on what we know about face coverings and transmission in children, we are taking this balanced approach at this time. If new evidence emerges, this guidance will be revised.

In short, any children or staff at Stanley Bay School who wish to wear face coverings wrapped around the nose and mouth may do so if they want to.

Library Book Amnesty

Now that the classroom modernisation is coming to an end we will finally have our library back. So that we can get the library up and running effectively we are having an amnesty for the return of library books. There are many, many books outstanding...lost in bedrooms, school bags and under the bed no doubt!

Please can you have a hunt around the house and ask your child to return all library books to the box in the office...no questions asked!

We are looking forward to Level 1 and being able to once again welcome you all back into school.

He waka eke noa
We are all in this together

In this issue

COVID-19 information from the Ministry of Education