by Moira Blair
27th March COVID-19 Coronavirus update
Moira Blair — March 27, 2020
We hope that you have started to settle in to the new normal that lockdown means for your family. We appreciate that this will look different for individual families and perhaps even on different days. Some days your child may be bouncing out of bed keen for learning, some days they may be slower to start or keen on games and family time. This new phase of New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 is very different than anything most of us have ever experienced. I wanted to reassure you that our school staff and Board of Trustees will continue to be available to support your child’s learning and wellbeing in the next weeks.
You will understand the importance of routine for your family. If your routine has been shaken up, like you’re now working from home, it’s good to structure your time. Routines are reassuring and promote health and physical wellbeing. The below timetable example (targeted at children) could be something your household adapts to use over the next weeks. A school holiday version will likely look a little different, but some form of routine will still be important as we go through the lockdown period. We recognise that school holidays will look and feel different than they have in the past due to the lockdown. To support families, we are going to post some fun ideas and challenges for you on our school facebook page if you are looking for inspiration for something to do. You will be able to post your responses / photos and see what others in our community are doing. Go to facebook and search for Three Kings School, or click on the link on our website.
Remember we start our school holidays from Monday 30th March until Tuesday 14th April. Term 2 starts on Wednesday 15th April – this will be distance learning.
Daily Schedule
Before 9:00am
Wake up
Eat breakfast, make your bed, get dressed, put any dirty clothes in the laundry
9:00-10:00am
Morning walk
Family walk with the dog, bike ride,
Yoga if it’s raining
10:00-11:00am
Learning at home
School-led learning or Sudoku, books, flash cards, study guide, journal etc
11:00-12:00pm
Creative time
Legos, magnatiles, drawing, crafting, play music, cook or bake etc.
12:00pm
Lunch :)
12:30pm
Helping at home
# wipe all kitchen tables and chairs
# wipe all door handles, light switches and desk tops
# wipe bathrooms
1:00-2:30pm
Quiet time
Reading, puzzles, nap, radio NZ stories
2:30-4:00pm
Learning at home
School-led learning or iPad games, Educational show
4:00-5:00pm
Afternoon fresh air
Bikes, walk the dog, play outside
5:00-6:00pm
Dinner :)
6:00-8:00pm
Free TV time
Kids shower time
8:00pm
Bedtime
All kids
9:00pm
Bedtime
All kids who follow the daily schedule & don’t fight
*Adapted from a resource developed by Jessica McHale Photography
The Ministry are working hard on identifying families that need a device and/or internet access to be able to access online learning. This information will come through the schools so please keep an eye out for our questionnaire on this. Some good news to support you either working at home and/or studying at home - Spark, Vodafone, Vocus/Slingshot, 2Degrees and Trustpower have all advised they have removed their data caps and the possibility of any extra charges based on usage.
For our Pacific families, if you are not aware the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ has been working to ensure useful information is available to Pacific peoples. A one-hour special will be aired on Tagata Pasifika’s segment on Saturday at 9am; and on Sunday at 7.35am, Tagata Pasifika will share messages from community leaders. The Ministry is asking you to reach out to all your family members, community groups, friends and group chats to ensure our Pacific community groups are watching the programming on both days.
A big thank you to all of you for taking the lockdown so seriously. As the Prime Minister has noted staying at home will break the chain and save lives; breaking the rules could risk someone close to you and if the rules are not complied with, this could risk the lock down period being extended or could risk the virus being spread to thousands
If you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding our continued learning feel free to email your teacher, the team email (e.g. rata@threekings.school.nz) or myself principal@threekings.school.nz. We continue to develop this and will be doing so through the school holidays.
There are links below to more wellbeing information to support your family during the lockdown.
Information and resources to support wellbeing and support learning at home
The Ministry of Education has developed a resource for parents, caregivers, whānau and family - http://education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/pastoral-care-and-wellbeing/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-coronavirus/.
The Ministry of Health’s website includes Top ways to look after your mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdown.
I AM HOPE is the youth and community focused support group run by The Key to Life Charitable Trust, started by Mike King - https://www.iamhope.org.nz/
Nathan Wallis has some helpful videos on his Facebook page for parents and whānau - https://www.facebook.com/nathanwallisxfactoreducation/ -
Tips on looking after mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 from the Mental Health foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/
A website by the Health Promotion Agency to help New Zealanders recognise and understand depression and anxiety - https://depression.org.nz/covid-19/
Although overseas-based this is a good list and highlights some things particularly important for children. Remember the rules of New Zealand’s level 4 lockdown still apply - 25 Mental Health Wellness Tips during Quarantine from Eileen M Feliciano, Psy.D.
