Covid Response
Recently, our Covid Response Plan was sent out on Skool Loop detailing our response in certain scenarios. We are currently at Stage 2 of that plan which is known as ‘Hybrid Learning’. All classes have online programmes and resources that students are able to complete from home, unless they are actually afflicted with or recovering from the virus. We have to accept that this is most likely going to be something we have to adapt to, the Ministry of Education is funding 25 hours of Professional Learning to all schools to go towards utilising online resources to assist with learning from home. This indicates that we are expecting regular learning disruptions for some time yet. We are concerned that unless we adapt quickly, achievement levels could drop which is understandable however, not something we should be prepared to accept. Online learning has been around for several years, some institutes around the world only do online classes and as resources are designed and tweaked are a very good alternative. Many curriculum areas are ‘Gamified’ turning learning into interactive games that are of high interest as one example. There is no one-size approach to learning, there still needs to be reading, writing, thinking and of course, a degree of peer interaction. We do have a range of resources at our disposal, please see your child’s teacher if you like to know more or are unsure how to access our online learning programmes. Please let us know if your child or family member tests positive at any stage, it can be confusing in terms of when can you return after isolating, please check the Covid-19 Website for further information or call Healthline if unsure. We now have Rapid Antigen Tests at school, if you need any please contact the office and we will get them to you.
Welcome!
I would like to welcome Skylah, Twan and Ghia to our school, it’s awesome to have you and your whanau with us! Our school roll is currently at 50 pupils.
Happy Birthday
Big Happy Birthdays to these students:
MJ, Heidi, Jackson, Harlow, Athena and Skye.
Enviroschools
On Wednesday 13th of April we are having our Enviroschools Cleanup, this will be from 1.30 to 2.55 to prepare for Winter. Among the students regular enviro-groups are a few jobs that we would love to deal to including splitting the wood from the gum tree, mulching branches from pruning, pruning trees in the car park behind Room 2, waterblasting to name a few. We would love to have as many people join us as possible, if someone has access to a splitter and mulcher and able to operate these for us, that would be magnificent.
We are in the process of advertising for our new principal, during term 2, Miss Lagah will be stepping into the role and we will be hiring staff to work in Room 1 and 3 one day per week to allow her to get things done. We will keep you informed along the way.
Reading Challenge
Our Reading Challenge is humming along, students have really hooked in and this has given everyone the opportunity to get stuck into books, we are dicovering new authors all the time and it is very clear the students at Pirinoa School love reading! In May, our school will be taking part in Book Town events, each student will be given $15 worth of vouchers to spend, a bus will be running on festival weekend 6-8 May to take families in. This will be Free of Charge on the day. More information coming soon!