Friday 17 April – Update

Friday 17 April

Silverdale School

Like you, following the government announcements over the last 24 hours, we are eagerly awaiting more guidance and direction about what Alert Level Three will look like for our school. The Prime Minister was very clear in her message – “If you can keep your children at home do so”. Schools will be a place for children whose parents/caregivers cannot work from home.

There is a lot of uncertainty amongst the community at the moment and there appears to be inconsistency around what is expected of business to start again and what may be acceptable in our schools at Alert Level 3. Clear guidelines from the MoE will ease this uncertainty. Education bodies have met with the Ministry of Education today and there will be further meetings at regional level early next week. Our hope from these meetings we will be given a clearer framework as to what the next steps will be.

In normal times, likening a teacher to a ‘babysitter’ and schools to ‘care facilities’ is a red rag to a bull for those in education. As you are all aware we are not in normal times, we are in a global pandemic. We all have a part to play in the recovery of our country.

We do not have control over the definitions of Level 3 but currently the safest place for our students is still in their bubbles with their families. 

It is vitally important that our community continue to support our school so that we can serve those families working in essential service roles, who have no choice but to send their child to school or cannot work from home. 

There is no doubt our school will look very different. Rest assured our approach to learning will be consistent whether children are at home, or at school. 

Children at school will not be getting any more learning than those at home.

We need your support, as we face another form of schooling, but one that none of us have ever experienced until now. The best approach is for parents and caregivers to keep children learning at home, if you are able to do so.

Our school has shown that we can change our approach to learning.

I will be sending out a short form for you to fill in next week about whether or not you will be sending your child to school. 

Please complete this form as this will help me prepare for what school will look like for those children at school.

The short form, will include the following:

•       Your child’s Full Name.
•       Your child’s Room.
•       Your contact phone number.
•       You will be asked to select from the following:

o   My child is able to stay at home and continue online learning.

o   My child must attend school to continue their online learning.

For safety reasons, we require this information for children who will be attending school, so we can prepare the school for these children.

We have a busy few days ahead in preparing for whatever the eventual outcome may be for Alert Level 3. We are fortunate to have highly capable teachers, support staff and leaders to help us prepare for the next stage in our response to the Alert Level 3 Guidelines.

Please contact me cameronlockie@silverdaleprimary.school.nz if you have any questions.