Information

Rāroa Home Learning Model

LEARNING TAKES MANY FORMS

Netsafe

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COVID & Wellbeing

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Key Considerations

  • Wellbeing is top priority
  • Relationships are essential, linking all learning areas
  • Opportunities are not expectations
  • No circle is more important than the others
  • Nothing should be forced, or create unnecessary stress
  • Celebrate and share
  • Stay safe, stay calm, be kind

Home Learning FAQ

No  – All the tasks and work are provided as opportunities. Teachers will encourage interaction and will endeavour to personalise to meet your child’s needs. Communication is important. If you are unsure of a task or need more information it is important to make contact with your child’s teacher. The social and emotional wellbeing of students is essential.

Advice from Nathan Wallis

No – Having routines can support your child’s learning and may create helpful structures. However, we are aware that there are so many different circumstances and parents who are still working from home or as essential workers will personalise their approach to learning.

  • Advice from the Ministry of Health:
  • We cope better with stress when our lives have structure – routines keep us healthy.
  • When our usual routines are upset, it’s important to create new ones.
  • Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, eat regularly, shower, change your clothes, get some fresh air, book in video-chats with colleagues or friends, do your chores and make sure you make time for fun.

Teachers will be delivering information and tasks to students through platforms which the students are already familiar with. All students have email addresses, Seesaw accounts, Mathletics, and Google suite.

Teachers will work with you and adapt approaches to meet your needs. Often kids respond differently to teachers than to their parents. Due to the different relationships, teachers can sometimes provide greater structures if required.

If you find yourself in this situation please don’t hesitate to ask your child’s teacher for help.

Avoid confrontation and seek help the moment the learning is becoming stressful.

Wellbeing is the priority. Teachers are aware of this. It is important to ensure additional assigned work isn’t creating unnecessary stress. Teacher-assigned tasks are optional and not an expectation. Teachers will do their very best to motivate, engage and support learners. Teachers will also be encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning. (We know that this is easier said than done, for some) The key is not to panic or feel guilty about your role in your child’s learning.

No. – Answered above.

Your child’s teacher will be setting up Zoom meetings for students to connect and discuss their personal learning experiences and home learning opportunities. Face-to-face time helps to maintain social connections and supports wellbeing. Students will also be sharing on Seesaw.

No, this is an opportunity for students to apply key skills in a different context. Learning takes many forms. Although Rāroa offers an amazing education environment providing world-class learning opportunities, home-based learning also presents a fantastic opportunity for children to apply some of the things they have learned at school, e.g. planning and cooking a meal for the family. These achievements can be posted on Seesaw to be shared with their teacher and classmates!

No. Home learning will provide valuable learning opportunities, which will develop a range of essential skills. However, they will not be at a disadvantage if they haven’t completed assigned tasks.

No – See question 1 and Rāroa Learning Model.

Your home is already a learning environment. It is not necessary to turn it into a classroom. Learning opportunities happen anywhere every day. See Rāroa Learning Model.

Home-based learning provides an opportunity for all students to take responsibility for their learning and apply their skills and knowledge to different contexts or areas of interest. This is a perfect time to follow a passion project or investigate a particularly vexing question. Your child’s teacher can assist motivated learners to take these steps. Lynne Dunn, our GATE coordinator can be contacted with any questions about GATE opportunities at l.dunn@raroa.school.nz

Class teachers are aware of any challenges and strengths your child has and will make accommodations where needed.  In addition, Lynne Dunn will be making regular connections with these students via email and zoom to provide support. These students are advised to contact their teacher or Lynne anytime they have any questions.

Email your child’s teacher and let them know – Although we cannot reset passwords remotely our ICT support company can and we will make arrangements for a password reset.

Below are a number of contacts that may provide support

Covid & Wellbeing

  • The Depression Helpline (0800 111 757)
  • Healthline (0800 611 116)
  • Lifeline (0800 543 354)
  • Samaritans (0800 726 666)
  • Youthline (0800 376 633)

If a child’s distress is escalating or they are displaying any worrying behaviours (such as extreme withdrawal, or terror that you cannot comfort them from), seek help early.

Call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

No – See the Rāroa learning model – Learning takes many forms. Students will have different motivations, passions, and approaches to learning, as will parents. Students may check their email or complete a response to a seesaw activity which may only take a small amount of time. Activity may not need to be completed online.

It may be a good opportunity for students to learn about ‘taking turns’.

See the Rāroa Learning model. We encourage a healthy balance of activities.

Watch here.

Teachers are working in teams to deliver learning opportunities, a support network will ensure teachers are not put under unnecessary stress. Keeping it simple and manageable will be important. Rāroa has amazing teachers who will do everything they can to support their students. Please show appreciation, be kind and encourage students to interact positively. If the only piece of formal work your child does is to write their teacher a lovely letter about how they are getting on then that will make their day.

All the Design Production Education team members are in classroom teams. They will be providing support and assistance to the teachers, in order to provide valuable learning opportunities. If your child has a passion for a particular DPE area. Please make contact with the specialist teacher who can assist.

Art and Design – Bridget Baker     – b.baker@raroa.school.nz

Industrial Design – Chris Bailey       – c.bailey@raroa.school.nz

Food and Hospitality – Shona Dowman    – dowmans@raroa.school.nz

Performing Arts – Liz Fa’alogo   – faalogol@raroa.school.nz

Digital Design – Tom Boekhorst     – t.boekhorst@raroa.school.nz

Creative Media – Chris Johnston – c.johnston@raroa.school.nz 

Teachers will do their very best to provide a range of opportunities which provide scope for all students. There will also be activities which can be adapted e.g. Teachers can set additional tasks on Mathletics at a higher level or set more activities. There are also numerous websites that can provide additional activities on request.

Our wonderful librarians also have a range of opportunities that they can suggest.

Librarians

Clare Forrest c.forrest@raroa.school.nz  Marianne Dobiem.dobie@raroa.school.nz

All teachers will liaise and provide support as required. Your child’s teacher can be contacted via email like you usually would for any queries. If you have any further questions, team leaders can also support learning from home or answer questions.

Let your child’s teachers know and they can give you instructions on how to get set up.

Teachers will provide support and guidance and are available to communicate what students have completed – The majority of work will be recorded as ‘a response’ by students on their seesaw account, which is shared with parents for comment.

Rāroa has very robust online security measures at school. As students are working on home internet plans and systems, it is important that you are monitoring your child’s use and have your own systems in place.

Comprehensible advice can be found on the Netsafe website

If you need additional help or advice with anything happening online, you can contact Netsafe for free expert advice. Their helpline is open from 8 am – 8 pm on weekdays and 9 am – 5 pm on weekends.

  • Text ‘Netsafe’ to 4282
  • Email help@netsafe.org.nz
  • Call toll free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723)
  • Online report at netsafe.org.nz/report

A comprehension setup document, with guidance and requirements, has been sent to all teachers. With the correct setup and precautions, Zoom is an effective way to connect and provides a valuable way of connecting face to face with learners. Information including privacy and precautions has been sent out.

Zoom is an optional opportunity to connect.

The school is working alongside the Ministry to provide equity amongst students. The school has already made contact with all of these families in order to meet their needs.

The following link provides some useful support information.

education.govt.nz