Term 1 Holiday Newsletter (Monday 6 April)

He mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa - warm greetings to all.

Although we are now on holiday, it feels very much the same as it did last week! Term 2 will start back on Monday April 20th with learning at home. We will keep you updated with any information given to us by the Ministry of Education about when school will be able to open as normal. Some families are choosing to keep the school work routine going over the holidays and teachers will be checking in each day over the next couple of weeks.

Home Learning Survey

The Ministry of Education has asked us to collect information so they can get the right support to the right people in terms of devices and internet access. We have put together a googleform to collect the data they have asked for as well as to help us as we plan ahead to Term 2 and the possibility of more than one week of learning at home. We would appreciate it if you could find the time to give us some feedback on the home learning over the past two weeks as well as providing the information asked for by the Ministry. Home Learning Survey

The Great Letterbox Crawl

One of our parents has come up with an idea to make all of our neighbourhood walks more interesting. If we can get a list of addresses of those who want to participate, children can follow a map and go "visiting" other children and see where they live. The children could stick a picture on their letterbox / in their window / on the back of the fence of themselves and something they like doing. The visiting children then write down their names and what they like doing next to a number on a piece of paper. Details still being devised! If you and your children would like to participate please email me at sarah@ridgway.school.nz and I'll add your family to the list. Even if you don't live close to the school you can still join in. I know we have lots of families in Island Bay and a few in Houghton Valley so we can make sub-groups too.

Information the Ministry has asked us to pass on to our school community.

Essential workers should still continue to contact one of the following three providers if they have been unable to make their own arrangements:

• Barnardos - covid19enquiries@barnardos.org.nz

• Edubase - Home Grown Kids & Kids at Home 0508 44 54 37 or info@hgk.co.nz

• PORSE 0800 023 456

Further information to support wellbeing

The Ministry of Health's website includes Top ways to look after your mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdown.

https://www.iamhope.org.nz/ - 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.facebook.com/nathanwallisxfactoreducation/ - Nathan Wallis has some helpful videos on his Facebook page for parents and whānau

https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/ - tips on looking after mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 from the Mental Health foundation

https://depression.org.nz/covid-19/ - a website by the Health Promotion Agency to help New Zealanders recognise and understand depression and anxiety. `

25 Mental Health Wellness Tips during Quarantine from Eileen M Feliciano, Psy.D. - 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.

Nga mihi.