Kia Ora Parents and Caregivers
Today’s newsletter comes to you as we move through yet another term of uncertainties. With the Omicron variant we know that there will be disruption and challenges and while the start of term has not gone as planned, we are certainly doing our best to make it as worry free as possible for our young people.
We know that some of them might feel more anxious than usual as this variant takes hold and families navigate the uncertainties of isolation or positive cases. We are here to help and can provide support by way of the class teacher, team leader or Senior Leadership Team member. A school counsellor can also be contacted by emailing ani@ani.school.nz. We’re here for you.
There have been a number of events and activities put on hold this year that we know our young people enjoy and look forward to (both at school and at home) due to COVID disruption. We understand that this will be disappointing for many students and their emotions can get the better of them ! Here are some strategies to use that may help you manage these behavioural ups and downs.
- Reinforce good behaviours by how you direct your attention. Notice good behaviour and effort, pointing it out and explaining clear expectations.
- Redirect inappropriate behaviour. Sometimes children misbehave because they are bored or are unsure how they should behave. Help them find something else to do.
- Use privileges to encourage completion of homework and assignments as well as household chores.
- Choose when not to respond. Sometimes ignoring bad behaviour is the most effective way of stopping it. Just ensure it is not dangerous behaviour.
- Time-outs at home can be effective especially when delivered unemotionally after warnings. (1 minute per year of age may be a good guide).
- Set aside special time with each child for activities such as cooking, reading, or playing a favourite game. You choose the time and let your child choose the activity. Just 20 minutes of undivided attention can make a big difference.
Finally, remember to take care of yourself too. If both parents are at home, share the load and give each other time out. Sleep, eat and exercise as well as you can to ensure your ability to keep the home a happy and positive place.
COVID Update- Staggered Days
A reminder that staggered days learning from home commenced this week: Tuesday – Matai, Wednesday – Rimu, Thursday – Totara and Friday – Kauri.
Having staggered days and learning from home will help us keep the school functioning and open for instruction as we will have enough teaching staff to provide supervision.
How will the staggered learning from home programme work ?
We would like each team to learn from home one day a week. It will be the same day each week until further notice. We hope this will be a short term option but depending on how many teachers are away we may have to adapt as we go. Our pool of regular relievers were booked up well in advance therefore increasing the number of staff available for supervision. However we suspect even that won’t be enough in the next few weeks. Unfortunately there are no more relief teachers available, we’ve exhausted the pool!
If it is your young person’s day to learn from home, the class teacher or a reliever will be in contact throughout the day via Zoom and will supervise the usual class programme of work. If your child’s class teacher is away sick due to testing positive for COVID then a reliever will provide this online supervision.
Unless sick or isolating all teachers on the staggered learning from home day will be available to supervise other classes who are on site as we expect a high level of staff absence in the next few weeks.
What days will my child be at home?
Monday : All classes on site. Our specialist teachers will provide additional supervision if required.
Tuesday: Matai students will remain at home, all other teams onsite.
Wednesday: Rimu students will remain at home, all other teams onsite.
Thursday: Totara students will remain at home, all other teams onsite.
Friday: Kauri students will remain at home, all other teams onsite.
We realise this may cause some challenges for families and it is a decision we have not taken lightly. We are balancing the best interests of all students, their health and safety in addition to looking after staff who at the moment are isolating or have tested positive themselves.
If you think you will have difficulty accommodating your young person at home on their team home learning day please get in touch bmills@ani.school.nz.
If you have any questions please contact us by emailing jfarquharson@ani.school.nz bmills@ani.school.nz or sdevery@ani.school.nz
Daily COVID case numbers:
To keep you up to date with the current Omicron outbreak and the impact this has on ANI we intend publishing a daily update of student attendance and also the number of staff away which includes teachers and those in a non teaching position. If your child’s teacher is positive or isolating we will also advise you in a separate email and provide the date of their return.
Camp and EOTC 2022
Camp Parent Evening
Book in this time and day, into your calendar, if you want to know more about our camp at Tui Ridge this year.
We have scheduled a camp information evening for Tuesday 8 March at 6pm, via zoom. The information evening will go over the organisation for camp which includes the teachers and adults who will attend camp, the activities during the week, sleeping arrangements as well as other camp related discussions. A zoom link will be sent out Monday 7 March on SchoolApps.
All systems are GO for these two exciting events - Camp(Y8) and EOTC ( Y7)
A big thank you to the parents for confirming if their child will be attending camp. This has made the organisation easier to plan. At this stage camp will continue as planned.
A few reminders about camp
Dates for Camp
Camp 1: Matai Team Room 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 March)
Camp 2: Rimu Team Room 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 (Tuesday 22 to Friday 25 March)
Parents Helpers:
Please let your child’s teacher know if you still intend to come along to camp as numbers of helpers are filling up fast. You will receive confirmation this week, from the class teacher if you have been successful to attend camp in March. Thank you to all those who have filled in the forms and police vets, to date.
COVID while at camp
The school will follow the MOH and MOE guidelines if we have a positive case,or a household contact at camp. The process will include determining the extent of contact the person identified with COVID had and then the necessary steps to isolate will be taken, working alongside Tui Ridge staff as required. Note the school will be taking a number of RATS tests to camp.
This may also mean that the parents of a child will have to drive to camp to pick them up and bring them back home to Auckland.
Communication will be the key to this process and all parties who need to be contacted will receive a message from the school in a timely manner.
What happens if we can’t go to camp?
If we are unable to attend camp, in March, the school will try to secure new dates later in the year and if this is not possible refunds will be provided to all whanau that have paid the camp costs.
A big thank you to the parents for confirming if their child will be attending EOTC. This has made the organisation easier to plan. At this stage EOTC will continue as planned.
EOTC reminders:
EOTC Dates
EOTC 1: Kauri Team: Room 25,26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 (Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 March)
EOTC 2: Totara Team: Room 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 (Tuesday 22 to Friday 25 March)
Parents Helpers:
Please let your child’s teacher know if you still intend to come along to EOTC as numbers are filling up fast. You will receive confirmation within a week if you have been successful to attend EOTC in March. Thank you to all those who have filled in the forms and returned them to the teacher, to date.
What happens if we can’t go to EOTC?
If we are unable to attend EOTC, this March, the school will try to secure new dates later in the year and if this is not possible refunds will be provided to all whanau that have paid the EOTC costs.
Update on Building Progress
10 Teaching Space (10 TS)
The 10 TS has most of the steel structure now in place. The first floor will be poured within the next week and two weeks after that the roof will go on. Around the end of March we should see things like walls going up and the bottom floor poured. It looks awesome so far we’re sure you’ll agree!
Multi Purpose Space (MPS)
The MPS is also coming along in leaps and bounds with more steel positioned into place this week. Around the end of March we should see things like the roof structure taking place and more subbies onsite, so lots happening in the coming 3 – 6 weeks.
Board of Trustees News
Congratulations to our incoming chair (or Presiding Member as it is now called) Mamta Bhikha who was elected to this position at the board meeting last week. Mamta is an experienced board member having served on the board at Epsom Normal Primary and now Auckland Normal Intermediate. She is looking forward to the exciting developments that will happen this year not only on the property front but also in areas of learning, sporting events and cultural activities.
Did you know there is an election this coming September? We have four positions available for any interested parents to put their names forward to join our Board of Trustees. If you are interested and would like to know more about this role please give the Presiding Member Mamta an email on ani@ani.school.nz. She is available for a chat and will invite you to come along as an observer to our next meeting.
Strategic and Annual Plans
Please find linked here our strategy and annual plan for 2022. We welcome your feedback and comment to ani@ani.school.nz.