24/3/2020

Dear Parents and Students

I hope that you and your families are safe and well. The last 24 hours have been like none we have ever experienced.

For the remainder of this week we recommend your focus is on your family and making sense of this new reality. Our teachers are also making sense of this new reality and we thank you in advance for being understanding of this. We are not asking our staff to deliver online learning this week however if you would like your child to engage in some work you may like to look to our ‘home learning’ website.

Over the past few weeks our team have been preparing for online learning. We are not quite there yet. Our staff will continue working on this during the ‘holidays’ to ensure that we are ready to engage in Teaching and Learning with students when school in the new online model resumes on Wednesday 15th March.

During this time of uncertainty, it is really important to take care of our mental health.  As we have seen at school over the last few weeks, children have responded to the Covid-19 information in many different ways. Some are very anxious, some are frightened and some are very curious. It is important that over the next few days and upcoming weeks we use this time to connect with family and friends in different ways. School will maintain connection, both with our teachers and our students in both a learning and pastoral sense.

It is also important that feelings are acknowledged and discussed.  Reassure your children, answer questions factually. The Ministry of Education has some great advice about talking to children about COVID-19.

SchoolTV has just launched a Special Edition on preparing for learning at home. I recommend all parents watch this.

If you are worried about your child’s distress escalating, your GP is a good starting point.  You can also talk to a trained counsellor for free, 24 hours, seven days a week by calling or texting 1737
Koreana Wilson, our experienced school counsellor, will also be monitoring online referrals with the possibility of either written or virtual communication with the young person.

The Deputy Principals will be checking emails from now until the 15th April so if you have queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.

Year 7 Dean sandra.jacobs@mbi.school.nz
Year 8 Dean shannon.robinson@mbi.school.nz 
Curriculum annamarie.mcaleer@mbi.school.nz 

We will continue to communicate with parents on a regular basis as new information comes to hand.

Aroha nui ki a koutou



Melinda Bennett
PRINCIPAL

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