Covid 19 coronavirus Delta variant: Some Bay of Plenty schools pause online learning over lockdown

Some Bay of Plenty schools are ditching learning from home this lockdown, with principals urging students and whānau to put their health and wellbeing at the forefront.

School leaders say if the lockdown is extended their "biggest challenge" will be supporting students without devices at home.

New Zealand has been forced to enter level 4 lockdown for three days, however, Auckland and Coromandel will be in lockdown for seven days.

A Covid-19 update from the Ministry of Education sent to all schools on Tuesday said there was "no exemption process" to allow for devices or hard-pack resources to be collected or distributed.

"We will continue to review this and if this changes we will let you know," it said.

Schools were encouraged to keep in contact with their regional ministry office for any information or support.

Coromandel Area School principal Koren Hopoi said staff and students had been advised to prioritise their health and wellbeing this week due to the proximity of the case. Student learning had been put on hold.

"We are such a close-knit community there is potentially a lot of anxiety there within our own staff, and where they have been in the community," she said.
STORY CONTINUES AFTER LIVE BLOG

STORY CONTINUES
"Our plan of action over this week is just to stay connected with our students and their whānau. There is not much we can do in terms of setting learning goals and whatnot. There is no point at this stage.

"Just while we get through the next few days while a bit of panic could be setting in with such close connections to the person that was here."

She said school staff would be checking in with students and their families and if requested teachers could provide learning support.

Hopoi said the school community was "resilient", however, it was important to make sure everyone was "happy and safe".

"We have a lot of connections everywhere. We all know people who own the shops and it is like we are one big whānau."

Tauriko School principal Suzanne Billington. Photo / NZME

Western Bay of Plenty Principals Association president Suzanne Billington said all schools had plans in place for learning over lockdowns.

These plans varied from school to school based on a "deep understanding" of different community needs.

"Many schools are easing into learning over the three days to support a sense of calm and confidence across our school communities," she said.

In an online notice to the community of Tauriko School — where Billington is the principal — she said no remote learning would take place on Wednesday.

"Together we will ease gradually into learning online over Thursday and Friday, to enable our students to adjust once more" it read.

Mount Maunganui College. Photo / NZME

Mount Maunganui College principal Alastair Sinton said he was "disappointed" by the news, as it meant putting sporting and cultural events on hold.

"When you work in a school you become heavily invested in your students and you see the hard work they put in. Having to put sporting and cultural events on hold is tough."

But he believed the move would have the best outcome long term.

Learning from home was put on hold on Wednesday for students and staff to take time to look after whānau. Distance learning began today, Sinton said.

A distance learning plan was already "shifting into gear" and would be ready to implement if lockdown was extended, he said.

He said the "biggest challenge" beyond this week would be supporting students who did not have the appropriate devices at home.

Gate Pā School principal Rochelle Jensen said the wellbeing of staff, students and family was her main priority over the snap lockdown.

Staff would make a call on how distance learning would roll out for students today, however, Jensen said this was already "well planned".

She said the first day of lockdown was about making sure staff had time to adjust to the situation which had come as a shock.

The majority of distance learning would not be online as "for some, it is a challenge to have connectivity and devices".

"When we roll something out it will be a range of activities focused on a real mix of things including arts, outdoors, reading, writing and maths."

Westbrook School principal Colin Watkins. Photo / NZME

Westbrook School principal Colin Watkins said no online work would be assigned to students over the three-day lockdown.

This was due to not being able to deliver devices to students in need, and also to give staff a break.

"I have just said don't sweat it. Use these three days to have some fun as a family - play board games, do some baking," he said.

Toi Ohomai had ceased all teaching delivery - including online - for the remainder of the week.

Toi Ohomai executive director student and staff experience Patrick Brus said this was in line with government advice. All campuses and delivery sites had closed.

"We have ceased delivery of online classes to ensure our staff and students can focus on the health and wellbeing of their whānau due to the short notice of this lockdown. Staff that can safely work from home will do so," he said.

The University of Waikato Tauranga Campus is closed for the next three days. Photo / NZME

University of Waikato Tauranga campus operations director Joseph Macfarlane said it had moved to online delivery for lectures, tutorials, tests and assessments for the three days. The campus was also closed.

He said accommodation services were operating under level 4 guidelines and staff were "well-placed" to ensure students were kept safe.

[a]+"px"}}}))}();