Monday, 11 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand / Education

Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Whangārei student misses out on school because of Covid-19 lockdown alert level changes

Avina Vidyadharan
By
Avina Vidyadharan
31 Oct, 2021 04:00 PM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
There were 143 Covid-19 cases announced in the community but there was some good news for Christchurch and vaccination numbers across Aotearoa. Video / NZ Herald

One student has missed out on a month of education and says it will feel strange to be back in school now.

Jayden Fisher Robinson was living at his parents' house on Great Barrier Island and resumed going to his classes last week, following the Labour weekend.

Robinson left the Whangārei Boys' High School boarding facility on August 18 after New Zealand was moved to alert level 4 lockdown on August 17.

The Year 10 student's mum Casey Fisher said there was online learning available, but not so much anymore, since Northland moved into alert level 2 on September 8.

"The school is conducting classes as usual but he hasn't been able to go back. Once the school went into normal in-class learning, there was not so much he could learn from online material.

"Also, we live rurally and do not have a good internet connection. It has been quite challenging."

WBHS principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said the online material was always in place since the region moved to alert 3 and 4 lockdowns.

"Our focus is on face-to-face learning, but a lot of our teachers have worked really hard and provided material through google classes so that students who are still not able to be back can continue to access it."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith. Photo / John Stone
Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith. Photo / John Stone

Fisher said they did "as much as they could, handed in a few assignments, but definitely, it was very different from real classes.

"We asked the school whether they could provide some extra online classes, but it is very difficult when it is specifically for one student, and I understand that. They helped in the best possible way but it still wouldn't be parallel to what his classmates are learning."

Related articles

New Zealand

'We're not going anywhere': Ahipara occupiers vow to stay as long as it takes

14 Oct 05:00 PM

The Ministry of Health approved Robinson travelling back to Whangārei, provided Northland had not moved back to alert level 3.

However, because it was so close to school holidays, it suggested he waited until after the holidays, Fisher said.

"The ministry did not want people moving back and forth over the lockdown period."

Robinson said the lockdown felt "strange and lonely".

His mum said he had been a great help at home and it was "lovely" to have him for the lockdown, but "it just didn't feel right, as he was missing out on school learning.

"All his boarding mates left the night the lockdown was announced (August 17) but he couldn't because he had to take a flight to come here. So, he stayed the night at the hostel, completely alone.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It has been kind of a dramatic change for him."

Robinson said it was "strange" and hard going back to school.

"I am not nervous; it just feels strange.

"I am excited and looking forward to seeing my classmates, friends, and teachers."

Carruth director of boarding Susan Dawson said three students had not returned to the facility since the region was moved to level 4 lockdown in August.

Saveshare

Share this article

Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

EntertainmentUpdated

'She’s a little angel' - Art and Matilda Green welcome baby number three

10 Dec 08:18 AM
Premium
New Zealand

East Coast father tried to ‘cover his tracks’ after maiming son in firearm incident

10 Dec 08:04 AM
New Zealand

Police make arrest after 8-hour armed standoff at Christchurch address

10 Dec 07:38 AM
New Zealand

Mfat investigate reports NZ-Israeli citizen has died in Gaza

10 Dec 06:48 AM

“Never been a better time to buy an EV”

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

'She’s a little angel' - Art and Matilda Green welcome baby number three

'She’s a little angel' - Art and Matilda Green welcome baby number three

10 Dec 08:18 AM

Former Bachelor NZ contestants announced the birth on social media tonight.

Premium
East Coast father tried to ‘cover his tracks’ after maiming son in firearm incident

East Coast father tried to ‘cover his tracks’ after maiming son in firearm incident

10 Dec 08:04 AM
Police make arrest after 8-hour armed standoff at Christchurch address

Police make arrest after 8-hour armed standoff at Christchurch address

10 Dec 07:38 AM
Mfat investigate reports NZ-Israeli citizen has died in Gaza

Mfat investigate reports NZ-Israeli citizen has died in Gaza

10 Dec 06:48 AM
9 big questions over an EV road trip
sponsored

9 big questions over an EV road trip

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP