Term 2 begins!

Hi everyone
 
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and were all visited by the Easter Bunny. I heard that some of the hunts were very exciting and a few eggs were very tricky to find in a few houses!
 
As you know it is the start to Term 2 tomorrow.
 
Firstly a big welcome to our new students who are starting with us tomorrow. Your teachers and classmates will look forward to getting to know you online or by phone… until we can all get to know you and your families in person.
 
LEARNING
It will be a very different way of learning to what we are all used to, however, I am sure we will all do our very best and work together to make it happen in one form or another.
 
There is a lot of information happening in the media and on social media about learning. Do what is manageable for you and your kids, but don’t feel pressured to do it all ie: Join every free app available, watch TVNZ learning channels, do all the class learning ideas either digitally or on paper…..etc
 
Please remember at all times the biggest priority during this time is the happiness, well being and safety of you and your family. Children will be learning even in the day-to-day interactions and household activities that they are apart of.
 
After all, this when school is back together, we can go from wherever we are at and still do extremely well!
 
DIGITAL LEARNERS
Teachers have been doing the last catch up meetings today and digital learning is now ready to be sent out first thing tomorrow morning for kids to begin. Remember there may be a lot of ideas and activities, however, do what is achievable to you. If you need more ideas…let your teacher know lol!
 
It will be a learning curve for everyone and we will take each day as we go and make necessary adjustments to learning programmes together.
 
Digital kids will have work sent out to them via their Seesaw accounts or Google Classroom (Kids – login into your class tomorrow and also check your school Gmail too).
 
If you have not received anything or you have questions teachers are contactable from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday via their email address. If you are unsure what their email is simply going to our website and look under contacts and staff lists.
 
PACKS AND OTHER DEVICES
I have sent the list of learning packs that I know of off to the Ministry. They have sent out some of the first ones however we still have a few families waiting on packs …all going to plan they will be with you in the next couple of days.
A few families are waiting for school devices. As previously emailed these will be arriving by the end of this week by courier.
 
PARENT CONTACTS
It has come to our attention through the last week that some parents may have changed their email address and/or contact details. If this is you or you want to double-check then please email your teacher.
 
HELP NEEDED
Besides the teachers, if you need any assistance from me please do not hesitate to email me principal@greytown.school.nz
 
FUN CHALLENGES
After all this admin…. there will be some fun challenges put on the school Facebook from our Head and Deputy Head Students or myself that your kids might like to get involved in with your help. These will be posted in the next few days.
 
So let’s get excited because school is about to begin!
 
thanks
Miss O!

Setting up a FREE Digital Safety Filter for home.

Tēnā koe
Helping students stay safer online from home
As you know, children’s online safety is important. At school, Network for Learning (N4L) helps keep your students safe from the bad side of the internet. During lockdown, the students’ place of learning shifts to their home. So N4L has worked out a way to help parents keep their children safely connected at home.
FREE N4L safety filter for all students
We’ve set up a safety filter that parents can set up on their child’s learning devices from home. Just go to switchonsafety.co.nz to find clear instructions on how to do this.The free N4L safety filter (by global cyber-security leader, Akamai) blocks websites containing known cyber threats like phishing scams, malicious content and viruses, while also protecting children from content deemed the worst of the web (like adult sites).It is an extension of one of the many safety and security services we have in place at schools and is a valuable layer of protection to help keep children safe online. Please remember that technology is not a silver bullet and the filter should be used in combination with Netsafe’s online parent safety toolkit.
How does it work?
Once a child’s device is set up, all internet search requests will go through the safety filter which checks if the website they are trying to visit is safe before allowing access. If it’s a website that’s known to be unsafe, then it will be blocked. The safety filter is applied to the child’s device, so parents’ devices are not affected. 

Any questions?
We have answered key questions at switchonsafety.co.nz/faqs alternatively please send any questions to help@n4l.co.nz.

Switch_on_Safety_A5_2020

School Closure information and Remote Learning Update

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Please read the following information (link below) carefully.

We want to reinforce the key essential points

  • The school will only be open tomorrow for essential workers children only ie;  Children of supermarket workers and emergency services (doctors, nurses etc) who need additional time to find care.
  • School is closed tomorrow until further notice for all our other children.  They are now to stay at home.
  • On Wednesday 25th March school will be closed for everyone until further notice.
Coronavirus update Wednesday 23rd March 2020

All the very best.  Keep safe and positive.

Patrice O’Connor.

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Current School Update

Hi Parents and Caregivers

Attached is the latest information that our school has in regards to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This was sent home today in paper copy with all our eldest children in each family.  We will continue to update you as we know more information.  Please take time to read this update thoroughly. This update may also require your family to return an information slip or update our current emergency details for your family.  Please check your child’s bags.

Thanks

Patrice O’Connor

Principal of Greytown School.

Coronavirus update Wednesday 18th March 2020