Dear parents and caregivers
1. Access for all
Thank you to the 850 families who have responded to the recent survey regarding device, internet and TEAMS access for their son’s remote learning. The school loaned over 80 devices prior to the lockdown and provision is being made by the Ministry of Education to support those few remaining students who do not have access. If you haven’t already done so, please complete the survey sent yesterday. Link here: http://tiny.cc/38m4lz ALL students should complete even if they have no access or device issues.
2. Problems getting onto TEAMS
Please go to the student helpdesk: studenthelpdesk@nbhs.school.nz
3. Wellbeing for your sons
Given the length of time we are all at home isolating, wellbeing is an important focus. Please refer to the key contacts including wellbeing button on the front page of our website https://www.nbhs.school.nz/ for more information.
I also refer you to the attached Wellbeing article from The Spinoff, shared by Napier Girls’ High School. –> Teenage coping during COVID-19
4. Keeping online safe
This advice has come from the recent Ministry of Education updates and is for parents and caregivers navigating the challenges of increased device use with online learning.
Parents should agree with their children what they can do online including sites they can visit and appropriate behaviours including:
• reviewing and approving games and apps before they are downloaded
• reviewing privacy settings of sites and applications
• checking children’s profiles and what they are posting online
• check the sites your child is accessing
• reminding children that anything that is posted online will be permanently on the internet
• taking the time to understand what sites they are visiting and who they are talking with and check in regularly
• some social media sites have age restrictions to join, check these before letting your child use them or join them
• monitoring a child’s use of the internet and consider having them use it in an open, common area of the house
• making sure your children know to report any activity they don’t feel comfortable with to parents and caregivers straight away.
There is a unique opportunity during the lockdown of families going out together, albeit it close to home, but if your child is going out on their own it’s still important to check where they are going.
• Netsafe continues to be available to provide you and your parent and caregiver community with support for online safety. They have information for parents and caregivers and have pulled together their top tips for online safety during the lockdown. To report an incident To Netsafe – https://www.netsafe.org.nz/reportanincident/
• If you think a child in your care is the victim of online exploitation or abuse, report it to Police – if you or a child are in danger or a crime is being committed, call 111 or visit your nearest Police Station immediately.
5. NCEA assessments this year
There will be anxiety from many young men and parents about how this will work. What we know right now:
• the big picture remains the same in terms of how qualifications are awarded and the place of external examinations
• NZQA who run NCEA, are making provisions to run as many internal assessments as practical remotely
• School dates for some internal assessments will change and you will be advised as soon as this happens to give plenty of warning
6. Winter uniform and access to the uniform shop
I know some families have expressed concern about getting this sorted for the start of term two back onsite. We will update you with how this will be managed in next week’s update prior to Easter.
7. Parent survey – Kia tū rangatira ai: Learning, succeeding, and thriving in education
This survey is part of a national research project which Associate Professor Dr. Melinda Webber is undertaking about how our students develop positive attitudes, engagement and aspirations towards school, and who their role-models for success are. This ties in with our school’s Strategic Aims.
Thank you to the 350+ who have completed this survey in either paper form or online. We would really appreciate as many of you doing this as possible. It takes about 3 – 7 minutes from my experience depending on the depth you want to go into.
https://auckland.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8FWVPKvH0HmYKTb
8. Next update: Thursday 9 April (prior to Easter)
Kia Kaha
Matt Bertram
Headmaster
