Parents, before your children spend time online, read our expectations around internet safety and find other helpful parent links by clicking the button below.

Internet Safety

1) Communication Channels:

• School webpage = the central location for all home-based learning activity and communication.
• Newsletters = provide ongoing updates that relate to the whole school
• Classroom communication:
  • Email via Hero = class updates
  • 'Google Meet' = online video conferencing CLICK HERE to view a video tutorial
  • 'Google Calendar' = for Google Meet times and links
  • 'Google Classroom' = Akotoa and Kawaka students
  • Individual communication can also occur with home and school via the normal email channels. List of staff email contacts are found here.

2) Day Plan for Parents and Students:

• Start each day agreeing with a plan. Identify when and where home-based learning will occur - you may want to schedule this around the weather e.g. if it is forecast to rain in the afternoon, spend the morning outside and complete home-based learning tasks in the afternoon.
• Check the Google Meet calendar for your next online conference (teachers will generally lead these in small groups, two to three times a week).
• Agree together on the order you will complete the set tasks on your Action Learning Contract (you can find this by clicking on your class name on the Home-Based Learning webpage)
• Set a time limit and an alarm (e.g. watch alarm, iPad or oven timer) for each task so you stay focused but also allow for brain/food breaks so that concentration is maximised.

3) Time Expectations:

• The amount of time that is spent on Home-Based Learning is hard to set as each home is different.
• The table below is an approximate guide.
• There is no set order. How the day is arranged is set by parents and children together at the start of the day. 
• What each family can achieve is dependant on numerous factors including:
  • Internet speeds
  • Number of devices 
  • The degree of challenge in each learning activity 
  • Number of children at home and available parent support ​
• It is important that parents weigh these factors up and set their expectations allowing for flexibility so that:
  • Quality work is achieved 
  • Children who are ‘in the flow’ can continue 
  • Children who are struggling find some success before finishing (even if the activity is for a short time)