Covid-19 and L2L Online

Welcome to L2L (Learn to Live) Online

 

	Learning at home, a handy guide for students with tips for how to plan your day.		Student tips for successfully managing video calls during L2L Online.
	Guide to accessing Schoology for students and staff to communicate, set and submit work.		Adapted from our Lynfield College Korowai of Values these are our Remote Learning Values.

Practical information about education for parents and carers from the Ministry of Education.

An online info hub for Pasifika parents, families and communities to support learning during lockdown.

 

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Wellbeing Support: Useful Links

 

	Helping children and young people while they are learning from home from the Ministry of Education.		Wellbeing support from Core Education about learning at home starting with relationships ...
	New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience: Strategies for Coping with Coronavirus.		If you or someone you know are in need of food assistance use this link to find the nearest foodbank.

More information about access to food or essential items from Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa.

 

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Update for Families, 20 September 2021

Alert Level 3 'School Bubbles' to Operate

At the 4pm news update today, the Prime Minister announced Cabinet’s welcome decision that
Auckland will move to Alert Level 3 from Wednesday, 22 September. Auckland is to remain at Alert
Level 3 for at least two weeks.

This will see the reopening of Auckland secondary schools to limited numbers of Year 9 and 10 students requiring supervision. However, the message from the Ministry of Education is still:

“Please keep your child learning at home at Alert Level 3, unless there is no one in your bubble
who can care for them as you now need to go to work.”

Please do not be offended when we ask. We need to ensure the safety of those who are onsite and the less people we have onsite the better.

Remote learning will continue for all students at all year levels (Years 9 - 13) for the remainder of
Term 3. We look forward to welcoming all students back onsite once Auckland is at Alert Level 2.
This will now not be until Term 4.

REGISTRATIONS FOR ON-SITE ‘SCHOOL BUBBLES’ ARE REQUIRED:

If you need to send your child to school while we are at Alert Level 3, you will need to ‘REGISTER’ them so that appropriate supervision can be organised. Please note, for the safety of your child, for the safety of other students and for the safety of staff:

• If your child has a health condition that means they are at a greater risk of a severe illness you must keep them at home
• If your child is sick, they must be kept at home
• If you child becomes unwell during the school day, they will be required to be collected by someone within your bubble
• The Ministry of Health has made the wearing of masks mandatory (compulsory) for students and staff at secondary schools at Alert Level 3. Wearing of masks is an important tool to prevent the spread of Covid 19.

What will schooling look like for those who will need to be supervised at school?:

• The work set for students needing to come to school will be the same as for those working at home
• Students will be divided into groups of no more than 10 students. Groups of 10 students will be allocated a classroom where physical distancing will be maintained by students being seating with an empty desk between them
• Strict enforcement of safe hygiene and cleaning practices will be maintained
• Students will be supervised by staff who are likely to be different to your child’s regular teachers
• A normal timetable will NOT operate, and break times will be staggered so that your child’s ‘school bubble’ does not mix with other ‘school bubbles’
• Arrival to school and departure from school will also be staggered
• The school canteen will not be open so students will need to bring sufficient food and drink for the day. Water fountains will not be available for use at Alert Level 3
• As all our school devices have been loaned out to students, those coming to school will need to bring their device, own or school loaned, to work on.

If you do need to send your child to school, please complete the REGISTRATION FORM https://tinyurl.com/ybjkny6d by 2.00 pm on Tuesday 21 September.

Please Note: Only registered students will be able to attend from Wednesday 22 September.

Noho ora mai - stay safe

Cath Knell, Tumuaki | Principal

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Update for Families, 31 August 2021: Covid Response Team, Auckland Regional Public Health Service

Kia ora koutou,

Many of our students will have received an email from the COVID-19 Response Team, advising them that they have completed the recommended period of quarantine after being identified as a Close Contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and have now met the conditions for release from quarantine. This will be a relief to them and their families. National Alert Level 4 lockdown guidelines now apply.

Students who have not received this email and have not met the conditions for release must either:

• Get an immediate test and continue self-isolating until a negative result is returned, or
• Stay in self-isolation for a further 10 days – counting from Sunday 29 August.

Read the full statement containing links to the relevant Ministry of Health guidelines here: Covid Response Team Communication from ARPHS 31082021

Should you have any queries about these 'conditions for release' please contact Healthline - COVID-19 health advice 0800 358 5453.

Noho ora mai - stay safe

Cath Knell, Tumuaki | Principal

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Update for Families, 27 August 2021: Testing Site Locations and Hours

Kia ora koutou,

This information has just been sent through by the MOE to confirm testing site hours for our community for Sunday 29 / Monday 30 August. This is, of course, in addition to your GP or other local testing site which you are still welcome to use.

Please note the Avondale and Mt Smart testing sites will now have provisions for testing those with disabilities. We hope your experience is less stressful than the previous ones may have been.
If you were not able to access previous testing (i.e. what counted for the Day 5 testing on Saturday 21 / Sunday 22 / Monday 23 August) please email me urgently at cknell@lynfield.school.nz

Noho ora mai - stay safe

Cath Knell, Tumuaki | Principal

CLOSE CONTACTS ONLY TESTING SITES:

Avondale Racecourse
22 Ash Road, Avondale
Saturday to Tuesday (9.00 am – 4.30 pm)
People with Disabilities can present to Avondale Racecourse

Mt Smart Stadium
O’Rouke Road, Entrance Opposite Mainfreight
Saturday to Tuesday (8.3 0am – 4.30 pm)
People with Disabilities can present to Mt Smart Stadium. For those with a disability presenting at Mt Smart please advise the security on O’Rouke Road Entrance that they are to use Gate A

LOCAL PUBLIC ACCESS TESTING SITES:

Balmoral Community
182 Balmoral Road, Mt Eden
Saturday (8.30 am – 2.30 pm)
Sunday to Tuesday (8.30 am – 4.30 pm)

St Lukes Pop-up
Whitecross St Lukes
52 Lukes Road, Mt Albert

Health New Lynn
Level 1 Carpark, Totara Health Services
Mc Crae Way, New Lynn
Saturday – Tuesday (8.30 – 4.30pm)

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Useful Advice for Parents During Lockdown

Watch this video to hear Nathan Wallis’ insights into the best ways to connect with whānau during the COVID-19 Alert Levels and how to support one another’s wellbeing: https://www.nathanwallis.com/pages/latest-advice-for-parents-during-isolation

Nathan Wallis is a renowned Neuroscience Educator and Child Development Expert. He is the founder of X Factor Education, an initiative which uses neuroscience to explore how the brain grows to reach its full potential. Nathan has some useful advice on how to not only support children during the lockdown period, but to ease stress levels and create positive wellbeing for the whole whānau.

One of his top tips is to view the situation as a ‘gift’: the chance to connect and spend quality time with your loved ones. He also explains how the human brain works, and how to maintain a good balance between ‘survival’ and ‘learning’ in order to maintain a healthy mind.

For more information, visit his website here: https://www.nathanwallis.com/

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RNZ Checkpoint Interview with Lisa Owen

Tumuaki Cath Knell's Interview can be accessed at this link: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint
 

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Update for Families: 21 August 2021

Kia ora koutou,

Further to our request for a pop-up testing station to be set-up at Lynfield College, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service has sent through the following updated information for Day 5 Testing for us to share with our community.

Please be assured that we will continue to lobby on behalf of our community (Principal asks for testing centre at school). However we are conscious that with another two schools added to the list of those affected the resourcing pressures that the ARPHS will be facing will now be even greater. Our thoughts are with all affected schools and their communities at this stressful time.

Noho ora mai

Cath Knell

Tumuaki | Principal

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Auckland Regional Public Health Service Update: Day 5 Testing

 

DAY 5 TESTS AND CLOSE CONTACT TESTING CENTRES This letter is to update you with some information about ongoing testing for Lynfield College staff and students. Click HERE to open letter.

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Update for Families: 20 August 2021

Kia ora koutou,

Thank you to all those who have been sending through messages of support and playing their part in getting tested and isolating with their families.

With the news that one of our students has tested positive for Covid-19, all students and staff are considered to be close contacts. This means everyone who was on our college grounds on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th August needs to be tested and self-isolate for 14 days. Family members of our students and staff need to self-isolate until a clear 5 day test result has been returned. Please follow carefully the instructions in the letter from ARPH that was sent to parents/caregivers last night about self-isolating and getting tested. Don’t mix ‘bubbles’ by moving family members to other locations. If you require additional health advice please call Healthline: 0800 358 5453 (a free, 24/7 service with interpreters available). You can also visit www.arphs.health.nz or www.covid19.govt.nz.

We appreciate that many are finding it challenging to access testing and are facing long queues. I have submitted a request for Lynfield College to be used as a pop-up testing site. The receipt of this request has been acknowledged but we are yet to hear back as to whether this is a possibility. We are mindful of the immense workload currently faced by the Health System and appreciate their support of our college and our community.

We understand that it's a very worrying time but are thankful that our school community is characterised by manaakitanga and care for one another. We know that the virus is the problem, not the people. The way forward is for us to continue to work as a community, to follow the public health guidelines for Alert Level 4 and to support each other.

With yesterday’s news, our focus has very much moved to health and wellbeing and teaching and learning has become secondary to this. We look forward to returning to our learning at home routine next Tuesday being mindful that our students will still be getting their 5 day tests on Monday.

Our Guidance Department staff and School Nurse are available for support. Their contact details have been posted to Schoology. Any general concerns or questions about student wellbeing or learning should be directed to your child’s form teacher or Dean.

Further information will be shared with our community as soon as we receive it. Our thoughts and best wishes are with the student concerned. We thank them for acting responsibly and following health advice. They are currently in good health.

Noho ora mai
Stay well, stay safe

Cath Knell

Tumuaki | Principal

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Close Contact Letter from Auckland Regional Public Health Service

 

COVID-19 AT LYNFIELD COLLEGE A Lynfield College student has been confirmed as having COVID-19. All staff and students of the college are considered close contacts and must stay in self-isolation at home for 14 days. Click HERE to open letter.

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Level 4 Lockdown Information for Whanau:

Tuesday 17 August 2021

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement this evening, schools will be closed to all students and staff from 11.59 pm tonight, Tuesday 17 August 2021.

Teachers will be placing work on Schoology from Wednesday 18 August for learning at home. Students should expect approximately 30 minutes for each of their timetabled classes each day. Form teachers will be looking to connect with their form class in support of wellbeing and connection. It would help if students confirm this with them.

Moving back to learning from home will take some adjusting. We will endeavour to provide you with updates as more information becomes available over the next week.

Progress Conferences due to be held on Thursday 19th and Tuesday 24th August are now postponed. We aim to reschedule these when school returns and will inform you of new dates when we can. Senior Reports were uploaded on the portal this afternoon. You may wish to use this time to discuss your child's progress and next steps with them.

Noho ora mai
Stay well, stay safe

Cath Knell

Tumuaki | Principal
 

The following is a list of support spaces for those who may struggle during lockdown?

Where to get help:

1737, Need to talk?  |  Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor

Lifeline  |  800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland

Youthline  |  0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat

Samaritans  |  0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline  |  0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

What's Up  |  0800 942 8787 (for 5 – 18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday – 11.00 pm and weekends, 3.00 pm – 11.00 pm. Online chat is available 7.00 pm – 10.00 pm daily.

https://mentalhealth.org.nz/  |  Huge amount of information and connections to local support services – click on find support.

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Level 3 Lockdown Information for Whanau:
Sunday 28 February 2021

Kia ora koutou,

As per the Prime Minister’s announcement at 9:00 pm yesterday evening, Auckland has moved to Alert Level 3 as of 6:00 am this morning (Sunday 28 February).

SCHOOL CLOSED

This means that the school is closed, including weekend sports and cultural activities, for the next 7 days for all students. Students who are in Year 9 and 10 are able to be supervised at school, if suitable supervision cannot be provided at home. This will not be teaching. Instead a member of staff will provide supervision for students completing online learning. Registrations are required. Please email Sandy Harris saharris@lynfield.school.nz to register your child.

STUDENT LEARNING

If your son/daughter does not have a suitable device for them to complete online learning effectively please register through this link https://forms.gle/zi7kmgCoLi45U3yD6 The device will be ready to be picked up from the main office from 10.00 am - 12.00 noon tomorrow (Monday 1 March).

As we move to Remote Learning all learning activities will be posted on Schoology as this is our Learning Management System. Should you wish to access Schoology as a parent/caregiver, information about this can be found Here. On Monday please do not expect work for every lesson to be posted. Staff will be using the day to plan and prepare for this change in learning for the week. A copy of what our values should look like when remote learning can be found Here.

We recognise our young people want to continue to work toward their academic goals. To this end, we will work with our school leaders and teachers to focus on meaningful learning that lends to working from home. We will look to manage learning and assessment as effectively as we can and will keep you informed with any updates we receive from the Ministry of Education and NZQA (who manage NCEA) as they come to hand. As it is still early in the year we are primarily focused on connecting with you all and supporting our students’ engagement with their learning.

SCHOOL EVENTS

All school events which were scheduled for this week will not happen. This includes sports practices, games, and music concerts. Some of these will be rescheduled when we drop down Alert Levels.

We have been here before and together we have navigated our way through it. We will do so again.

Noho ora mai
Stay well, stay safe

Cath Knell

Tumuaki | Principal

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Information for Whanau: Friday 28 August 2020

Wairua kaha: We are resourceful. As this year continues to throw up new challenges, we will need to be creative and innovative in how we overcome difficulties.

With Auckland moving to Alert Level 2 at 11.59 pm on Sunday 30 August, schools are reopening on Monday 31 August.

TIMETABLE
We will return to the same timetable that operated before we entered Lockdown with Monday 31 August being Day 1. Students need to be onsite at 8.40 am ready for a 8.45 am start. The school day will finish at 3.00 pm.

RETURNING TO LYNFIELD COLLEGE AT LEVEL 2
Classrooms and bathrooms have been cleaned and checked. Signs and supplies of sanitiser and disinfectant have been refreshed. 

The water fountains have been covered. Students can fill their water bottles from the side dispensers. Water and drinks are also on sale at the tuckshop.

The wearing of face masks is optional. 

TUCKSHOP
A single queue will operate with entry from the Gym side. Payments will be taken at the first window before students move to the window closest to the Library to collect their purchases. This is in support of maintaining social distancing.

Students (or parents) can now also order food online at www.schoollunches.co.nz.  Details on how to place orders are outlined in this flyer: https://tinyurl.com/y5k59e7k. Orders close at 9.00 am on the day of the order, and can be collected at interval (morning tea), or lunchtime (please specify when making the order).  There will be a separate window open for collection of online orders. Students collecting online orders will be released by their teachers five (5) minutes before the bell. 

TEACHING AND LEARNING
Students who are unwell must remain at home. We are aware that they and students with pre-existing medical conditions will be working from home in Level 2.  Please ensure that you have advised their Dean and the Attendance Officer absence@lynfield.school.nz if this applies to your child. 

Class work will continue to be shared on Schoology. As this will be the same as what the students are doing in class the work may not be posted until after the class.  

Teachers and our student leaders are currently working on supporting our learners as they return to onsite learning. Information on any extra workshops and tutorials will be posted on Schoology once dates and times have been confirmed.

STUDENT WELLBEING
Student Executive have prepared a series of activities to support wellbeing and the transition back to school. Updates and activities will be posted on Schoology regularly.

Students are asked to keep an eye out for each other.  If they notice that someone is finding the transition back to school difficult they are encouraged to let their Dean or Guidance Counsellors know.  

NCEA
Further information about NCEA and assessments will be sent out early next week.

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Principal's Email: Tuesday 18 August 2020

Tēnā koutou katoa

It was a big relief to hear we are moving back to Alert Level 2 at the beginning of next week. We look forward to welcoming all our students and staff back onsite on Monday 31 August.

Thank you once more to our parents and caregivers for the support and resilience you have shown through Alert Level 3.

• Good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette
• Staying away if sick
• Keeping the appropriate physical distance from others (in class this means no touching each other and keeping out of breathing distance)
• Cleaning and disinfecting our high touch surfaces daily
• Displaying QR code posters at our entrances and encouraging all of our community to download the NZ COVID Tracer App and use it if they come onsite
• Keeping a visitor register for anyone who cannot use the app and for other visitors who come onsite for a period of time.

We know all these things will help to keep our community as safe as possible. Because of these measures, your child does not need to wear a face covering while at school. We will of course support them should they choose to do so.

A further update will be emailed later in the week with more specific details about our return to onsite learning.

Noho ora mai

Cath Knell, Tumuaki | Principal

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Principal's Email: Tuesday 18 August 2020

Tēnā koutou katoa

Our school value for this week is Wairua kaha: We persevere in challenging times.

The latest information from the Ministry of Education indicated an agreement to give flexibility to schools to bring back Year 12-13 students under Alert Level 3.

Lynfield College will not be open for students during Alert Level 3. The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and community is paramount for us. We consider that opening the school is not in the best interests of our community.

Students have access to a variety of learning opportunities at home. Work is posted on Schoology and staff are available for guidance and support. Students were able to collect resources yesterday and today in support of their learning. If your son or daughter was not able to come into school, please contact the subject teacher to arrange an alternative.

We know that some courses have been severely affected by the time offsite this year. We are currently considering a range of ways to support students in their learning including modified programmes and access to learning spaces outside of timetabled classes. There is also a possibility that some courses will continue into November so that students can complete practical work with the support of their specialist teachers.

If you have any pastoral or academic concerns, please email your child’s Dean, the Careers Counsellor, the form teacher, or the subject teacher.

Ngā mihi

Cath Knell, Tumuaki | Principal

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Principal's Email: 6.21 pm, Friday 14 August 2020

Kia ora koutou

Confirming the announcement just made by the Prime Minister, we will remain at Level 3 for another 12 days. This means school will be closed until Thursday 27 August - date to be confirmed 21 August. There will be supervision available for students under 14 who are children of essential workers. If your child requires supervision, please email saharris@lynfield.school.nz to register.

If your child requires a device to assist with their learning we do have a few still available that can be picked up from the main office from 9.00 am to 10.00 am on Monday morning.

Further details about the collection of subject specific resources will be posted on Schoology to the relevant students.

Noho ora mai (Stay well, Stay safe)

Cath Knell, Tumuaki | Principal

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Principal's Email: Wednesday 12 August 2020

Kia ora koutou, 
 
Our school value for this week is ​Wairua kaha: We are confident. ​We believe that our  people, our community, and systems have the capability and the resilience to continue to  cope with the unexpected. 
 
SCHOOL CLOSED
School will be closed from 12.00 noon Wednesday 12 August until midnight Friday 14 August. Children of essential workers who are under 14 are able to be supervised at school if necessary.  Please email Sandy Harris ​saharris@lynfield.school.nz​ to register your child. Students who aren’t registered will not be able to be supervised. 
 
STUDENT LEARNING
Teachers will be posting work on Schoology for students for their usual classes for Wednesday 12 August  - Friday 14 August. Any assessments that are scheduled for this week will be rescheduled.  
 
SCHOOL EVENTS 
All school events which were scheduled for this week up until midnight Friday 14 August will not happen. This includes sports practices, games, and music concerts. Parent Teacher Conferences which were due to happen on Thursday 13 August and Friday 14 August will be rescheduled.  
 
We understand that these are challenging circumstances for our community, and we will face whatever comes next together.  
 
Noho ora mai  

Cath Knell, Tumuaki | Principal
 

Important Notice: Tuesday 11 August 2020

 

Kia ora koutou,