Learning in Lockdown

We have be learning online as a class since March 25th 2020. 

Every week day at 9am we all came together via video chat, students, teacher aides and myself (Miss Te Paa).  We would catch up and be happy to see each other and were very grateful none of us were sick.  We would then go over the days learning together.

We all like talking to each other through the chat every morning before class started.  By Kymani.

Every one was well behaved, Miss Te Paa only kicked a couple of students off the video chat.

The work was challenging but easy enough for us to complete at home, sometimes with our parents. By Sundown

It was fun learning online because it felt like we had a proper job and were working from home like the adults. By Jaydis

Blogging was cool because we could be creative before we took off to the bush to play.  By Rhylyn.

I missed learning at school because my crazy, monkey twin brothers would always annoy me and it was hard to do my work.  By Dee

I liked watching the different maths because the songs were cool and they helped me to remember. By Jacob.

I didn't like working on my chrome book because the letters were too hard to see, so I worked on our big computer a lot of the time.  By Nepia.

I loved doing the maths work because it made my brain think.  By James.

There would be several video calls throughout the day showing parents and students how to work their chrome books.  This was awesome because it means in the future when chrome books go home, parents will know how to help their kids.

Students liked the paper learning packs as they were fun because they got to work on a whole lot of different subjects.  Some were extra challenging.

All in all learning from home was super fun and flexible but challenging too because we were all on lockdown!!

Lockdown in New Zealand

Here is something I read online on Saturday 2nd of May, 2020.

- We are at Level 3 after being in total lockdown for 5 weeks.

- One New Zealand Dollar equals 0.60 USD.

- Gas is 163.9 cents per litre.                          
- Gas is 193.9 In Kaitaia
- Schools have been closed since the end of March and are teaching  
  remotely online.  School is available for the children of  
  workers that have to go back to work can attend school up to  
  year 10. Other students will continue to be home schooled.

- If you can work from home it is encouraged.

- Those that are over 70 or immune compromised need to stay and  
  home and not go to work (we have a government wage subsidy in    place to help people out).

- Banks are only open 1 day a week.

- There are lines/tapes inside the stores on the floors to keep     
  people 2 metres apart.  Stores are limiting the amount of  
  visitors and some have queues.

- Some restaurants are open only for takeout, home delivery & pick- 
  up.

- Parks, beaches, hiking trails and walk-in places are accessible  
  to the public, but we are encouraged to stay local (within 2kms 
  of our homes).

- All major and minor sports competitions have been cancelled as  
  well as kids sports.

- All festivals, entertainment events have been banned/cancelled.

- Weddings, family celebrations and birthdays have been cancelled.

- Young kids can’t understand why they can only see grandparents &  
  other extended family and friends on a screen or thru a window  
  if someone visits in person or on Facetime online.

- Hugs and kisses are not allowed, only with those in your bubble.

- Churches are closed or online.

- We have to stay two meters away from those not in our bubble.

- People are wearing masks, some places even REQUIRE that you wear  
  them to enter! People are even sewing their own cloth masks for  
  sale or donation to medical facilities.

- Some antiseptic/cleaning products are short in supply.

- Flour, hand sanitiser, soap and sugar were hard to buy from 
  supermarkets.

- Stores are closing early to stock shelves. Some 24 hour services  
  stations have been closing early because not many people have  
  been getting gas as most people are working from home.

- Store checkouts, pharmacies, doctors, service stations(night  
  window) and even fast food drive-thru windows have added  
  plexiglass between the employee and the customer. People have    
  to reach around or under to pay!

- New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada and Europe have closed their  
  borders.  Government has made it mandatory that emergency  
  flights home have to self isolate for 14 days when returning.

- There are road blocks to stop you travelling in and out of the  
  district. (all around the country run by people who don't want  
  their communities, kaumatua and kuia to get sick).

- No one is travelling for leisure. Airports are empty. Tourism  
  has come to a stand still.

WHY DO I POST THIS?

Next year & then every year after, we'll all be able to read this.  It will be a reminder that life is precious & that nothing should be taken for granted. We are where we are with what we have.  So let's be grateful.