August 16 2021: 9:37pm - New Zealand goes into Alert 4 from 11:59pm. Yes we are going into another lockdown for 7 days. What is going through my mind? I am not going to lie, I am extremely happy to work from home. The last couple of weeks have been full on and I am looking forward to shutting off from the real world and taking time to be at home, work in the comfort of my own space and to just 'be'. However I am concerned about venturing back into the world of online learning. My anxiety around this is not geared towards what I am going to do - the first lockdown in 2020 has and was a lesson in how I need to be prepared for anything and everything. I am confident in the content, the online platform I have in terms of my class sites and how I will navigate my students through this. My main concern is how this lockdown is going to impact my student's learning and in particular my senior students. I know that this lockdown will influence the achievement for my students. As this is the 5th lockdown the pattern that I have noticed with my students is that they typically shut off from learning. There are some who are super eager and jump online everyday and engage. Whilst others - the majority - are usually disengaged and will check in here and there. I am concerned for the learning of my students, my senior students in particular. I know that this lockdown will push both students and staff back in terms of momentum with NCEA. *Side note - I went my local takeaway 'go-to' and bought my usual - cheeseburger, $3 chips and x3 crab sticks because I am like everyone else and have to have my last 'fix' before everything goes into lockdown :D
August 17 2021: 5:00pm - It has been 160+ days since we were last in lockdown. That is a pretty impressive run! I have forgotten how easy it is to get distracted whilst working (or trying to work) from home. Watching YouTube videos, scrolling through my phone during meetings (not that I don't do this in person), sleeping in - I have found myself falling into this comfortably. Online meetings have kicked into full swing and the 'work-from-home' life begins. The first day of lockdown is done. My principal emailed all staff and said that we will start online learning on Thursday August 18. Today is all about well-being, making sure that we are settled in well with our families and to use the time to make sure that our online learning programs are ready for our students. If there is anything that I have learnt from the early lockdown periods is that I need to be prepared for the worst. So since 2020, I have made sure that my websites, Google calendar - everything online - is up to date and available for all my students to access. I feel confident in what I have prepared and it is just a matter of making sure that my students know that it is there for them. Most of today was spent checking in with my colleagues and making sure that we are all good. The most important thing for all of us is that there is no need to stress. We have been here before and we will get through it. *Side note - I made the brave decision to go to the supermarket today. It was relatively empty, easy and no queues.
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| Back to the home office! |
August 18 2021: 12:20pm - I have had two online classes so far (Level 2 English and Level 3 English). My Level 2 English Google meet was an exciting 10minute lesson with one student in attendance. My Level 3 English Google meet consisted of me waiting on my class to turn up and then I logged off after 20minutes of starting at myself. However I did receive a few apologies from Level 3 English students and questions about what they need to work on. I have also received a completed assessment from one of my Level 3 English students which made up for lonely lesson I had by myself. All sarcasm aside, today has gone well. I also met with my Whanau mentors and checked in with them. My final online session is with my Whanau House student leaders, we have an online assembly scheduled for Friday August 20, so I want to make sure that they know that they are presenting and what I need them to do for this meeting. Finding a healthy balance between my expectations for my students versus their reality when we are in lockdown, is something that I am becoming more in tune with. The reality is that not all of my students are going to engage straight away, not all are going to get stuck into assessments and use this time to complete it. I am OK with that - well, I am now. Initially I was stressed and worried (I am sure like every other teacher out there). But I am good with this now, this is our (dare I say it) 'new normal'. *Side note - my lunch today was a bowl of porridge. This has become a typical staple in my lockdown diet (with brown sugar of course!)
August 19 2021: 1:21pm - Woke up early this morning to go and get tested. My wife and I were at one of the locations of interests on Friday August 13. We contacted Health Line and they recommended that we go and get tested. So we woke up early and decided to 'wait in line' at 7:00am (for an 8:00am opening) at our local testing clinic. Well, 5 hours and exactly 17 minutes later we have made it home. Tested and slightly over sitting in the car. My online assembly was scheduled for today at 12:30pm and as you may have guessed, I had my assembly online, in the car whilst almost at the top of the line for my test. The last thing I wanted to was have my swab public online so I made my way through the assembly in a very swift fashion which is totally not my style - all of my assembly times whether they are online or in person - go over time, I like to talk! Nevertheless the assembly happened and it was a great time to check in and to share some words of encouragement during an uncertain and strange time. I am thankful to my Year 13 student leaders who are always saying yes to my requests (poor kids) and who always deliver when I need them to. It has been quite a morning, actually it has been quite a week for all of us especially going into a full lockdown. The business of life and when that does came to a halt, the often over-looked but beautiful simplicities in life - like sleeping in, cleaning the house (I have neglected my house for some time so it has been good to reorganize everything), spending time with loved ones and just chilling out - are a much needed reminder and comfort to enjoy right now. I am going to sign off for this week and go and watch the latest update from our PM and her team. *Side note - lunch today was another bowl of delicious porridge. It has not hit the spot so I may indulge in some toast with marmite!
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| Deputy Head Girl + Totara House Leader May Sinfea sharing at our online assembly: "Stay positive, stay in your bubble, remind yourself of your goals and we also understand that these tough times are never easy. So if you are ever in need do not be afraid to reach out. But most importantly we encourage you to continue with your learning, we have been blessed with technology so remember to join our online classes so you can keep track of your assessments especially for our senior year levels. We just want to let you know that you are loved and definitely not alone. In the meantime continue to work, support one another and stay safe" |
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