Kerikeri High School
Thursday 09/04/2020
Dear valued agents and partners around the world.
I hope this finds you all safe and well? Here in NZ we have completed two weeks of national lockdown and the results are looking positive. Our number of new cases of COVID19 are dropping every day.
We have 59 international students who have chosen to stay here with us in lockdown with their host families and everyone is maintaining good spirits. We have been very lucky that the weather has been beautiful and sunny and the students have been enjoying being part of a kiwi family helping with chores like gardening and fixing the family boat, other families are including their student/s in a family walk or bike ride each day.
We are still on school holidays (school goes back next Wednesday 15 April) and of course it is the Easter holiday weekend starting tomorrow. We are running a “come dine with me” dining experience competition over the Easter holiday. It is open to all families who have an international student/s and we are expecting some good fun entries. The aim of the competition is to get everyone in the household involved in the preparation, cooking, eating and entertainment of the dining experience. We encourage each family to come up with a theme. We will look forward to sharing the winning entry with you later next week.
As I mentioned above school goes back next Wednesday 15 April, this will be 100% online learning and students are all prepared with their passwords and access to their school accounts. Most have already been completing work online already before the holidays started. Students are already commenting that they are enjoying the opportunity to ask their teachers questions one on one and that learning at their own pace suits them well.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Easter and safe times ahead
Warm regards
Jessica
Jessica Donovan Director International Students
21.04.2020
Dear valued Agents
My hope is that this email finds you well and safe in these unusual times. Our thoughts are with you and the challenges that you face in your individual countries as you navigate changes to work and family life. Our little international community is closer than ever now I think.
New Zealand has been extraordinarily fortunate and well placed to deal with Covid19. Our small, relatively isolated islands with low population density and the outstanding leadership from our government and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern means that this has been a safe place for your young person to be. The early closing of New Zealand borders and request for the population to stay home these last four weeks have made our story a relatively successful one- to date we have only 12 deaths and no confirmed community transmission. All Covid19 suspected and confirmed cases are isolated and contacts of all affected individuals are traced. Our Health Services are well prepared and not feeling an adverse impact as a result of the very low number of cases on our shores. At present New Zealand is in the unique position of being able to aim for eradication of the virus over coming months. This would allow our population, and your young person, a level of freedom in our day to day lives that will not be possible for some time in other places in the world.
The latest news from us is that our country will be moving to what we call Level 3 next Tuesday 28 April. This means that we are still primarily at home with our families but some further services and small businesses will open. For our schools Level 3 means that young people up to and including Year 10 can return to school if they are children of essential workers and there is no one to care for them at home. These students will have a very small school “bubble” or class and will be supervised as they work; all other students will remain at home educated by distance learning. Most of your young people fall into this second category and will continue to learn at home. We expect the Prime Minister to review this again and announce on the 11 May whether we will continue in Level 3 or can move more towards having older students physically back in school.
Our Teachers are doing an outstanding job of teaching online. Every day lessons are posted on your young person’s school Calendar which is called Spider and they can click on these an access the learning. This is supported by one to one contact by email and Zoom meetings where teachers and students can interact face to face. We would encourage you to talk to your young person about his or her learning, to encourage them to make the most of their time and remind them that their progress and ability to transition successfully back to their own education system depends on their continued commitment to learning. We hope to have them back with us in person soon.
I would also like to take this opportunity to reassure you that your young people have been very well cared for. Many schools in New Zealand have lost significant numbers of International students as parents rushed to get their children home. The decision to leave your young person with us must have been very difficult for you please be reassured that Kerikeri High School has lost very few of our International student family, with students choosing to stay where they feel safe and happy. Our homestay parents have been wonderful, embracing the situation and caring for their students- we are hearing lovely stories of stronger connections made. Our students are very happy in their “bubbles” and experiencing a real Kiwi family life. We are also fortunate to have our International Staff- Jessica, Paula and Sarah who have been as efficient and caring as ever, keeping in touch with students and homestays and finding fun ways to keep our students connected to each other and to them.
Thank you again for your trust in us and your patience while we continue to work through such a complex situation. You made a good decision to leave your young person in New Zealand, as much as you must have wanted to see them again at this time. If you are thinking of extending the stay of your young person and haven’t done so already please do get in touch with Jessica. We will be happy to keep them in our Kerikeri High School family and understand that in uncertain times plans will change and the happiness and safety of these young people must be a priority.
We are watching carefully what happens around the world, we feel your pain and are cheering on your successes. We will continue to look after your children as we would our own until you can be with them again.
Kind Regards
Elizabeth Forgie
Principal
Kerikeri High School
