Special COVID-19 Update
Assalaamu Alaykum
(Peace be with you)
Kia ora, Talofa lava, Mãlo e lelei and Greetings to all
HOW ARE YOU?
The Management and staff of Haleema Kindergarten hope that this newsletter reaches you and your family in good health, and that you have developed strategies/practices to cope during this challenging, lockdown period.
We are concerned about the children’s and your Health and Wellbeing, and welcome any updates to family circumstances/comments/suggestions to how we could be of assistance to/support you during this trying time.
COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS UPDDATE
Congratulations, you have survived the first three weeks of the Lockdown period!
Thank You for your compliance to the government’s call for lockdown, self-isolation and maintaining your ‘bubble’ to keep the community safe. If you are an essential worker/supporter, we commend and thank you, too, for your amazing services to the community.
The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health have consistently provided us with COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS updates since the beginning of the pandemic outbreak to keep our learning community regularly informed about important information, and prepared for important government announcements and developments in emergency status.
They have also provided invaluable links and support for teachers’ wellbeing and engagement with parents/whānau/aiga during this unprecedented time, to continue ‘Early Learning at Home’ via the following Websites and links:
Learning from Home / Ki Te Ao Mārama Websites:
https://govt.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=373954a1e5499801180060837&id=04f708ee09&e=951dfde104
Home Learning | Papa Kāinga TV will also start education broadcasting for early learners and students in Years 1–10 from 9am on Wednesday 15 April, with Māori Television launching te reo educational programmes on the same day.
However, changes in circumstances and emergency status are also imminent. Planning for changes in COVID-19 alert levels is important for ease of transition and regulating ourselves in preparedness for these developments.
Changes to School Terms have been made accordingly:
Thursday, 26 March Alert Level 4 commenced
Saturday, 28 March School holidays begin
Friday to Tuesday, 10 – 14 April Easter
(Including the Tuesday after Easter)
Wednesday, 15 April Term 2 begins
Wednesday, 22 April Current date for ending of lockdown period
Saturday, 25 April Ramadhan (month of fasting) commences*
Monday, 27 April ANZAC Day observed
Sunday, 24 May Eid-ul-Fitr*
Friday, 3 July Term 2 ends
Monday, 20 July Term 3 begins
Friday, 31 July Eid-ul-Adha*
Friday, 25 September Term 3 ends
Monday, 12 October Term 4 begins
Friday, 18 December Term 4 ends
(* Depending on the sighting of the new moon for that month)
On the 20th April 2020, the Prime Minister also plans to make an announcement, including possible changes to the COVID-19 alert level.
Assuming the alert level does change, current planning assumptions are that teachers will have Thursday 23 and Friday 24 April to fully access the kindergarten and undertake property inspections and necessary maintenance and cleaning. Monday 27 April is a public holiday (ANZAC Day observed). Tuesday 28 might be a staff-only day, and children may be welcomed back from Wednesday, the 29th April 2020 onwards. As the Health and Safety of our staff and children are paramount, the decision for re-opening the kindergarten will be dependent on future advisements from the government. We will notify you in due time of our decision, Insha’Allah (God willing).
CURRENT CURRICULUM FOCUS
(HK will be compliant to the government’s decision and advisement about when to re-open the kindergarten.)
When we do re-open, our first priority is to assess the current situation and ensure the safe return of all our children and their parents/whānau/aiga to a clean and safe environment, including facilities, and being ready to continue with on-site learning.
PARENT’S CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOMED AND VALUED
Teachers are curious and interested in knowing how our tamariki (children) are coping at home during this trying time.
We welcome and will truly appreciate any feedback/anecdotal stories/photographs of your child’s ‘Special Moments’ in their plays at home.
REMEMBER: ALL PLAY IS LEARNING
Your sharing of information, in this regard, may inform our future planning for your child’s learning and development upon their return to kindergarten.
You can send your responses to:
haleemakindergarten@xtra.co.nz OR
HK Mobile Phone #: 027 200 9784 OR
via our newly-developed FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/Haleema-Kindergarten-Lower-Hutt-107220697612639/
(NOTE: This FB page was recently created by one of the board members of HK Trustees, Rashad Syed, and is still under review and in the process of updating information.)
Remember that we are in this together, and that we are here to assist you.
Thank you for your Patience, Understanding and Co-operation during the lockdown period.
Stay Safe and Take Care, God willing.
Shukran Thank you Kia ora
The HK Team