I trust that you are well and that despite the restrictions of the current lockdown that you have been able to enjoy the benefits of the experience and the extra time with your families. On behalf of the Lindisfarne College community a special thanks to those in our community who are involved in the Health Sector and other essential services. We are so grateful for your work, commitment and contribution to the community.

Next Wednesday (15th April) the College will begin to formally deliver teaching and learning online, although some staff have already posted material for students. ‘Classroom’ ProceduresAs previously indicated teaching and learning will be delivered through our Learning Management System ‘Schoology’ using its various means of communicating, delivering and sharing work. The primary means of communication between teachers and students will be through shared documents and e-mail. Some staff may choose to use video conferencing software such as Zoom or Teams if they feel it is of particular value to a specific lesson or task. For the boys, the volume of schoolwork time should be the equivalent of a typical week including ‘prep’ time.

As teachers, students and parents it is very important that we understand that online learning is different from the normal classroom setting and therefore the pedagogy, strategies and timings will be different. The needs of different subjects mean that a ‘normal’ classroom timetable is often not the best way to deliver learning in this setting. A Technology or Science task in this setting may require and allow students to spend 2 hours one day researching something or even conducting an experiment, rather than being restricted to separate 50-minute classroom periods. Flexible use of time is one of the genuine advantages of on-line learning and the ability to use fewer but longer blocks of time in some subjects is a real bonus.

Staff will ensure that the total time in a week will however match the usual teaching and learning time of a normal week. Teachers will therefore not always be ‘appearing’ for a lesson at a timetabled moment in the day (although some teachers may choose this method) but rather communicating with students about the work required and supporting them as required. When a teacher wishes a class to be available on-line or for a video conference at a particular time it will be in their timetabled period and would take precedence over other subject tasks that boys have at that time.

We are extremely confident that learning will continue well and that no students should be disadvantaged. Where boys have had support from teacher aides, those staff members where possible, will be part of the Schoology class and will communicate with the boys they usually support. There will no doubt be some challenges as this is a new scale of learning online for staff and students and because many staff also have their own children to care for during the day as well. Please feel free to communicate by e-mail with teachers if there are ideas or issues you wish to share. If a staff member is ill, we have processes in place to ensure that lessons continue coordinated by the Heads of Faculty.

Some students will find value in working the hours of a normal school day in order to maintain some structure and routine in a day and we would encourage this approach where it works in your home situation. We are aware that these circumstances may vary depending on family circumstances, but we are also aware that this approach may help boys avoid procrastination and as a result get behind on their work. Student Wellbeing from a wellbeing perspective we are also keen that boys retain balance in their working day and include exercise, food and mental breaks during the school day. The sports staff have put some fitness challenges on Facebook for boys to use if they are wanting ideas. I am sure that Mr McAleese and Mrs Akeripa would be happy to provide fitness advice to students via e-mail as well. If there are other more personal wellbeing concerns regarding your son please use the usual lines of communications to their Tutor or Dean, or if there are serious concerns to the Guidance Counsellor, Chaplain or Mr Rogers (Middle School) and Mr Howlett (Senior School).

Boys are encouraged to contact their teachers by e-mail or through Schoology (as they trialled in the last week of the last term) but should be aware that staff will have up to 100 students across their classes as well as their own families to look after. This will mean replies may not be immediate and will generally not be answered outside normal working hours but will be responded to as soon as is possible. Boys should be aware that all messaging on Schoology is visible to staff so their language and comments should reflect the normal polite etiquette expectations of the College.

Internet Connections should you have significant issues regarding internet access to our system please phone Mr Barry or Mr Rogers at their school number and leave a message. This will appear in their e-mail and they will be in touch. We will do what we can to support your sons learning if this occurs. At this stage we are not aware of any boys without access to Schoology through the internet. Some providers are giving unlimited data for free during this period so do contact your provider to see if this is the case for you.A new experience for allThis level of on-line learning is a new experience for students, parents and staff so please allow for this if we need to resolve any issues or problems together. We have been monitoring and applying the lessons and discoveries from schools around the world some of whom have been closed since mid-January. Staff are working hard through their holiday period to prepare. We will in time also be seeking feedback from students on this experience.

Financial Questions I mentioned in my last communication that we have delayed sending out the Term 2 accounts. This was because we felt we needed a better understanding of the situation before making any significant decisions. The next 2 weeks are in reality the last 2 weeks of Term 1 (due to the shifting of the holiday period) and so no further payments would be due until April 27th. Clearly, we do not know if schools will continue to be closed past that date although it seems unlikely that we will immediately return to normal. It is clear that the full costs for Boarding and Dayboy lunches for example would not be passed on if closure continues and a reduced charge would be determined and communicated as soon as possible with the next account sent out at the start of May. The College Council will make this decision as soon as they can and we will communicate with you as soon as we are able.We are very aware that for some parents the lock down has had a significant impact in terms of their employment status or the financial viability of their businesses and in some cases this may put at risk their ability to keep their sons at the College. Continuity of education and social stability is clearly important to our boys in a time of uncertainty. We want to provide (where possible) support for families to keep their sons at the College and are looking at a range of options that could help. With close to 500 families in our community I am sure that you can see the challenge for us given we need to cover our fixed costs and support our own staff also.If you have a particular challenge financially I would invite you to confidentially share that with me or the Bursar so that we can determine the scale of needs and look at any possible ways we could support at least some of our more needy families. 

For others in a better situation this might be an opportunity to contribute to a hardship fund in support of others through a donation to the College Foundation. Please contact the Bursar (Mr Barry Law) email: bursar@lindisfarne.school.nz if you are in a position to help in this way. ConclusionIn conclusion I am confident that there is no reason your sons cannot continue to successfully learn in this new environment. It will be a chance to show they can lead their own learning and demonstrate self-discipline, personal motivation and integrity. We are here to provide support and care as we usually do, albeit in a new way. We all hope that the steps taken by us all as a nation will result in a return to normality as soon as possible. In the interim as the community of Lindisfarne, let us all model our faith and values and be kind, serve others, stay well and look out for the interests of all in our neighbourhoods and communities. 

Yours sincerely

Ken MacLeod

Rector

Article added: Saturday 11 April 2020