Woolston School Would Like to Thank Everyone For All Their Help After the Christchurch Earthquake on Feb 22, 2011

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The tamariki from Woolston School would like to thank everyone who has helped us to recover after the Christchurch February 22nd earthquake.

Each class helped to make the letters to hang on our fence and also made a large poster to express their thanks. 

We then displayed all the posters together on the end wall of our library.

School To Reopen on Monday

We are all looking forward to school reopening on Monday March 21st at 9:00am.
Our classrooms have been thoroughly checked by several teams of structural engineers and deemed to be undamaged and safe for us to return to.
Our new buildings especially, stood up to the shaking extremely well.


On Monday we also welcome tamariki and staff from Te Waka Huruhurumanu ki Ōtautahi, a local pre-school, who will be sharing our site until they again have access to their own buildings which are located just within the cordoned off CBD.


We have also had to lose two of our relocatable classrooms which were not being used for regular class programmes. These classrooms have been moved to Cashmere High School. Pupils from Linwood College will be hosted at Cashmere High School in the afternoons while their school is repaired so some of our ex-pupils will recognise the classrooms when they commence there, one of which has a graphic reminder of where it has come from on its end wall!

Preparing the classroom for removal.

This classroom takes with it a graphic memory of Woolston School.

Mrs Maher's old classroom, ready for its journey to Cashmere High School.

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Today many of our students who are still in Christchurch, their families and friends, came to school to have a fun day, reuniting with each other in preparation for school reopening on Monday, March 21st.

There were lots of fun activities to do. Have a look at these photos:

Darkest Hour - by Poem

Have a look at this You Tube video. The song was written by one of our ex pupils, Rua Morgan aka Poem. 

He is now residing in Sydney and has just become a proud dad.

Well done Rua. Tēnā rawa atu koe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F4RF390dIk

Natural Disasters

Find out more about Natural Disasters in New Zealand.

This link shows you what to do in a range of natural disasters and some historical facts by region.

We strongly recommend that your family has a plan for each type of emergency. Have a safe meeting place for when you are all at home or when you are scattered over the city - where will each family member go to keep safe?

http://www.whatstheplanstan.govt.nz/mcdem/index.html

Website Links for Learning

Here are some links to sites where you can do some fun learning activities online.

LITERACY

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids

Word building activities

www.schooljotter.com/showpage.php?id=55486

Sentence building activities:

http://www.schooljotter.com/showpage.php?id=55487

Write tour own Wacky Web Tales - lots of fun!

http://www.eduplace.com/tales/index.html

NUMERACY

Addition Activities:

http://www.schooljotter.com/showpage.php?id=55508

Multiplication activities:

http://www.schooljotter.com/showpage.php?id=55512

I'll put some more website links here for you over the next few days.

Earthquake Update - Timeline

TIMELINE

9/03/11      Level 2 Structural Engineering inspection

                  Senior Management Team to contact ALL staff

10/03/11    Report from Structural Engineer received

Access to ADULTS approved subject to report outcomes

Staff to contact ALL families (Phone Tree Activated)

11/03/11    Open to parents for collection of student bags, clothes, lunch boxes etc. 9-10am

                  Caretaker onsite to remove broken glass and secure furniture

14/03/11    Welfare meeting & briefing (Staff Only)

15/03/11    Staff in school 9am-12 to clean up and organise work areas

16/03/11    Ministry of Education Trauma Team working with staff to provide guidance and support for working with children on their return.

Professional planning to support our community

Contact with all families to develop reassurance & support plans

                  Prep Day

17/03/11    10:00am - 1:00pm - School Open for Family Fun Day/BBQ/

Reassurance Day

18/03/11    Provincial Day of Mourning

21/03/11    OPEN FOR FULL INSTRUCTION - normal school hours

Support Plans:

·      GSE to be contacted to discuss additional TA support for ORRs students.

·      Additional experienced teacher employed temporarily to support and work alongside staff needing support.

·      DP to act as family liaison and support for senior students and their families with identified concerns and anxieties.

·      AP to act as family liaison and support for junior students & their families with identified concerns and anxieties.

·      Coffee / drop in room for parents and families during mornings of the first week.

*  Plan will evolve as needs arise.

*   Staff to attend trauma team session

Latest Update for School Reopening

W O O L S T O N   R E O P E N I N G   P L A N S

Info to date:

·      We are yet (8/02/11) to get clearance for adults to be on site at school.

·      A Level 2 structural engineers report has been commissioned by the MoE after our initial report identified some areas needing reviewed.

·      Our project manager has already organized a builder to come in and carry out a number of remedial repairs.  Lights & heaters have been reconnected to our ceilings, racked doors realigned, broken windows repaired.

·      Liquefaction has been cleared from the site

·      1000 liter Water tank of clean purified drinkable water delivered to school on 9/02/11

·      MoE sourcing portaloos as back up if sewerage system not operating when school returns.

 Where to next:

·      Once a structural engineering report is forwarded to the MoE that indicates our premises are safe I can complete an application to the MoE for ADULTS to be onsite.

·      We then need staff to come in and assist in the clean up

·      Cracked windows need to be taped, liquefaction residue cleaned and full internal clean.

·      Drink fountains to be turned off by plumber prior to students returning.

·      Assessing staff personal situations, availability, state of mind and ability to fulfill their responsibilities to students.

·      Complete reopening plan.

Supporting Our Children

The  Ministry of Education Website  (www.minedu.govt.nz) has the following message to parents and educators

The Christchurch earthquake has been frightening for everyone involved especially for children who may not understand what has happened. Children will try to make sense of what has happened and adjust to the changes that have happened to their homes and schools. Parents and teachers are very important supports for children.

How children respond to the earthquake depends on you and your ability to re-establish some familiar routines and explain calmly what has happened and why change is occurring (even though you might be feeling very stressed). You may need to explain this over and over again. Children might:

• want to be with you all the time and be a bit clingy
• need more reassurance than usual
• be scared that the big earthquake is going to happen again
• be tired and have trouble sleeping and eating
• be more frustrated and impatient than usual.

Be aware that children are most afraid that:

• the event will happen again, buildings and other things will fall down
• someone might be injured or killed
• they will be separated from you or the family
• they will be left alone.

The earthquake will result in a range of reactions and questions from toddlers, children and young people depending on their experience of the earthquake. Talking and listening is very important. Let your child/students know that you will all look after each other. It is important for parents and caregivers to give lots of cuddles and hugs.