Wellesley COLLECE DISCOVER YOUR BEST From classroom to couch Lessons from lockdown Wellesley is an Independent School for boys in Years 1-8. Just like all other schools, Wellesley was thrown into the deep end of distance learning as COVID-19 rapidly crossed the globe. Within 24 hours we had to transition from a face-to-face experience to digital learning. Many schools, after Ministry guidance, pulled We also decided to only do a half-day learning the upcoming holiday forward which bought time to "set up' for distance learning. All the positives were starting to emerge, the way at Wellesley we personalise the learning for each boy. seemed to be enhanced when they were working from their own spaces at home. programme, allowing the boys to be active in the afternoons and not be on a screen all day. All the boys, from 5 - 13 had a degree of independence with expectation. They had deadlines and scheduled online lessons and calls each day. Wellesley jumps right in Confident of the work we had done to embrace the age of digital learning, at Wellesley, we decided to jump right in, Our staff felt strongly, that at just past the But it wasn't without challenges! midpoint in the first term of the education year, that we Online teaching and learning is tiring. Furthermore, for did not want to lose the educational gains made by our younger boys, it's much harder to convince them to boys by a sudden holiday. We were also conscious that many families and parents were very quickly having to change their work arrangements and having some form of a continuum of decided to keep the boys connected, (continue to routine would be helpful and important for wellbeing - and sanity! For us, there were two priorities: maintain the well- being of our boys in a lockdown, and keeping the learning going as seamlessly as possible and without the need for parents turning into temporary teachers. work if you are not there in person. When we finally reached our scheduled holidays, we provide some relief for parents) and ran an online holiday programme. Fantastic art works, achievements and innovations came to the fore and our Year 8 house leaders provided constant support through videos which turmed viral on our Facebook page and motivated our younger boys. The decision by staff to have the holiday break later and having a 'normal" start to Term 2 has paid off. The The staff turned to the digital technologies and platforms we had spent time the previous year setting up. Some of our teachers were not particularly familiar, teachers are more comfortable and continue to use or comfortable with these new tools. But with the boys digital technologies and boys have made great strides and their families front of mind, they pushed on. And not only did they push on, they excelled at the delivery. I feel proud of our staff, and even prouder of the boys Our boys quickly assimilated to a program, each school day, where the learning was delivered in a virtual face-to-face fashion. We also maintained our in incorporating digital technologies into their learning. who seemed to cope so seamlessly with this transition. I love also, how with the right safety measures in place, the positive things which the digital age brings were harnessed and often resulted in heartwarming and inspiring outcomes. well-being programme by letting boys get outside, play, explore and discover their best from home. Boys could access assignments, classwork and receive feedback almost instantly on completion of tasks and our learning support teachers continued to hold one-to-one meetings with boys who needed it. It's amazing what a group of boys, encouraged to be themselves, respect others, risk-take appropriately and persevere can do in a lockdown. Kapai gentlemen. Our specialist lessons continued with Visual and Performing Arts, STEAM, French and PE - and For more information about Wellesley, or if you wish to come and see our beautiful campus, please visit importantly wellbeing and mindfulness remained at the www.wellesley.school.nz and register for one of our Discovery Days. Alternatively, Karen in the Office is always keen to hear from prospective parents who wish to ask questions, book a tour with the Principal or centre of all lessons. Some lessons were recorded so boys could review, repeat and revise tasks to consolidate knowiedge. Students could contact their teachers, the deputies or just make an enquiry about our school. me for help and did so often, a lovely informal level of engagement started to emerge. We found it took the learning inside homes and the boys thrived and loved the new style of learning. Progress was made and a new way of working evolved to everyone's delight. Amat Victoria Curam - Victory through care Respect and Empathy Perseverance for Personal Bests Risk Taking in Leaning Phone: 04 5628030 | web: www.wellesley.school.nz 611A Marine Drive, Days Bay Lower Hutt Wellesley COLLECE DISCOVER YOUR BEST From classroom to couch Lessons from lockdown Wellesley is an Independent School for boys in Years 1-8. Just like all other schools, Wellesley was thrown into the deep end of distance learning as COVID-19 rapidly crossed the globe. Within 24 hours we had to transition from a face-to-face experience to digital learning. Many schools, after Ministry guidance, pulled We also decided to only do a half-day learning the upcoming holiday forward which bought time to "set up' for distance learning. All the positives were starting to emerge, the way at Wellesley we personalise the learning for each boy. seemed to be enhanced when they were working from their own spaces at home. programme, allowing the boys to be active in the afternoons and not be on a screen all day. All the boys, from 5 - 13 had a degree of independence with expectation. They had deadlines and scheduled online lessons and calls each day. Wellesley jumps right in Confident of the work we had done to embrace the age of digital learning, at Wellesley, we decided to jump right in, Our staff felt strongly, that at just past the But it wasn't without challenges! midpoint in the first term of the education year, that we Online teaching and learning is tiring. Furthermore, for did not want to lose the educational gains made by our younger boys, it's much harder to convince them to boys by a sudden holiday. We were also conscious that many families and parents were very quickly having to change their work arrangements and having some form of a continuum of decided to keep the boys connected, (continue to routine would be helpful and important for wellbeing - and sanity! For us, there were two priorities: maintain the well- being of our boys in a lockdown, and keeping the learning going as seamlessly as possible and without the need for parents turning into temporary teachers. work if you are not there in person. When we finally reached our scheduled holidays, we provide some relief for parents) and ran an online holiday programme. Fantastic art works, achievements and innovations came to the fore and our Year 8 house leaders provided constant support through videos which turmed viral on our Facebook page and motivated our younger boys. The decision by staff to have the holiday break later and having a 'normal" start to Term 2 has paid off. The The staff turned to the digital technologies and platforms we had spent time the previous year setting up. Some of our teachers were not particularly familiar, teachers are more comfortable and continue to use or comfortable with these new tools. But with the boys digital technologies and boys have made great strides and their families front of mind, they pushed on. And not only did they push on, they excelled at the delivery. I feel proud of our staff, and even prouder of the boys Our boys quickly assimilated to a program, each school day, where the learning was delivered in a virtual face-to-face fashion. We also maintained our in incorporating digital technologies into their learning. who seemed to cope so seamlessly with this transition. I love also, how with the right safety measures in place, the positive things which the digital age brings were harnessed and often resulted in heartwarming and inspiring outcomes. well-being programme by letting boys get outside, play, explore and discover their best from home. Boys could access assignments, classwork and receive feedback almost instantly on completion of tasks and our learning support teachers continued to hold one-to-one meetings with boys who needed it. It's amazing what a group of boys, encouraged to be themselves, respect others, risk-take appropriately and persevere can do in a lockdown. Kapai gentlemen. Our specialist lessons continued with Visual and Performing Arts, STEAM, French and PE - and For more information about Wellesley, or if you wish to come and see our beautiful campus, please visit importantly wellbeing and mindfulness remained at the www.wellesley.school.nz and register for one of our Discovery Days. Alternatively, Karen in the Office is always keen to hear from prospective parents who wish to ask questions, book a tour with the Principal or centre of all lessons. Some lessons were recorded so boys could review, repeat and revise tasks to consolidate knowiedge. Students could contact their teachers, the deputies or just make an enquiry about our school. me for help and did so often, a lovely informal level of engagement started to emerge. We found it took the learning inside homes and the boys thrived and loved the new style of learning. Progress was made and a new way of working evolved to everyone's delight. Amat Victoria Curam - Victory through care Respect and Empathy Perseverance for Personal Bests Risk Taking in Leaning Phone: 04 5628030 | web: www.wellesley.school.nz 611A Marine Drive, Days Bay Lower Hutt