Dear Valens Family,

'And that's a wrap' for Week 1 of remote online learning - well done team. I commend you and the boys for completing your first week of remote online learning and I hope you are well.

The following are some key reminders:

• Refer to the ‘Meeting Schedule’ as I have requested set times to ‘catch up’ with your son.

Meeting Schedule.odt

Download ODT • 13KB

• Ask your son to ...

  1. show you our ‘Valens Boarding Online Year 7 & 8’ Google Classroom page;

  2. explain the ‘Valens Boarding Online Competition’ and the Google Doc: ‘Must Read …’ (this document outlines the requirements and expectations of remote online learning).

  3. ‘save’ the IT Support contact on their phone

I have encouraged our boys to do their best in terms of working independently and to contact me at anytime if they need help or have any concerns. This week the boys shared with me their study space as their first task for the ‘Valens Boarding Online Competition’ – well done gentlemen!

These are challenging times for everyone and I think we can all agree that we want the same thing: ‘To be there for our boys in any way we can’. The current COVID climate is having a profound impact on the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents, far greater it appears than the experts have predicted. Please take the time to read the attached 'SPECIAL REPORT' by Child Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, as it provides essential and timely information for everyone in response to COVID fatigue, youth and mental health.

SPECIAL REPORT

Blessings

Tevita Halaifonua