Bubble School and Zoom assemblies at Mercury Bay Area School

Supporting Essential Workers

The bubble classes are made up of students aged from 5 to 14, who are the children of local essential workers. There are four bubble classes being taught at present. Just like their classmates at home they are carrying on with the online learning programmes, but from a classroom at school. At break times, the children have been busy inventing games that comply with physical distancing rules.

The kids are amazing, they’ve been enjoying being at school, even though they can’t play on the playgrounds because they are still closed, they say that it's nice to see people again, even if it’s from a distance.

– Anne-Maree McDougall, Deputy Principal Mercury Bay Area School

Zoom Assemblies 

As well as online classes, the Primary Years students have been holding Zoom Assemblies. They practiced these in term 2, when the school production meant that the school hall wasn't available to meet. Mrs McDougall says she’s thankful for the support of her Year 6 Leaders for helping her with this, especially the reminders of turning the sound on when she shares her screen!

Online Learning

School will reopen at Alert Level 2 and until then online learning programmes will be in place for students as it has been over the last two weeks.

We are really appreciative of the parents at home doing the ‘double duty’. Being parents, sometimes working too and looking after the home teaching and learning.

– Anne-Maree McDougall, Deputy Principal Mercury Bay Area School

Key messages from the school around lockdown learning 

• Wellbeing is the most important priority –  if you are not feeling ok please reach out
• Go slow and be kind
• Keep structure and familiarity whenever you can.