Mental Health awareness week(Reflection)

 This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is September 21 to 27, and the theme is Reimagine Wellbeing Together: He Tirohanga Anamata. It is more timely than ever as we reflect on the uncertainties and stresses caused by COVID-19. MHAW 2020 is an opportunity for everyone to redefine and rediscover what wellbeing looks like, during COVID-19 and beyond. 

 Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is a reminder that we all have mental health – it's a taonga/treasure and something to look after! MHAW is an opportunity for a school or Kura community to reimagine wellbeing and nurture a culture of wellbeing where everyone feels safe, supported and valued.

This year hasn't been easy, and MHAW 2020 is a chance to build on the simple things we’ve been doing to look after ourselves and to reimagine what wellbeing looks like – together. MHAW is a timely reminder of the simple, everyday actions tauira/students and kaiako/teachers can take to look after their wellbeing. It is an opportunity for tamariki/children, tauira, kaiako and more comprehensive staff and whānau to reimagine what experiences, actions, relationships and surroundings make them feel good. 

Tongan Language Week(Reflection)

 Tonga Language Week is on from Sunday 6 September to Saturday 12 September 2020. The theme for Tonga Language Week is: "Fakakoloa 'o Aotearoa 'aki 'a e Lotu Mo'oni". "Enriching Aotearoa New Zealand through Prayer and Faith". The Ministry for Pacific Peoples works closely with Pacific communities’ to maintain and promote heritage languages. Languages magnify the value of a community, providing a vital link between our place in Aotearoa and our heritage as peoples of the vast blue Pacific continent.

At the time of the 2013 census, there were over 60 000 New Zealanders who identified as Tongan. Currently, there are more Tongan people born in New Zealand than there are in Tonga, giving lea faka-Tonga (the Tonga language) and anga faka-Tonga (Tonga culture) a special place here in Aotearoa.

Auckland was at level 2.5 this week. But still, teachers and SLT team worked hard to celebrate the week and introduce Tonagn activities and introduce the importance of Tongan language to the students.

Tongan language week was celebrated in school by performing various activities with students and teachers in school. The whole week was amazing and celebration and participation of students and teachers in Tongan cultural activities were amazing. Every day it was a new phrase in Tongan and students and teachers learn new phrases whole week. Tongan language games, Classroom discussions, InvestigateTongan art, hold a community event. 

Last day of the week was Mufti day and cultural day. Every teacher and the student dressed up in their cultural dresses and represents there cultural. It was amazing.

Teacher Well-being during Lock down

   

         Teacher Wellbeing During COVID-19 Lockdown

Schooling during lockdown constitutes some unique challenges for teacher wellbeing. Teachers are now working in a way in which they have never had to before—at the same time, facing anxiety about the current situation and uncertainty about the future.

Teaching is inherently social and communication is fundamental to everyone working in schools. Stay in close touch and share your fears and concerns openly and honestly with friends, partners, colleagues and managers to get some perspective.

At the same time, think about others you might be able to help in some way – in your school community, at home or in your other networks. A phone call, text, Zoom get-together – whatever the medium, it can make a difference to how you and others feel.

If working and delivering lessons remotely, make sure you keep in close touch with your teams who can be a great source of support in themselves. If you have worries, problems or anxieties in or out of work that will not go away, then talking to someone outside your situation can make a huge difference and can help you to find a way through.

“SMART teachers (Self, Motivation, Activity, Relationships, and use of Time) appreciate the tight connections between physical and mental wellbeing and the benefits of being active in this regard. 

"Engage in professional learning and adaptively apply this learning in practice."