Te Rito Toi - Returning to school through love and care

 This webinar had important messages for schools that will guide us as we welcome students back. All teachers at our school have watched the webinar. We want to ensure we welcome our children back by going gently. We have permission to, and it is important that we work differently.

 Professor Carol Mutch who researches the role of school in disaster and crisis settings (such as Canterbury earthquakes, the Christchurch terror attack and covid pandemic) was a on the panel as well as Professor Peter O'Connor who is one of the leads of Te Rito Toi.

It was interesting to think about the fact that some families will have 'cascading trauma' - event after event (Lynn Mall Attack, West Auckland floods..) Children will return to school with different 'baggage' and need to reengage gently. We can't assume but must show awhi, aroha and inclusivity.  It's important schools acknowledge there's a lot we're trying to do and to take support offered. 

From Carol's notes:

Through all my research, there have been four constant themes:

• The ways in which schools are central to community recovery: become community anchors
• The ways that principals and their leadership teams step up and become crisis leaders, despite the toll that it takes on them
• The ways that teachers become front-line trauma workers, trying to balance a return to the task of teaching with caring for children and young people’s wellbeing 
• The surprising and varied ways in which children and young people respond and engage in their own, their families’ and communities’ recovery

Peter O'Connor reminded us that we're not to go back thinking we need to make sure children 'catch up' on their reading, maths etc. What they need to catch up on is relationships and the rhythm and pattern of life -  playing with friends and having fun. We're not going back to 'routines' because things are not as they were before, it's not a return to normal it's a return to something else.  He asked how do we make coming back to school exciting? How do we create a buzz? With joyful, wonderful learning. 

This is an opportunity for schools to model doing something different. To show care and kindness. Use Te Rito Toi - it is a wonderful resource we have in NZ, and it is research formed and research led. With this is sort of learning happening in our classes, Peter imagines people in the future remembering that 'we didn't go to school for ages and when we returned - it was different. It was amazing, wondrous, joyful...and then the next year it kept going...".

Another key message was of supporting each other - this way of learning and teaching will be easier for some than others, some will have more experience. Share. Be kind. Help each other. Explore and use Te Rito Toi. Try new things. Reflect.

I feel reassured and motivated after this webinar - we have the resources, we have 'permission' - we need to do it.