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Kia ora koutou,
Today our Prime Minister confirmed that Auckland will continue in Covid-19 Alert Level 4 and the rest of New Zealand in (Delta) Level 2 until at least Tuesday 21 September. For BTI, this means we will continue to teach some classes onsite and some online, as we have started today, with Level 2 restrictions. We must continue to wear masks on campus in shared spaces, maintain at least 1 metre distance, and stay home if unwell or we need to self isolate. See our recent blog post for more details of Level 2 on campus. For those of our community who are in Auckland, we are very grateful for your mahi at Level 4, keeping us all safe and stopping the spread of the virus. Thank you. I'd like to acknowledge that many of us might be thinking, " Kua pau te hau / I’m exhausted" right now. It is hard to juggle the needs of our whānau, our communities, and especially our own needs during this time. Please reach out, to friends or our staff, or check in with each other. We can only get through this by supporting one another, building each other up, and in doing so we show God's love in practical and real ways. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki, In God we trust, Dr Andrew Butcher, Te Taiurungi/ Principal
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Kia ora koutou,
BTI have received advice from the Ministry of Education around expectations for tertiary institutions during this Covid-19 Alert Level 2, so we can now give you all a bit more detailed information about how being on campus and in class will work. Classes will resume on campus from 13 Sept Classes will resume on campus for those who normally attend on campus from Monday, 13 September. Except for:
Masks should be worn on campus Many of you will know that this time around, Level 2 requires that we wear masks in public spaces, including libraries and museums. When you come onto BTI campus, we strongly encourage you to wear a mask and will have some available from Reception should you require one. Our staff will also be wearing masks. Advice on how to wear a mask safely. Sign in when on campus It is also now required that you record where you have been and when under this Level 2. When you come onto BTI campus, you should sign in using the NZ Covid Tracer app by scanning a QR code or using the manual sign in sheets. To download the Covid Tracer app, go to the your app store or visit the government Covid-19 website. Keep your distance and keep washing your hands We encourage students to maintain at least 1 metre distance between you and other students or staff on campus. This is a time of reconnection and it will be lovely to meet together, but it is still important that we keep physically apart, for now. Coupled with good hand hygiene, coughing or sneezing into your elbow, and staying home if you are unwell, this social distance will help keep our staff and your fellow students safe while we work and study together. We are working hard in the meantime to make sure that extra hygiene measures and sanitiser stations are set up around campus, as well as setting up signing in and distanced teaching areas. We know this can be an unsettling and anxious time, so please reach out to one of our staff if we can help, or your friends and whānau. You can also talk to someone 24/7 by calling 1737. Ngā mihi nui, Dr Andrew Butcher Te Taiurungi/ Principal Kia ora koutou,
BTI are grateful to welcome students and staff back onto campus under government Covid-19 Alert Level 2 guidelines from Thursday, 9 September. Online teaching will continue for the rest of this week. We will be in touch with more details in the next day or two, as these are finalised, about online tutorials, class size restrictions etc. Please read these emails as this is our primary means of keeping in touch with you. Please be aware that there are important things to remember under Level 2 when on campus:
Finally, we would like to celebrate with all of Aotearoa New Zealand that this lockdown period has been working to slow and stop the spread of Covid-19 in our community. Our combined actions of staying home, and Aucklanders continuing to stay home, have saved lives and we can be proud of this. This is good news. We also know that whatever alert level, whatever kind of day we’re having, God, Immanuel, is with us. And that’s good news for all people for all times. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki, In God we trust, Dr Andrew Butcher Te Taiurungi, Principal Alert Level 3 is in place for BTI, and that means we continue to stay online and offsite until at least Monday 6 September.
However, if you need to visit the library, you can now do so under the following conditions:
Access hours for the Library:
If you are struggling, Covid-19 resources are linked from the Covid-19 website and as always, you are encouraged to contact your usual lines of support - your cohort mentors, NMA team, academic support team, or course coordinators. Kia ora koutou,
As you may have heard, while Auckland and Northland will likely remain at Level 4, the rest of the country will move to Alert Level 3 from Wednesday, 1st September until at least Monday, 6 September. While Tauranga remains in Alert Level 3, the BTI campus will remain closed to all staff and students. Classes will continue online, and students can continue to contact educators and support staff through email or via BTI Online. We are aware that this "lockdown" has presented a challenge for many, as some of you were half-way through onsite intensives or about to start practical experience weeks when the Covid Alert Levels changed. The TEC has established a Covid Hardship fund, and BTI encourages students who have suffered hardship through these circumstances to apply. See a recent email with the form to apply for this fund, or check the website: https://www.bti.ac.nz/student-support.html All of the BTI staff team look forward to being back on campus soon when we get to Level 2. In the meantime, please keep in touch with us - through your cohort mentors, NMA team, academic support team, or course coordinators. Together we can get through this challenging time, and maybe we will soon be able to see God's hand in bringing our whānau together, in showing us the power of stillness and silence, and in teaching us to wait on Him. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki, In God we trust, Dr Andrew Butcher Te Taiurungi/ Principal Kia ora koutou,
While we battle this latest community outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, BTI campus will remain closed for all of next week. Classes will continue online, through BTI Online, and our staff will be in touch with those booked to begin practical experience next week to outline what will happen. Please continue to look after each other and to reach out for help or support - our staff are there to help if we can. And please continue to play your part in our "Team of 5 million" as we work to keep our whānau and communities safe. Above all, we know that we can continue to trust in the great sovereignty of God in this world, at BTI, and in our lives. We know God is faithful, gives us strength, and his mercies are new every morning. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki, In God we trust, Dr Andrew Butcher Te Taiurungi/Principal Kia ora koutou,
As we have all heard, the Prime Minister has announced a change to Covid Alert Level 4 from midnight tonight for all of Aotearoa New Zealand. This will apply until midnight on Friday for most, and for 7 days for Auckland and the Coromandel. This means that BTI campus will be closed this week, and in-person intensives will be cancelled. Classes will be moved online and course coordinators will be in touch directly with more details over the next 24-hours. We know that God gives each of us the strength, wisdom and courage for each day. Let us continue to be kind and look after each other as we stay at home to keep our communities safe. And we also know that this change in Covid-19 Alert Levels has significantly raised levels of anxiety and stress for all of us and our whānau. Our staff are here to support you if we can. Please email your course coordinator if you have any study questions or concerns, or call 1737 for mental health support at any time to talk to someone. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki, In God we trust, Dr Andrew Butcher Te Taiurungi/ Principal There was news this week about the government's Covid-19 plan including increasing vaccination availability and opening up the border: see https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/latest-updates/government-sets-out-plan-to-reconnect-new-zealanders-to-the-world/
At BTI we also have a plan, that will be implemented if there is any change to Covid-19 Alert levels. We will be in touch with you again as soon as we can should things change. In the meantime, we need to keep on doing all the things that keep us safe together: signing in when you're out and about, staying home if you're sick, wearing a face covering on public transport or planes, and practicing good hand hygiene. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki (In God we trust) Anxious about whether scheduled intensives will go ahead? At this point BTI campus is operating normally and all scheduled intensives will continue. We will let you know if anything changes.
Staff and students continue to meet to pray and waiata together on Tuesday and Thursday mornings on campus, please join with us! And don't forget: stay home if you're sick, scan in using the Covid Tracer app when out and about, and use good hand hygiene practices. See the Covid19 website: https://covid19.govt.nz BTI is delighted to announce that Gayle Te Kani will be our next Head of School of Teacher Education, from the end of July.
Te Taiurungi Principal of BTI, Dr Andrew Butcher, says, “I am very pleased that Gayle has agreed to be our next Head of School of Teacher Education, as her strengths in forming and developing respectful relationships will be valuable in this role. Her mana in our local community and our learning community is also recognised and welcomed through her contribution to BTI’s leadership.” Gayle has been involved in Christian education for nearly 20 years, starting at Bethlehem College and then as an educator in BTI’s Secondary Teacher Education programme in 2018. Her extensive teaching experience and knowledge give her a unique perspective to enrich BTI’s students’ learning and our wider community. Identifying with Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa ki Waikato, Ngāpuhi me Ngāti Ranginui, Gayle says that her teaching philosophy is underpinned by both a Christian and a Māori world view, which enables her to actively support BTI in expanding our tikanga Māori. “It is important to me that we build strong relationships as reconciled treaty partners, which honours God,” Gayle says. Gayle will start as Head of School of Teacher Education at the end of July, when the current Head of School, Dr Marion Sanders, retires. Gayle acknowledges that following after Dr Sanders will give her “big shoes to fill”. “Marion has been an inspirational mentor, colleague and friend and it is a privilege to follow in her footsteps in preparing student teachers to be relational, responsive and transformational in their teaching practice. I look forward to this new season,” Gayle says. Read more about Teacher Education at BTI. BTI | Te Whare Tauira O Peterehema has once again been given the highest possible rating, Category One, in a recent External Evaluation and Review (EER) by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Based in Tauranga, BTI is one of a few tertiary institutes in the Bay of Plenty rated as Category One.
In its recently released report, the NZQA confirms that they are both “highly confident in Bethlehem Tertiary Institute’s educational performance” and “highly confident in BTI’s self-assessment capability.” These are the highest possible ratings. BTI’s Principal | Te Taiurungi Dr Andrew Butcher welcomed the report’s conclusions. “This report is as good as it gets and is a testament to each of our staff and their mahi, as well as to our students. Above all, this is a testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness to us and to BTI,” he said. The review looked at BTI’s Counselling, Primary Teacher Education and Early Childhood Teacher Education programmes. These three programmes were given the highest NZQA rating of excellent. Head of School of Teacher Education at BTI, Dr Marion Sanders was delighted with the results of the review. “Our Teacher Education programmes are shaped by feedback from students, alumni and schools so that we continually improve and ensure courses are fit for purpose,” she said. The NZQA endorsed BTI’s role in supporting and enabling students to succeed: “Most students [at BTI] succeed in their studies and progress into employment at consistently high rates,” they said. Head of School of Social Practice, Dr James Arkwright confirmed that BTI is committed to student success. “Our programmes feature strong work-integrated-learning components, with counselling students engaging in at least 200 hours of practical experience. With increasing demand for qualified counsellors, our graduates are ready for professional practice straight away,” said Dr Arkwright. The EER is conducted every four years by a panel of independent education experts. During the review, the panel examined BTI’s educational performance and capability in self-assessment. The review characterised BTI as “a high performing institution which is meeting the most important needs of learners and stakeholders.” At BTI we're sharpening our safety pins and preparing for our two exciting graduation ceremonies this week!
Tomorrow, Friday 21st, the ceremony starts at 2:30pm. Saturday's celebrations will begin with a procession to Holy Trinity Church, Tauranga. The procession will begin just after 1pm. There will be live streams of each ceremony available for those who cannot attend in person.
Find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @BTIbethlehem for more images of the celebrations. BTI offers students the chance to start your career early by enrolling in social work training or secondary teacher training that starts mid-year. You could also kick-start your study by enrolling in the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation, and be ready to begin your chosen degree programme in 2022.
BTI’s Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) programme welcomes students to start their qualification from 28 June, thus giving you a chance to begin now and complete earlier in 2022. Our Bachelor of Social Work programme also enables students to begin on 26 July, allowing you to kick-start your career as a social worker. And if you’re unsure about whether you’ve got what you need to start a degree programme in 2022, the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation can give you the knowledge, skills and confidence you need. By starting on 26 July, you can complete the certificate this year. “Coming to BTI to study will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make,” says Dr Andrew Butcher, Te Taiurungi Principal of BTI. “You can start your training to be a social worker or a secondary teacher this winter and complete some courses towards your qualification before the end of the year.” Apply now or find out more through the BTI website. BTI is planning to hold two graduation ceremonies this year to allow students who have completed their qualifications in 2019 or in 2020 to celebrate their achievements with friends and whānau.
The ceremonies will both be held in Tauranga on 21 May and 22 May at the Holy Trinity Church. Te Taiurungi/ Principal of BTI, Dr Andrew Butcher says, “A graduation ceremony is an important occasion of fun and celebration of the hard work of our students, and to be able to share this celebration with their whānau, friends and each other is significant. We are delighted to be planning two ceremonies to enable graduates to take part who missed out on this celebration last year.” The key speaker for both ceremonies will be Chris Clarke. Chris Clarke has over 25 years of leadership experience in NZ and overseas, in public policy, the health sector and currently is CEO of the Wilberforce Foundation. Strongly motivated by purpose and impact, he recently established 'Global Local' - a network of leaders working with people from the for profit, public and for purpose sectors. Details of the Graduation Ceremonies:
To secure your place at the ceremony, you must apply to graduate. You should already have received an email with important information about how to apply. If you haven’t received this email, please get in touch with us as soon as possible on graduation@bti.ac.nz Kia ora,
Welcome to Bethlehem Tertiary Institute Te Whare Tauira O Peterehema. We know that the first 1,000 days in the lives of our tamariki are the most important. And so we welcome those of you with big hearts for shaping little minds, with dreams of getting the best out of young learners, and with a commitment to being gracious, secure and teachable to our School of Teacher Education programmes of early childhood, primary and secondary. In a world still reeling from Covid-19, we welcome those of you who feel called to love mercy, walk humbly and do justly into our School of Social Practice programmes of social work and counselling. If you’re new to academic study, or returning after a long time away, and want back-to-basics practical tools that will give you the confidence and skills you need, we welcome you to our New Zealand Certificate in Career and Study Preparation. And we welcome those of you studying in our postgraduate programmes, especially our brand new Masters of Professional Practice and Leadership, as you seek to integrate your faith and work in your profession. Our 2021 cohort is one of our largest, especially for our counselling, social work and postgraduate programmes. You are joining a learning community of well over 400 students. BTI have taught distance education for almost 20 years and we do it well. You can be confident that whether you’re joining us onsite or online you’re learning from the best educators, from people who have real-world experience, who care for you and for each other, and who love Jesus. And we do what we do because the gracious hand of God is upon us, because we have been called together for such a time as this, and because we confess that for this we have Jesus. Our Christian faith is our foundation stone, prayer is our disposition, Scripture is our lamp, and the love of God compels us. Coming to BTI will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make and we look forward to welcoming you to the BTI whānau this year. Ma te Atua tatou e manaaki Dr Andrew Butcher Te Taiurungi Principal Kia ora koutou,
As many of you know, the government has updated Covid-19 Alert Levels - Auckland is now in Level 3 and the rest of Aotearoa New Zealand is in Level 2. At Level 2, as we have done before, all BTI courses will continue to be taught on campus in Tauranga and by distance. However, we are very aware that some School of Social Practice intensives are due to start soon - discussions are underway and a further update will share important information about these in the next day or so. What are we doing to keep you safe?
All students should continue to follow the latest guidance from the government:
Be encouraged by each other and by God's Word As our Dean and CEO Dr Andrew Butcher reminds us, "We know that God gives each of us the strength, wisdom and courage for each day. And, as we have been reminded over the last month: for this we have Jesus. Let us continue to be kind and look after each other as we look forward to moving back down Alert Levels soon." We understand that the unpredictability of the Covid-19 virus can be unsettling and stressful for students and whānau. Our staff are here to support you if we can. Please talk to one of us if you have any study questions or concerns, or call 1737 at any time to talk to someone. Dr Vicki Turner Academic Dean Kia ora koutou,
With grateful hearts we confirm that BTI will continue teaching on campus and online, and all intensives will go ahead, following the government announcement that Auckland will move to Alert Level 2 and the rest of New Zealand to Alert Level 1 from midnight tonight. Please continue to play your part in keeping everyone safe by washing your hands thoroughly, signing in or scanning QR codes when out and about, and, most importantly, staying home if you're sick. More information on the Covid-19 Alert Levels and what each Level means can be found on covid19.govt.nz Kia ora koutou.
In light of the change in Covid-19 Alert levels last night, we want to reassure our students that we remain open under Alert Level 2. All BTI courses will continue being taught on campus in Tauranga and by distance. As our CEO and Dean Dr Andrew Butcher says, "We have been here before, BTI has a plan and we know what to do. Much more than this: we have a great and good God, who looks after us in the grandeur and in the detail, who provides for us in everything and who reminds us that always and everywhere for this we have Jesus." Teacher Education students:
Social Work and Practice students:
All students should continue to follow the latest guidance from the government, including:
Please continue to play your part in keeping everyone safe by washing your hands, staying home if feeling unwell, scanning QR codes when you come onto campus, and maintaining physical distancing. We understand that this is an upsetting time and can increase anxiety levels and stress for students and whanau. Please talk to one of our staff if you have any questions or concerns, or call 1737 at any time to talk to someone. More information on the Covid-19 Alert levels and what this means can be found on covid19.govt.nz Kia ora,
One of my colleagues at BTI started out his professional life as a farmer. Another ran a sign-writing business. A third, worked for the Prime Minister. I pumped petrol to pay my way through university and then worked in the tax department after I graduated. Others in the BTI team have, at one time or another, worked in museums, hospices, schools; in private practice, for District Health Boards, and wananga; as pastors, teachers, and clinical psychologists. They or their parents come from Wales, China, Japan, America, England, Australia, Samoa, Malaysia. Several are tangata whenua. We all have our stories. And we share a common story, too. We all work for BTI and, each in our own way, help transform the lives of Aotearoa New Zealand’s future social workers, counsellors, and teachers. BTI will end this year in good heart. Decisions made by many wise people over the last three decades set us up well to navigate our way through this Covid-19 year. We have always delivered distance education well and we did so especially in 2020. We knew we had good people and this year we saw that, together, they make a great team. We taught over 400 students, by Zoom, mostly, but also through practicums and placements, conversation and prayer, persistence and courage. Of course, it has been a year with unparalleled challenges. Working from home was okay for some but for lots of others – those with small children, elderly parents, who lived alone, who were prone to anxiety, who thrived on connecting with people in person – it was pretty unbearable. For our students, practicums and block courses were disrupted not just once, but twice by lockdowns. Our graduands missed being capped as we cancelled not just once, but twice, our 2020 graduation ceremonies. We felt their sorrow and carried it ourselves. What also unites the BTI team’s story is that we all follow Jesus. Some met Jesus fifty years ago and others only recently. And there’s no way – no way! – we could have done it without the gracious hand of God upon us. We made it. We got through it all. We are older, tireder, greyer. We don’t know what 2021 will bring. We hope for better things. We pray for healing for the world. We look forward to the new beginnings that come with a new year. And we will continue to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. Because we know that He is the Way – yes way! – and so we will walk in it. Please join us. And may you know, as we do, the joy of this season – Christ moving into the neighbourhood – and the promise it brings and the path where it leads: there, on the cross, where he was crushed with our iniquities and there, at the rolled away stone, where Christ triumphs over the grave, vanquishes the last enemy, is risen indeed, and makes all things new. Ngā mihi nui, Dr Andrew Butcher, CEO and Dean December 2020 Kia ora
Welcome to Term 4. We are looking forward to working with you as you complete this year with us – and, if you’re a final year student, complete your studies. Your success and your experience at BTI is important to us. For that reason I want to let you know about some new appointments and initiatives that bring your voice – the student voice – into the centre of BTI. First, I’m delighted to welcome Rhena Kulasingham to BTI in the newly designed role of Student Engagement Coordinator. Rhena joins us from Faith Bible College, where she was College Registrar for the last 14 years. Among other things, Rhena will support the pastoral care, health and wellbeing, and the views and voice of BTI’s student community. You will hear from her directly about some of the new initiatives she has underway soon. Later this year we are relocating the Academic Support Team, of which Rhena is part, to upstairs in Block 1, in the heart of BTI’s campus. As many of you will know, that team are currently in a building in between the library and student hub. We are doing some remodelling of our campus buildings to make that work, to ensure that they are even more accessible to you all, and to literally demonstrate that you, our students, are front and centre of what we do. Leading that team, along with overseeing all of BTI’s quality assurance processes – which includes consistency of teaching, marking, moderation, course design and preparation – is Dr Vicki Turner. Formerly Academic Dean at Faith Bible College, Dr Turner is the newest member of BTI’s executive leadership team and ensures that the quality of what we deliver and our student voice are crucial parts in our decision making. We have made these new appointments, new initiatives, and new locations because we value you: you are important. We want to hear from you about what’s working and what we can do better. We want to give you a rich and fulfilling experience here at BTI and help you grow in skill, character and in the Lord. Shalom Andrew Butcher CEO and Dean Dear BTI whanau,
As we come to the end of Term 3, we recognise the hard term we’ve all had. Just as we thought we were free of coronavirus we experienced a second wave and Auckland was put back into lockdown. Many people were starting to believe things could return to normal. Instead, we were left shaken, weary, and uncertain. But we have learned a great deal. We have learned we’re not alone. In this country, we are in a team of five million. At BTI, we are in a team of over 400 faculty and students. In our team we find strength. In this unprecedented journey – for that is what it is – and in our witness to the One who is hope itself, we seek to be determined, resilient and hopeful too. Yet, this journey is not behind us and for much of the rest of the world it is, tragically, getting worse. In this Mental Health Awareness Week, we especially want to be aware of the least, the last and the lost. Each one of us can help in small ways, and in great. We can live lives marked by responsible action towards each other, care for the most vulnerable, and witness for the poor and disadvantaged who are suffering disproportionately. As we come into a General Election and two referenda next month, we are keenly aware of divisions in our country. We celebrate that expressions of different ways of seeing the world are part and parcel of a well-functioning democracy, yet we also yearn for a country that walks humbly, loves mercy and does justly for all. There is concern about those who have lost jobs, who are going hungry, who are losing homes and livelihoods. The poor, the elderly and isolated are especially vulnerable. There will be growing nervousness about whether there will be further ways of coronavirus, about mental health, and many other serious issues before us like child poverty, domestic violence, and high suicide rates. We are called to be responsible, but we are also called to prophetic speech. Like the saints that have gone before us, we are called to speak for those who have no voice and against those who seek to render silence. In this, we also all have a strong sense of tiredness; the weariness which comes with dealing with yet another threat and difficulty. To face this, we must continue to encourage one another and bear one another's burdens. “Be kind” has been a mantra in this country. We should do that, yes, but more too. We must show love, especially at this time to those who need it the most, even to ourselves. Most of all we need to draw close to Christ and continue to offer the hope and stability of the gospel. It is this gospel joy, even in the darkest times, that alone can help us through this crisis, bringing hope and an eternal perspective to the very pressing trials of the moment. We don’t do this alone. We are all part of the BTI whanau. We are part of the body of Christ. We are part of the church universal. We stand in a long tradition of the saints of the church. We have a great team and a goodly heritage. Above all, we pray for healing for each other, for this nation and for the world. May you know the peace of Christ that passes all understanding at this time and in all times. Dr Andrew Butcher, CEO and Dean, BTI Graduation 2020
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 community transmission and the associated levels of lockdown we are in and facing, it is with heavy hearts that we have made the final decision to cancel the September 12th graduation celebration. We have had many discussions trying to make it work, but with the social distancing and limit on gathering numbers it would mean the relational aspect would be very stilted – and being relational is at the core of who we are as BTI. We want better for graduates in your celebration! Graduation 2021 We are already in planning stages for celebrating the successful 2019 graduates on Friday 21 May 2021, the day before the current final year students’ graduation (Saturday 22 May) – it will be a weekend of huge celebration! Keep an eye on this page for notifications as these dates draw nearer, and you will also receive email updates closer to the time. Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi Engari, he toa takitini My successes are not mine alone, they are ours – the greatest successes we will have are from working together (Huata, 1921) Kia ora whanau,
The PM has just announced that the current alert level settings will remain in place until 26 August, with a review on 21 August. That means that Auckland will remain in Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand in Level 2 for that period of time. For the most part, that means little change to current practice for BTI. We will continue to teach and work onsite, under social distancing and contact tracing provisions, and expect all staff and students to come to work and class in their usual manner, unless you’re sick. Limitations on mass gatherings of over 100 people will remain in place. Use face covering in places where you are close to others, download the Covid-19 app and use it, use hand sanitiser regularly, get a test if you have symptoms, stay safe and be kind. We have purchased an increased number of masks and hand sanitisers for BTI and have also increased the frequency of cleaning of our facilities. We recognise that this will significantly impact our colleagues and students in Auckland especially. We will be in touch with them in coming days as we work out what this means for them, especially those on placement. And we also know that these new cases have raised levels of anxiety and stress for our colleagues, our students and our whanau. We had thought this was behind us; it is not. However, we have been here before and we got through it. We made it. The PM talks a lot about the team of 5 million. I want to talk about the BTI team of 42. We do this as a team. We support one another. We are here for each other. We do it together. We are all in this. Know that we value each of you as part of this great BTI team. It’s my pleasure and honour to be in this waka with you. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki Andrew Kia ora,
We know these new Covid-19 cases are disruptive and unwelcome news. As always, BTI’s approach is one of an abundance of caution and also of care. We encourage all of you to prioritise your own self-care, to eat, sleep and exercise well, to talk to friends and whanau if you need support, and to find time in every day to spend with our companion Jesus who is with us in the storms and in the calm. Here is some specific information about how BTI will operate under Level 2 conditions. If you have any questions, please contact your course coordinator in the first instance.
Shalom, Andrew Kia ora It was way back in late February that New Zealand had its first case of Covid-19 and it has been quite a ride since then. By the good efforts of so many people, we now have no new cases and are now at Level 1 earlier than many people thought. That is truly a remarkable achievement by the team of five million. Now that we are at Level 1, much of life goes back to some kind of normal, including for BTI. There are a whole lot of practical things that will now revert to how they used to be, which I’ve set out below. More important is also to recognise that while life appears normal, for many people it is not normal. There is grief, there is change, there is uncertainty, there is anxiety. That is true of many of you and your whanau. So my encouragement is that we continue to be kind, be gracious, be reasonable with each other as we once again change our routines, even if they are back to something more familiar. Here are the practical changes, which will take effect on Thursday 11 June, which gives us the time we need to set some of these changes into motion.
Thank you for all your patience, goodwill and faithfulness as you, with us, have journeyed through this Covid-19 experience. I also want to acknowledge and honour the outstanding BTI team of staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in every respect and, with you, thank them for their service. Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki Dr Andrew Butcher CEO and Dean |
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Bethlehem Tertiary Institute (BTI) is the trading name of Bethlehem Institute Limited Copyright © 2020 Photos: Copyright © 2020 Sue Hardgrave |