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I think this week will go down in my memory for the rest of my days. I don’t think I have ever had one like it. We have certainly had a lot to think about with COVID – 19. On a positive note, it’s Harmony Week, Bullying No Way and though we have had to make some adjustments along the way, the message of caring for and accepting one another has been shared with our kids. I don’t think our basketball court has ever looked so good.
We have been working to put things in place for extra vigilance in the hygiene practices in our classrooms, we have been disinfecting our desks and handles several times a day, providing accurate, kid-friendly explanations of what Coronavirus is, disinfecting entry rails and seat belts etc on the buses, emphasising distancing between students, all at the same time as providing reassurance and calm for our kids, We have also been putting plans in place in case students might have to learn from home at any stage.
Students will have taken home a letter today, as well as some of their books and supplies, just in case learning from home becomes a requirement. Please make sure the required books return to school each morning and only do the work instructed by teachers. We have been preparing our Year 2 to 7 students today on how to access learning resources on Microsoft Teams and we will send out detailed instructions and an outline of what an "at home learning day" might look like, over the next day or so. Please know we are working hard to do all we can to provide learning in uncertain and changing times.
One of the things we have been trying hard to do is send the message to our children that even though things are changing quickly and we are facing challenges, and we don’t have all the answers to all the questions, they are ok and we are here for them. I was looking for a good way to share with you how we could best support our students when Parenting Ideas Founder, Michael Grose, sent out the article below. It has some excellent, practical ideas on how we can work with our kids as we move through challenging times.
"If you’re like me, the news of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has your head spinning and your heart pumping. That’s only natural as life as we know has taken a seismic shift in recent days.
International travel bans, cancellation of sporting and cultural events, shopping frenzies and talk of school closures continue to dominate the airwaves. Terms such as social distancing, self-isolation and social lockdowns have entered our vocabularies and may soon become part of our daily lives.
Coronavirus is having an unprecedented impact on our daily lives, and will probably do so for some time. While keeping ourselves and children healthy and safe is our main concern, it’s also essential to address the anxieties of children and young people during these changing times. Here are some ideas to help inform, reassure and keep children and young people safe.
Build on what your children know
Children and young people have already been exposed to a great deal of information about corona virus through media, digital means and direct social contact. Their understanding will vary depending on their age and also the quality of their information sources so you probably will need to help kids process what they already know.
Casual conversations with teenagers and older children can be useful ways to glean their understanding. You could ask questions like “What are you hearing about Coronavirus? Is there anything you’re not sure about?” Younger primary age children may need a more direct approach with parents addressing their specific concerns without giving too much information that can overwhelm them.
Check your own thoughts and feelings
Check your own frame of mind and emotions about COVID-19 before talking to kids. Most children are astute mood detectives and they’ll gauge their safety by the way you communicate with them. If you tell a child, “You’ve got to wash your hands or you’ll get infected,” you are communicating your own anxieties, making it difficult for them to maintain a healthy state of mind. Have a think about how you can frame your instructions and their importance in a way that doesn’t heighten your child’s anxieties.
Stay informed
It’s difficult to work out fact from fiction, correct from incorrect, information from exaggeration when the news is changing so fast. However you need to educate yourself about the virus itself, including how it’s transmitted and how to stay safe. Get information from trustworthy sources such as The Australian Government Health Department website and the current federal government corona virus information media campaign.
Answer questions truthfully
It’s important that parents and teachers answer children’s questions honestly in age-appropriate ways and within context of what is happening at the given time. If their sport or hobby has been temporarily cancelled empathise with their concerns, while helping them maintain a sense of perspective.
Initiate positive action
One way to reduce anxiety and allay children’s fears is to involve them in planning and preparation for their personal and group safety. Positive activities such as maintenance of personal hygiene, greeting people with an elbow tap and getting plenty of sleep can help restore a sense of control, that is so important for their wellbeing.
Find refuge in rituals
Regular rituals such as mealtimes, bedtime stories and regular one-on-one time provide both an anchor to normality and a sense of connection for kids at times of change. Consider reconstituting favoured family rituals at this time if they have lapsed due to lack of time, or lifestyle frenzy.
Look outwards
In difficult times there is a tendency to look inwards, which is a natural protective strategy. The alternative is to establish a sense of connection and community spirit by focusing on generosity and togetherness. Help children see past their own needs and look for ways to assist others whether it’s shopping for an elderly neighbour, helping a younger sibling occupy themselves, or planning an indoor movie night for the whole family.
The Coronavirus presents many practical challenges to parents and other important adults in the lives of kids. Staying calm, keeping informed, and adjusting our own habits are just some of the challenges we face. However, a significant challenge is one of personal leadership. That is, during these difficult times we need to be civil to each other, look out for each other and be mindful of the common good in everything we do. In this, we can all take a significant lead.” Grose (2020).
Have a great week with your kids,
Mark B
Over two thousand years ago, the words “peace be still” rang out across the waves on the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus and His disciples were out resting in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was sleeping in the stern of the boat when a storm sprung up. The waves were crashing over the sides of the boat and the disciples believed that they were about to die. They worriedly woke Jesus who questioned “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Jesus then calmly stood and commanded the storm to be still.
The symbolism behind the story of Jesus calming the storm brings us great encouragement and hope as we face the ‘storms’ and uncertainty in our world today. There is so much going on around us currently that we have no control over, but be assured, Jesus is still in control. Let’s keep our faith strong in God and remember to ask Him for peace during this worrying ‘storm’.
Even though it may feel that our world is out of control, God has got this! He is still in control. Remember Psalm 46:1-2.
If your family needs any help or assistance, please don’t hesitate to call or email the chaplaincy team and we will do our best to provide support.
Phillip Lillehagen
PPN Chaplain
Postponements and Adjustments
Due to the current circumstances and advice from authorities, around COVID-19 the following events have been postponed until further notice:
Year 5 & 6 Camps
Excursions/Incursions
Buddy Classes
Chess Club
Basketball competitions and practices
Multicultural Harmony Lunch
Weet-bix Tryathlon
We will be adjusting how the following events are run at the school:
Assembly
Values
Chapel
These will now be broadcast to the classrooms instead of coming together as a group.
Uniform Shop Appointments
Entertainment Books
Prescott College Announcement
Taking the best advice that is available from the Australian Government Department of Health, the Association of Independent Schools and our own Seventh Day Adventist system, due to the COVID-19 social gathering restrictions, Prescott College will be postponing our upcoming Open Days. We are taking all necessary precautions to keep our families, and yours, safe.
However, we are offering private tours, one family at a time. If you would like to book your family in for a tour of our campus at a time convenient for you, please contact Julie Imbrogno on 8269 1655.
We look forward to meeting you in the near future.
Para Vista Adventurers Fundraising Day
Due to COVID-19 restrictions the "Fill A Bag" Fundraising day planned for Sunday the 22nd of March at Para Vista Church will be cancelled and it will be re-scheduled for later in the year. Thank you for your understanding.