Principal News

The past week or so has been most challenging for everyone.  And it’s not over yet.  Many of us are feeling tested and stretched.  Staff are under huge and mounting pressure from other teachers, their students, government directives and their own families. 

I have only the utmost respect and appreciation for our staff who continue to provide for our children to keep them informed and calm.  Our school staff are being asked to do a BIG thing, and we really appreciate that they are doing it. 

Thank you to the many parents who have emailed their support and those of you who are able to look after your children at home.  We also understand that many of you have no other option but to continue to send your children to school so that you can keep working and providing for the wider community as well.  We must band together to support each other during this difficult time.

It is imperative that we prioritise the mental well-being of students, staff and families during this time.  We all know that our children are hypersensitive to our anxiety.  As adults we must ensure that we don’t transfer our fears around the virus to our children, making them more anxious than they need to be.  They need reassurance from us adults.  After this crisis is over, teachers will spend most of their time dealing with the fallout of children exposed to traumatic events, at the same time as many are dealing with the same traumas themselves.  Be kind to each other.

I anticipate in Term 2, that we will work with a ‘skeleton’ staff supervising students in some classrooms whilst other teachers prepare work for those students that are learning from home.

More than ever, please be kind to teachers and school staff. 

With regards to students working from home: 

Teachers will use next week to prepare for the possibility of school closure or limited student attendance at school for Term 2.

This will be possible if there is a reduction in student attendance.  Allowing a teacher on each year level to supervise students at school and their teaching partners to prepare the necessary work for students if we are to proceed to remote learning.

Today, all staff attended online training to upskill in the delivery of remote learning. 

Students in Years 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 will receive most of their work through online learning.  This is only possible if they have access to a device and the internet.  Please complete the Caremonkey form that was sent today regarding internet and device access.

Students in Years Prep and Yr 1 will receive mainly paper copies of work and have access to Literacy Planet and imaths online activities.  All students are familiar with these online activities. Again, this is only possible if they have access to a device and the internet.  

Further details will be shared with parents through the schoolzine app once Teachers have had time to work out their process and requirements.

We encourage our community to take the precautions needed to protect your health and that of others. As a global community we are all responsible to help stop the spread of the virus, and to show compassion to one another.

Following is a summary of handy hints so far provided by the Australian Primary Principals Association: 

1. Our Schools

It’s been a challenging time over the past few weeks for our school communities, and for the diocesan, state and territory offices that support them, with the growing concern over the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and families.

The current advice for all schools is to remain open and operational until the end of Term 1 - although some States are making changes to this as we speak.

 At this stage, our schools are expected to return next term, pending the advice of the government and medical authorities at that time.

Catholic schools are doing their best to work together and provide a consistent response across Australia to reduce this confusion.

2. Support from eSafety Commissioner

Click below for tips for keeping schools and learning safe online.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/blog/covid-19-keeping-schools-and-learning-safe-online

3. Wellbeing Tips 

 Here are some tips to support children and young people courtesy of CEDP:

• Be available to talk and reassure:
  Children can have big questions, and it’s okay to answer them. Take cues from them and offer clear but concise answers in developmentally appropriate language. Keep the focus on what you are doing to prepare and prevention strategies that are within your control like proper handwashing and avoiding large crowds. Reassure when needed but avoid offering too frequently as this can prevent children from developing their own positive self talk.
• Limit news exposure:
  Even when it seems like they’re not listening, children pick up on what they hear on TV and radio. Hearing unfamiliar words like pandemic and outbreak can be fear-inducing. Opt for watching or listening to news reports when your child is in bed or choose to read news articles if possible. This may also include limiting our conversations about what we are hearing on the news.
• Stick to routines and boundaries:
  Children thrive with routines and boundaries, and predictability can be very comforting in anxious times. When some things feel out of control, routines can give them a sense of security. Write your daily routine on the whiteboard or make a paper schedule together and make sure that you include fun activities in your daily routine!
• Acknowledge the worries:
  It’s completely okay to acknowledge childrens’ worries rather than ignoring them. Acknowledging worries won’t solidify them but it will help your child understand that worry is a protective feeling that alerts us to potential danger. The smoke alarm analogy can be helpful when explaining anxiety. Smoke alarms are really helpful for alerting us to danger when there’s a fire and we need to get out of the building. But sometimes smoke alarms go off even when there isn’t a big danger, like when we burn toast. Anxiety does the same thing, telling us that there is a big danger, even if the situation is not that big.
• Be mindful of your own worries:
  It is reasonable for everyone to have some level of worry but children do pick up on our feelings and notice our anxieties, and they will take cues from us. We need to manage our own anxiety, including how we might express this in conversations with our child or others.
• Consider opportunities for exercise:
  Make time to enjoy being active together, for example, throwing a ball in the backyard, dance to your favourite song or simply enjoy a stroll in the park.

Take care of yourselves in this difficult time.  I will continue to communicate to families on a regular basis through schoolzine. 

Warm regards

Madonna