A Message From The Principal
Remote Learning
Congratulations everyone – what a great start to Remote Learning 2.0! We hope that the changes we have made have made it easier for families to organise their weekly and daily schedules. The weekly plan has been developed to assist you in structuring your days. Please to watch this video explaining how to view your child’s learning for the week. Thanks to those parents who have communicated their messages of support to the school and provided is with positive feedback about the changes to the weekly learning plans.
Please manipulate the weekly and daily plans to do what works for you and your family during this time. Some families will work early in the morning, some later in the day. Some will try and do a lot in one day and have days where they do less. Every situation is different. Remember: you are not required to be the ‘teacher’. This is not home schooling – this is remote learning. This means the teacher is there to teach and you are there to guide your child / children. If you have questions about the learning, or your child has questions about their tasks / learning, please contact your teacher over Seesaw or Sentral.
PLEASE REMEMBER – we are aware that every situation is different, everyone is trying their very best during this difficult time. Please be kind to yourself and your family… do what you can manage and what works for your situation. We’ve got this!
Prep – 2 Resources Pick up
This time we are going to be doing fortnightly pickups. This is to ensure we are providing targeted learning. If we plan too far ahead, we are not able to cater accurately to the student’s needs as effectively as we can. Our first pick up with be this Monday morning (10th August) between 9.30am – 11am at the ‘Kiss and Drop’ Zone.
Wellbeing Check-ins
Next week our amazing teachers will be starting their wellbeing check-ins. On ‘odd’ weeks of the term (next week is week 5) the teachers will be making phone calls. On the ‘even’ weeks of the term the teachers will be organising a class Webex meeting. The teachers will be sending through specific information about how students can log into these.
Concert
Unfortunately, due to the current situation, we will postpone our plans for the concert. We hope (fingers crossed) we can move ahead with this in Term Four!
Thank You
Thanks to our amazing staff who have ensured the transition to Remote Learning has been seamless. All staff have gone above and beyond to ensure our students are feeling well supported and engaged in their learning. Big shout out also to those members of staff that have kindly volunteered to come in to school and help supervise our on-site students, all whilst juggling their own Remote Learning classes.
Website
Don’t forget to have a look around at this new and improved website! It has lots of information, including a Covid – 19 information page.
Suzanne Prendergast
Principal
Whole School News
Wellbeing Update
COVID-19 and Remote Learning can be highly stressful for students, families, staff and school communities as a whole. Families may be feeling unsure about how to support their student’s learning and wellbeing at this time and in the future, especially with ever-changing restrictions. At Bellaire PS we aim to be supportive of all members in our community during this evolving and challenging time.
We have compiled some helpful resources and advice to support families and students during COVID-19 and will continue to share interesting articles, engaging and relevant videos, websites, app suggestions, and any other resources to help manage mental health amidst COVID-19.
Here are some quick tips to do what you can to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Talk to kids about what is happening at their level
Be calm and reassuring when talking to kids because they often pick up on what you do and how you act more than the words you say. Some students may be coping with the changes quite well, while some may present as more anxious. Some may act as though they are feeling fine about it, but actually feel quite a lot of insecurity and worry which they are hiding. It is important to ensure that we give them the opportunity to talk about their feelings and ask questions and that we answer in a calm, relaxed and generally positive and hopeful way. Many can easily notice nonverbal cues when adults are feeling stressed, so to avoid passing on your stress to them, look after yourself and practice your own positive and healthy relaxation strategies.
It can be a challenging time for all
Parents may find that some student behaviours at home may change or become more difficult; this can be common for children but may be more so when they are going through an unsettling time. You can support them by spending time with them, checking in emotionally, doing fun things together like playing games and validating their feelings. Having daily routines will contribute to a sense of predictability and control in spite of external uncertainties.
Stay connected to your loved ones
Since most people are staying at home, this is easier than ever.
Stick to reputable sources for information
Credible sources for reliable information include:
Be cautious about social media and 24-hour news
Avoid going down the rabbit hole on your Facebook or Twitter feed and don’t stay glued to the TV. Limit your exposure and set specific times to check for updates. These are certainly strange and unprecedented times as we collectively try to navigate the uncertainty created by COVID-19. Although it’s important that we stay informed and aware, it’s equally important that we don’t inundate ourselves with a constant intake of media.
When quarantining or self-isolating, stay active
Use your time wisely with brain healthy activities. Read a book, learn something new, do crafts, do a video call with loved ones to stay connected, and watch a comedy (research shows that laughter can be a great immunity booster).
Get outside (if you aren’t sick or quarantined)
Exercising in nature—but not in or around groups of people—can brighten your mood.
Take deep breaths
Take a few minutes of every hour to practice deep breathing. Simply inhale deeply for a count of 6, hold for 3, then exhale slowly to the count of 3. Repeat the process 5 to 6 times.
Fuel your mind and body with the nutrients it needs
Make healthy food choices and stay hydrated to help keep your immune system strong.
If you would like specific assistance to support your child’s mental health and wellbeing over the coming weeks, please contact your teachers. Additionally, please feel free to reach out to me.
Stay well,
Ben Raidme
Parent Resources
- Dealing with cabin fever during coronavirus isolation
- The Resilience Project @ Home
- Some anxiety can be helpful’: How to manage your COVID-19 fears
- Factsheet: Taking care of yourself in a time of COVID-19
- Coronavirus: Reassuring your child about the unknown
- 9 Strategies for Helping Your Child Thrive While They Are Out of School (This article is designed for parents of younger kids and targets strategies towards children with ADHD, however, the ideas are applicable to all students).
- Parenting in a Pandemic(Episode from podcast Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris)
- A Month of Mindfulness and Calm Down Strategies for Children
- SchoolTV (SchoolTV is a new online wellbeing platform designed to empower parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies)
- The following link will provide further insight to managing student wellbeing and learning at home: School TV Special Report: Preparing for Remote Learning (by Dr Michael Carr–Gregg– one of Australia’s highest profile psychologists and broadcaster / specialist in mental health)
Student Resources
- Kids Helpline – Kids 5-12
- Kids Helpline App Recommendations
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources for Parents and Students
- E-Mental Health in Practice: Digital Mental Health Resources for Young People
- Action for Happiness Monthly Calendars
- Headspace: How to cope with stress related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- ReachOut
Students of the Week
Congratulations to this week’s Students of the Week. Classroom teachers will send a digital copy of the award to families.