Principal

Supporting your Child’s Mental Health during COVID-19 School Returns

(How parents and carers can help their children navigate their feelings during school re-openings).

The coronavirus outbreak has caused major disruptions to daily life and children are feeling these changes deeply. While the return to school will be not only welcome but exciting for many students, others will be feeling anxious or frightened. Here are tips to help your children navigate some of the complicated emotions they may be facing with going back to school.

My child is scared to go back to school. How can I help him feel at ease? 

Starting school or starting a new school year can be stressful at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic. You can make him feel at ease by having an open conversation about what it is that’s worrying him and letting him know that it’s natural to feel anxious.

Children may feel nervous or reluctant to return to school, especially if they have been learning at home for months. Be honest – for example, you could go through some of the changes they may expect at school, such as needing to wear forms of protective clothing, like masks. Children may also find it difficult being physically distanced from friends and teachers while at school – you could encourage them to think about other ways to bond and stay connected.

Reassure children about safety measures in place to help keep students and teachers healthy and remind children that they can also help prevent germs spreading by washing their hands with soap and coughing or sneezing into their elbow.

Remind children about the positives – that they will be able to see their friends and teachers (if they are physically returning to the classroom) and continue learning new things.

St Patrick’s College is mandating the wearing of face masks indoors and to and from the playgrounds, which is making my child feel more nervous. What should I say to him?

Approach this conversation with empathy, saying that you know he is feeling anxious about coronavirus, but that it’s healthy to talk about our worries and emotions. Children may also get upset or frustrated if they are finding it hard to wear masks in class.You can reassure your children that lots of adults are working hard to help keep your family safe but emphasize that it's important we all follow the recommended measures to take care of more vulnerable members of our community. They can remove them during Recess and Lunch breaks.

How can I encourage my child to follow precautions (such as frequent handwashing, physical distancing, etc.) at school without alarming him?

One of the best ways to keep children safe from COVID-19 and other diseases is to simply encourage regular handwashing. It doesn't need to be a scary conversation. Make sure to teach them about how even though germs are invisible, they could still be there. When children understand why they need to wash their hands, they’re likely to continue doing so.

You can also show children how to cover a cough or a sneeze with their elbow and ask them to tell you if they start to feel like they have a fever, cough or are having difficulty breathing.

My child is not part of the same group as his close friends returning to school and is feeling even more isolated. How can he feel more connected to the classroom and his friends?

When the official reopening of the College occurs on Monday 25 October, help him get ready to return to school by sharing information on when and how this will happen. 

Letting your kids know ahead of time that schools may need to close again will help them to be prepared for the period of adjustment ahead. It’s also important to continue to remind them that learning can happen anywhere – at school and at home.

For those with access to the internet, safe and monitored use of online games, social media and video chat programs can provide great opportunities for children to connect with, learn and play with their friends, parents/carers, and relatives while at home. You could also encourage your children to use their voices online to share their views and support those in need during this crisis.

You can encourage your children to take advantage of digital tools that get them up and moving, like online exercise videos for kids and video games that require physical movement. Remember to balance online recreation with offline activities, including time outside, if possible. 

How can I gently check in to see how my child is coping?

It’s important to be calm and proactive in your conversations with children – check in with them to see how they are doing. Their emotions will change regularly, and you need to show them that’s okay.

Whether at school or at home, caregivers can engage children in creative activities, such as playing and drawing, to help them express and communicate any negative feelings they may be experiencing in a safe and supportive environment. This helps children find positive ways to express difficult feelings such as anger, fear, or sadness.

As children often take their emotional cues from the key adults in their lives – including parents/carers and teachers – it is important that adults manage their own emotions well and remain calm. 

Is there anything I should look out for as my child starts back at school?

In addition to checking in on your child’s physical health and learning when he goes back to school, you should also keep an eye out for signs of stress and anxiety. COVID-19 may be impacting your child’s mental health, and it’s important to demonstrate that it’s normal and OK to feel overwhelmed at times. When in doubt, empathy and support are the way to go.

There have also been concerns that incidents of stigmatisation and bullying may increase when children return to school, due to some of the misinformation around COVID-19. You should explain that the virus has nothing to do with what someone looks like, where they are from or what language they speak. If they have been called names or bullied at school, they should be encouraged to tell a trusted adult. Remind your children that everyone deserves to be safe at school and online. Bullying is always wrong, and we should each do our part to spread kindness and support each other.

My child is worried about bullying at school and online, how can I talk to them about it?

If your child is worried about bullying either in person or online, it’s important to let them know that they are not alone and they can always talk to you or another trusted adult. The more you talk to your children about bullying, the more comfortable they will be telling you if they see or experience it. Check in with your children daily and ask about their time at school and their activities online, and also about their feelings. Some children may not express their emotions verbally, so you should also look out for any anxious or aggressive behaviour that may indicate something is wrong.

You should also engage your children in open and honest conversations about how to stay safe online. Have an honest dialogue with your children about who they communicate with and how. Make sure they understand the value of kind and supportive interactions and that mean, discriminatory or inappropriate contact is never acceptable. If your children experience any of these, encourage them to tell you or a trusted adult immediately. Be alert if you notice your child becoming withdrawn or upset, or using their device more or less than usual, it could be a sign that they are being bullied online.

It’s also important to familiarise yourself with the appropriate referral mechanisms and helplines available.

(adapted from an article written by UNICEF, August 2020)

Parents and the Return to School Roadmap

I have been asked to clarify the protocols around parents/carers visiting the College site. These protocols are part of the suite of information that we receive from NSW Health and are based on the clear learnings about the pandemic in Australia and around the world. In short, parents and carers should:

• follow the physical distancing advice for their local area and avoid gathering outside school gates
• remain outside school grounds (some exceptions will be made for vulnerable students or students with disability)
• adhere to mask-wearing requirements in accordance with the Public Health Order
• sign in using the Service NSW QR code if entering the school.

If you are having a meeting with a teacher, the preference will be that the meeting occurs outside of school hours once students have left the site. If this is not possible, and we need to see you during the school day, you will be asked to show proof of your double vaccination status. If this is not possible, the meeting will be held online.

These protocols include visits to the Finance Office to pay school fees. If you are not vaccinated, then you can pay for fees electronically and obviate the need to enter the College premises.

Gymnasium and its Surrounds

The Gymnasium, Waterford House and the Duffy Centre will be out of bounds for school staff when the entire school returns. These areas will be deep cleaned and sealed off for non-authorised staff in preparation for the HSC exams. The Gym and other spaces need to be cleaned, sanitised, and set up for the HSC. It will be handed over to the Presiding Officer so that she can have everything in order for the first exam on Tuesday 9 November. More details will be sent to Year 12 and their parents/carers closer to the time.

Please make a concerted effort to use the Kiss and Ride area in Shortland Avenue. In the week beginning 7 November, the entire Merley Road/Francis Street precinct will be out of bounds for all students; you can assist us by dropping your son off at Kiss and Ride.

Consolidation Day 

A reminder this Friday 22 October is Consolidation Day for Years 5 to 11. Students will have work set by their teachers to go on with, however, there will be no Teams interaction by the Staff.  

Early Offers for University of Technology (UTS)

We have been made aware of more Year 12 students who were given their first round University offer to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). They are:

This means that over a third of our Year 12 cohort have already achieved their dream before sitting a single exam!

If there are any other offers or scholarships that have been made to students, I would love to let our community know. Email Mrs Cupac, our Careers Advisor, and she will collate this information. We do not get this information from the Universities Admissions Centre; they work directly with the applicants so please let the College know so that we can celebrate your achievements.

Scientia Building Update

This week, the student leaders helped me to commemorate the commencement of the building works. It is a most exciting time for all of us! My thanks to (L to R) Blake Timillero, Michael Bejjani, Adrian Biscotto, Luca Serratore, Samuel Naccarella and Daniel Sleiman. 

In Memoriam

Please keep in your prayers Joseph O’Brien (Year 11) whose grandfather, John Francis Vincent O’Brien, passed away last week.   

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! **

except divide by zero