Wellbeing MATTERS!

Dear Families,

Week 8 sees us all preparing for Parent-Teacher-Student Conversations via Google Meet. This is a great opportunity for a “face-to-face” meeting - albeit virtually - to ensure things are going well for all concerned. Be sure to take this opportunity to discuss your child’s learning, their health and their wellbeing with your class teacher.

Last week -remember- I reached out to some of our resident EXPERTS - your fellow school Parents - to see what they thought. I asked them to give me their “Tips for Success” in the HOME LEARNING environment. I got heaps of replies and so have some more to share from these ‘experts’. And still the overall message we can take away from this is that……each of our families are unique and approach remote learning with the thinking that there is no right or wrong way and sometimes things do go wrong and what gets done, gets done! Not every day is the same. Remote learning is different this time and so, families have changed what they are doing - IT’S ALL OK. THE ONLY EXPECTATION ON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IS THAT YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN!

So here’s the rest of what families had to say…..

Having a timetable even loosely fitting their school day helps – keeping breaks to every hour and taking a page how school has fruit and a run or skip outside is a great re-boot for the morning.

Having the ‘classroom work’ set out in front of them for the day can be overwhelming for them and maybe even just on certain days it is. So the kids pick the tasks they want to tackle first especially knowing that they still have to work through it all!

As parents we need patience! We try your best to give them the attention they may need, and have restructured our home working day when we’re able to.

We have a school focus in the morning – getting going on working through tasks can be easier in the morning and then reward with fun activities and playing in the afternoon.

We put some music on and have a dance, it re-energises, then we have a laugh and enjoy the rest of the day!

We have calm days and ratty days even though we plan and do our best.

We print out what we can rather than have kids on the iPad marking up the documents. They then photograph the sheets and upload them as they finish them and check they haven’t missed any at the end of the day. They do the same for their handwritten work.

We ask the teacher if we have problems or don’t understand the curriculum. She is very helpful, calm and available.

We keep to the school’s routine including the kids being outside during breaks, weather permitting.

We accept that everything has to fit with our parental routines of working from home and that little kids actually need a fair bit of supervision to be productive. That means some days they do lots of work and other days not so much.

Short bursts of quality and focus is our aim and all set work done by lunchtime is our other aim. We don’t always reach it. Focus is harder after midday.

We encourage the kids to do more of what they enjoy in the school block whether it is times tables, writing, reading, languages, music, creating or drawing, though not too much screen based activity is our personal preference.

If kids are happily chatting together, with the pets, listening to music, chatting to friends, helping, cooking, in nature, moving, entertaining themselves randomly with whatever they have found etc it’s all good use of time.

Home learning tips

8:45am Have everything ready - iPad; Writing book; Pencil; Red pencil; Ruler; Eraser 9:00 Google meet

9:30 Start class work (I'm close by to help)

11:00 Send work to teacher

11:15 Free time going outside or doing something fun inside. 12:00 Lunch time

12:30 Fun activities - Cooking cup cakes; Play dough; Puzzles; Diamond dotz; Ride bike outside; Draw with chalk on the concrete.

I always have something fun planned in the afternoon so that there is something to look forward to after working hard in the morning.

One thing I have found really useful is having fun but useful back-ups ready, eg if he gets through his maths before the recommended hour is up, I have some printed fun maths worksheets, or a board game like Yahtzee or something ‘math’ related to do together.

‘Have some fun board games ready to play for those days you get your work done early, especially if it’s wet outside’

And choose some recipes together to make some dinner or treats.

ANOTHER BIG THANKS TO OUR EXPERT PARENTS FOR SHARING THEIR TIPS!

So to ALL OUR SH FAMILIES, I thank you on behalf of the Staff for your support and the efforts you go to make Remote Learning the BEST IT CAN BE for your children. Well done!

JOKE OF THE WEEK -

This week’s joke comes from Mrs Nihill. (Thanks!)

When you’re wondering why you can’t stop eating during lockdown, remember the word stressed written backwards reads desserts!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns or queries.

Debbie Turvey

Pastoral Wellbeing & Learning Diversity Leader

dturvey@shtatura.catholic.edu.au

Stay tuned in our school newsletter for more ideas and conversations around promoting wellbeing and learning in our school community.

Have a great week, make the choice, be your best!