School community support / Coronavirus Update

I wish to start by acknowledging our school community understanding and support of our forced hand with changes to operations at Miners Rest Primary School.

I am connected across the state with the complexities of all school closures and pending closures. I hear of the challenges and negativity toward schools and Principal's.

For my part, I am extremely proud to say, how supportive, encouraging and considerate our family groups have been. This is an extraordinary situation, and as such, measures are in place for all of us to 'manage' as best we can. Our resilience has and will continue to be tested. Stay aware, considered and mindful, doing the best for you and your families first and foremost.

I am doing my best to support and protect us all, based on the unprecedented events and the information I have access to. This will continue for some time to come. Please keep connected to the evolving situation and communications to home. If you or your child is feeling unwell or experiencing

symptoms, please keep your children at home and notify the school. Teachers will be sending children, who present with cold or flu symptoms, home to try to maintain a healthy learning space.

As a school we are planning for possible closures by establishing a whole school home learning support for children to continue their learning and communication with classroom teachers. In the case of a school closure, we will send home information about this space to families. Home learning will be available as soon as possible following a closure, please contact the school to advise if you are self-isolating.

Managing Stress and Anxiety for Children

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in. Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared. Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include:

Excessive crying or irritation in younger children

Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)

Excessive worry or sadness

Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits

Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens

Poor school performance or avoiding school

Difficulty with attention and concentration

Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past

Unexplained headaches or body pain

There are many things you can do to support your child:

Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.

Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset.

Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.

Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.

Try to keep up with regular routines. Create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities. Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well.

Connect with your friends and family members.

Information sourced from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html#parents

New School Strategic Plan 2020-2023

2020 is a year of Review for Miners Rest Primary School.

In particular, we will be setting our new four-year direction in term two, over a series of four days.

This term is about collating evidence, feedback and data on our last Strategic Plan, implemented over the past four years.

A panel, made up of School Council President (Ben Mihail), School Council representative (David Harris), Principal (Dale Power), Challenge Partners (Principal's - Natalie Toohey & Scott Phillips), staff, student & school community input as required and our Reviewer (Graham Broadbent - Monash University) consider all stakeholder feedback, before documenting a comprehensive and strategic approach to school improvement looking forward to the next four years.

Every perspective is valued and considered, so please share your vision!

If you have any questions or wish to be actively involved, please contact the school office (5334 6328) - I would welcome any support or feedback.

A message from our School Council President

With the federal government declaring the current coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic and the state government declaring a state of emergency, we find ourselves in uncertain times as to how exactly this will affect our day to day lives, and also how this will affect the students attending our school.

Rest assured, we are in constant contact with the DET, DHHS as well as the state government to ensure all information is as up to date as possible and we will be guided by their recommendations.

This is a landscape which is constantly changing and any impact to the school, staff and students will be communicated as soon as possible. At this time, we do not plan to see the school close its doors.

I would like to remind people to keep up with good hygiene practices, talk to children about what is happening as they will no doubt have a multitude of questions and please remain at home if you are not feeling well as this will all help with minimising the spread of the virus.

If you do have any queries, you can either contact the school or you can also contact the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Please stay safe, calm and supportive at this time and we will all be just fine.

Ben Mihail

School Council President

Cancelled School Council AGM & General Meeting

Monday's Annual General Meeting and March General Meeting for our School Council has been cancelled. This brings us in line with current DET guidelines.

Miners Rest Primary School

Issue 7 - Week 7 · 18 Mar 2020

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