With the return to school and staggered starts, children and families will experience different responses and feelings. Some may feel excitement, whilst others feel nervous. Both children and adults alike will have mixed feelings- and this is totally healthy and normal!

Rather than dismissing these fears (“nothing to be worried about! You’ll be fine!) listening to them and acknowledging your child’s feelings will help them feel more secure. And if they want to, you can bolster their confidence by helping them strategize about how to handle things they’re concerned about. Writing out a timetable for the week as they return to school can help to alleviate any surprises and can assist with students feeling prepared for their return to the classroom.

But keep in mind that kids often want to be able to talk about something they’re upset about without expecting you to fix them. Your job is to validate their feelings (“I know that’s hard”) and demonstrate confidence that they can handle the situation.

After an extended time away from school, some children might be feeling anxious about reconnecting with peers. Before returning to onsite learning, help your child to connect with their friends, whether that is online, via the phone or meeting at a park. This can help them reconnect on a social level and draw out similarities they have experienced and felt during their remote learning period. This will also help to reassure them they are not alone in how they are feeling and validate their emotions.

Lastly, it is important to reassure your child that it is safe for them to return back to school. Many parents have had the conversation with their child that we were learning from home to keep them and our families safe however this may cause some worry as we return back to school. Have the conversation with your child and explain that we return to school on medical advice, everyone at school is working hard to ensure that everyone is kept safe, anyone who is unwell will stay home and to reinforce good hygiene.

To read more about supporting your child with the transition back to school please click on the the following article links;

Helping children transition back to school in the COVID-19 era- Australian psychological society

Back to school Anxiety- Child Mind Institute

Please reach out for support and guidance.

WELLBEING FOR LEARNING

GETTING READY TO LEARN every day

BEGINNING @ 8.50 AM IN CLASSROOMS

Each morning we will begin with our ‘getting ready to learn’ time.

This is a time to be ‘Present. Grounded and Centered.’

This time has a direct impact on student learning outcomes.

This is a result of a lot of research into - the effect of wellbeing on learning: focusing on student dispositions, teaching strategies when we are not in the zone of learning and ensuring we can recognise our zone and move from a not ready zone to a learning zone.

Some days this will include meditation other days it will be a time for explicit teaching of a social or emotional focus.

A question we will be asking - How charged are you today? How can you charge or recharge your battery?

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT US:

Children arrive no later than 8.40 am ready to begin at 8.50 (staff are all in rooms at 8.30)
Children have calm and settled mornings including breakfast
All external gates will be locked from 8.45 am to ensure staff can take part in this time, if you arrive late, your child will wait inside with our office staff until getting ready to learn is over at 9.10. This is to ensure meditation or mindfulness can occur without disruption.

We thank you for your support in this.

Office News

REMEMBER your hat in Term 4!

Absences