Crescent Head Public School Grapevine

44 Pacific Street, Crescent Head NSW 2440 Phone: 02 65660255 Fax: 02 65660617 Email: crescenthd-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.crescenthd-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

TERM 1 CALENDAR 2020 TERM 1 WEEK 10 – MONDAY 30TH MARCH

Term 1 – Week 11 – April

Thu 9th Last day of Term 1 Fri 10th Good Friday – PUBLIC HOLIDAY

STUDENTS WORKING FROM HOME

Thank you to all the families who have made a smooth transition into working from home. We asked that families share photos of their new “classrooms” with our school late last week and had a really pleasing response. We are very conscious of the children missing seeing us and each other at this time and are working with the department over how we can make this possible remotely. Our main concern at this point is for the safety of our children and community and this includes the mental health of our students. We have been in contact with our school psychologist who has penned the letter included in this week’s Grapevine which has resources and tips for families as the students learn to cope with the isolation.

CHPS GV TERM 1 WEEK 10

STUDENTS WORKING FROM HOME

CHICKENS GONE TO A BETTER PLACE

As of Wednesday our school was chicken free with all the birds being collected by families throughout the week. This is wonderful for our school as most of these animals had simply arrived at our school and were creating their own little hygiene problem. We will restock our school once we are back to business as usual later in the year.

CHPS GV TERM 1 WEEK 10

COVID19 UPDATE

We would firstly like to thank our parents for, where ever possible keeping their children at home during this time. Our numbers have been steadily dropping to the four students working at school today. We as a staff really appreciate how this measure reduces our level of risk of infection as well as that of our children. As of today we have eight staff members currently working from home as they have been identified as having an increased level of risk. This week we will be increasing this number as more teachers prepare their home offices ready to move to this model should we be directed to do so. The Premier has announced that from Tuesday 24 March parents are encouraged to keep their children at home and access their school's learning from home programs. These measures have been put in place to help minimise the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in NSW. We continue to work closely with NSW Health and the Australian Government to monitor and respond to developments and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff. In the meantime we will be teaching our children the following 3 measures: 1. Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. 2. Sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, disposing of the tissue straight away and then washing your hands. 3. Stay home if you are unwell and in schools, send home staff or students who show signs of being unwell through the day. NSW Education is in discussion with NSW Health throughout every day. At this point, case numbers and transmission of the virus in NSW remains low compared to other countries. Communication at this time is paramount and we will keep our community up to date on any changes as they arise.

FRIDAY SING ALONG A HIT WITH FAMILIES

Friday afternoon we hosted a broadcast using the Google Classroom and our Facebook page. Since Friday the Facebook video has notched up over one and a half thousand views with many lovely comments streaming in. Unfortunately the children’s access to Google does not permit them to use the “Meet” app with video. Many families using an adult login, we will provide advice on this through the week as we look at different options.

CHPS GV TERM 1 WEEK 10

MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

Taking care of yourself and your family during the Coronavirus outbreak

Dear parents and carers, It can feel stressful and overwhelming during an event like the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and we can all be affected differently. You or your children might feel overwhelmed by the information, conversations and the increased levels of stress in your community. I’ve collected some tips to help you and your family manage the stress as best as possible. Stay Informed Accessing reliable information during an infectious disease outbreak will help ensure you and your family members are taking appropriate steps to stay healthy. Stay up-to-date about developments related to the infectious disease outbreak by using a reliable and accurate source of health-related information, for example, through the services listed below.

Australian Government Department of Health | www.health.gov.au

healthdirect hotline | 1800 022 222 | www.healthdirect.gov.au

Coronavirus Health Information Line | 1800 020 080

Supporting Children Children will inevitably pick up on the concerns and anxiety of others, whether this be through listening and observing what is happening at home or at school. Providing opportunities to answer their questions in an honest and age-appropriate way can help reduce any anxiety they may be experiencing. You can do this by:

• speaking to them about coronavirus in a calm manner- attached are some stories that you could share with younger (https://www.mindheart.co/descargables?fbclid=IwAR0--wtczsF2OodUPcHve9Mnyh9VJuGMzk6cviSdxtJqZZdDl0JHn7_caJQ) and older children (https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3zVymbqIIB8ihHPHsAlldv78JDclhkzWgZqNBCS_Lkfhb2_RJRv4YM4b0)

• asking them what they already know about the virus so you can clarify any misunderstandings they may have

• letting them know that it is normal to experience some anxiety when new and stressful situations arise

• giving them a sense of control by explaining what they can do to stay safe (eg wash their hands regularly, give people space and a bigger ‘personal bubble’ for the moment)

• not overwhelming them with unnecessary information (eg death rates) as this can increase their anxiety

• reassure them that coronavirus is less common and severe in children compared to adults

• allowing regular contact (eg by phone) with people they may worry about, such as grandparents, to reassure them that they are okay.

Go even further back to basics. Our children learn by observing. Keep doing the stuff you love to do (where possible) and the things that are important to you, model that there is a life outside of the pandemic, and ensure you're having conversations about other things as well. Try not to let the children worry about financial or other stresses that may be occurring in your family as a result of the virus. Schooling from home If you are schooling from home, try and keep to the most regular routine you can. Wake at the same time, begin school activities at the same time, and go to bed at the same time. Regular sleep routines will help reduce stress. Reduce access to TV news and social media hysteria to decrease anxiety. Provide opportunities for your kids to switch off, watch a movie together or play a board game. Staying active will help them (and you!) to sleep better, manage stress and boost mood and will provide some much needed fresh air and vitamin D - even going for a walk as a family or down to the local park are safe options. Follow your regular routines in a modified way as much as possible- for example, footy in the back yard, instead of at training. Stay hydrated and continue to enjoy a healthy diet. For further information on setting up routines for learning from home see https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/learning-from-home/advice-to-parents-and-carers#Establishing1 When to seek additional help During this outbreak, particularly when the nature and impact of the disease is still unknown, it is understandable to experience emotional distress about the outbreak and its potential impact on you, your family and your community. Below are some services for children and adults Kids Helpline is available in online chat https://kidshelpline.com.au/kids and by phoning 1800 55 1800 for children from the age of 5. Beyond Blue has online chat https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ and phone options 1300 22 46 36 for adults. Lifeline 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ If your emotional distress becomes severe please call the Mental Health Access Line on 1800 011 511, or arrange to see your GP. If in danger call 000. Together we can support each other to get through this difficult time. Take Care, Michelle Scott School Psychologist Crescent Head Public School

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WEEK 9

Last week our students created some amazing artworks under the cola using coloured chalk and tape. Students also worked from the Library using computers. Other students popped in for a visit to collect some booklets to continue learning from home.

CHPS GV TERM 1 WEEK 10

ESSENTIAL TOOL!!! SCHOOLSTREAM REMINDER

We wish to remind parents and carers of the

importance of staying informed by adding the Schoolstream app to your device. All updates and important information regarding CHPS activities and alerts will be sent via this app. Be sure not to miss out!! You can find Schoolstream via the App Store or Google Play by searching for Schoolstream and typing in Crescent Head Public School when prompted.

This is an essential communication tool with our parent body and we hope many families are proactive with this reminder.

Crescent Head Community Preschool has vacancies for 2020 and is now taking enrolments. In accordance with State Funding Guidelines priority access is given to children who will turn 4 by the 31st July 2020 and children from families who hold a Low Income Health Care Card. If you wish to enrol a child please call Trisha or Tracie on 65660596. (Calls only please at this time).

CHPS GV TERM 1 WEEK 10

CHPS GV TERM 1 WEEK 10