Dear Parents and Carers

I would like to say thank you for working with the College as we continue to respond to the current issues around COVID-19. It is certainly a stressful time for our students as they have been forced once again to undertake remote learning and continue to experience the uncertainty of the pandemic.

As parents and carers, you may have already received a phone call from the College as a check in on how your daughter is coping with her learning. If you or your daughter require any further assistance, please contact the College on 9725 4322.

2021 is proving to be a challenging year with many obstacles that we need to overcome. In light of the huge changes that we are living through I thought I would share with families an article by Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas. Michael Grose is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators.

The current lockdown is having an unprecedented impact on our daily lives, and will probably do so for some time. While keeping ourselves and children healthy and safe is our main concern, it’s also essential to address the anxieties of young people during these changing times. Here are some ideas to help inform, reassure and keep children and young people safe.

Check your own thoughts and feelings – Check your own frame of mind and emotions about COVID-19 before talking to kids. Most children are astute mood detectives and they’ll gauge their safety by the way you communicate with them.

Initiate positive action – One way to reduce anxiety and allay children’s fears is to involve them in planning and preparation for their personal and group safety. Positive activities such as maintenance of personal hygiene, greeting people with an elbow tap and getting plenty of sleep can help restore a sense of control, that is so important for their wellbeing.

Find refuge in rituals – Regular rituals such as mealtimes and regular one-on-one time provide both an anchor to normality and a sense of connection for kids in times of change. Consider reconstituting favoured family rituals at this time if they have lapsed due to lack of time, or lifestyle frenzy.

Look outwards – In difficult times there is a tendency to look inwards, which is a natural protective strategy. The alternative is to establish a sense of connection and community spirit by focusing on generosity and togetherness. Help children see past their own needs and look for ways to assist others whether it’s helping a younger sibling occupy themselves, or planning an indoor movie night for the whole family.