Face masks: supporting children and teenagers
The Raising Children website has published new resources on helping children and teenagers coping with face masks.
Even though children under 12 are not required to wear masks, they might feel anxious or upset when they can’t see your face or the faces of other carers and familiar people. Teenagers might have mixed and varying feelings about face masks.
Here are links to the pages:
For senior students: VCAA hotline
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has a COVID-19 advice page on its website, but if you still have questions you can all the VCAA on their hotline:
1800 134 197
Update 2 August: from the Education Minister
A message from Hon. James Merlino, Minister for Education, 2 August 2020:
Today we made the significant decision to go to Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne and Stage 3 in regional Victoria. It’s a tough call but one that had to be made.
Based on the advice of Victorian and national health experts, we need to go further in our efforts to drive the Coronavirus numbers down.
So what does this mean for schools and early childhood?
On Monday, students and staff will continue as they have been.
Tuesday will be a pupil free day for schools.
From Wednesday in metropolitan Melbourne all students in p-12 will learn remotely. On-site supervision will be available for students of permitted workers, vulnerable students, and in some cases, students with disabilities.
From Thursday early childhood services in Melbourne will also only be open to families of defined workplaces where the child needs care and to vulnerable children.
In regional Victoria all students will learn remotely although our specialist schools will remain open for students. On-site supervision will be available for all students of permitted workers, vulnerable students and any student with a disability.
Early childhood services will also remain open as normal in regional Victoria.
I know this is challenging for everyone but it something we simply have to do. We have no choice if we want to slow the spread of the virus.
This is all about stopping around 1 million students, their families and teachers from moving around the state.
For VCE students my message is clear. You will sit your exams and you will receive an ATAR by the end of the year. I know it is challenging but we will support you every step of the way.
2020 is turning out to be a year that none us could even imagine.
But if we all stick together we will get through this.
Thank you to our amazing principals, teachers, and school and early childhood staff who continue to do an outstanding job in circumstances that are extremely difficult. I could not be prouder of the work you do.
PV Media Release: COVID-19 and school closures
31 July, 2020
Parents Victoria is very concerned by the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the community and in our schools in particular. Although a small percentage of schools overall have had to be closed due to positive cases, the number compared with last lockdown have increased dramatically. Parents are understandably worried about the physical health of their children, where they are required to attend onsite. This is added to their concerns about their children’s mental wellbeing, impacted for some because they have to be at school, and others because they are required to Learn from Home (LFH) again. There is no one answer which will suit everyone.
At this time, Parents Victoria calls on the State Government to review its decision to keep senior students learning onsite. We believe more flexibility must be provided to school principals to put arrangements in place to suit their local communities. These should include lessons and resources being available online again for senior students, who could then LFH if that were their preference, or could participate in remote learning onsite at their school, or in a nominated school within a local cluster. The cluster model could operate for all students who cannot LFH (medically vulnerable families, essential worker parents, etc.). The majority of teachers and staff should also be authorised to work from home. These options should be available to all students attending specialist schools, too.
We would suggest a decision is made for at least the remainder of Term 3, and that any such decision remains in place for the indicated period. Constantly changing decisions lead to more anxiety for families. A decision relating to Term 4 should be made as early as is practical. Communication to families from the Government/DET and schools must be timely, factual, and not contradictory.
Most critical is the health and wellbeing of students, their families, and all staff in our schools.
All enquiries regarding this release should be directed to Gail McHardy, Executive Officer: 0413 589 627 or via email.
More kids in classroom: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun reported today that, "An increased number of locked-down Melbourne students are attending school in person compared to the city’s first wave of coronavirus, despite current cases eclipsing those recorded in Term 2."
The article says that up to 5% of Prep-Year 10 students are attending school in person in Term 3, compared to only 3% in the Term 2 lockdown.
Resources from ReachOut
ReachOut is an online mental health organisation for young people and their parents. They have developed a range of support resources to help teenagers, parents and schools through the coronavirus pandemic.
The resources range from explainers and tips on common problems, through to online forums and structured 'online classroom' activities.
A few examples of ReachOut resources:
- Helping your teen with study stress during COVID-19
- A guide to dealing with constant change because of COVID-19
- Parents discussion forums: Share concerns, ask for help and hear from other parents
- Stories from young people: How they're coping with the coronavirus situation
- Classrom resources for schools: Dealing with uncertainty and stress, flexible thinking and more.
Home learning for children with additional needs
The Education Department has a special web page for parents of children with additional needs.
The advice includes:
- Working with your child's school
- Time management
- Information and support for specific disabilities
- Structuring the Home Environment for Children with Developmental Disabilities
- Understanding learning difficulties for parents: a practical guide
Education Department wellbeing resources
The Education Department has published a suite of new resources to help parents support the wellbeing and mental health of their children. These resources are available on the Department’s website: Managing screen time, health and wellbeing.
These resources cover a range of topics including:
- Looking after your child’s wellbeing
- Looking after your child’s mental health
- Wellbeing activities and conversation starters to promote wellbeing
- Keeping your child active
- Healthy eating
- Being safe online
- Taking care of yourself
Keeping learning going
- How do we design and deliver great remote lessons?
- How do we design great learning sequences?
- How do we keep our learners motivated and engaged?
Education Changemakers has developed a set of resources for teachers, school leaders and parents to 'keep learning going' in the current lockdown.
There are separate toolkits for primary and secondary schools.
You can browse and download the resources on the Keeping Learning Going website.
Fundraising in a time of Covid
Many Parent Clubs will be asking, "How can we fundraise in this crazy time of remote learning, reduced incomes and uncertainty?" Our friend Mandy the Fundraising Whisperer has some answers. She has published a list of 'Covid-friendly' fundraisers that she says will still work in these difficult times. Tea-towels, books, gifts with kids' artwork on them... there are still fun ways to build community and raise some cash!
