Continuation of Remote Learning

As you are likely aware, due to the ongoing level of community transmission of COVID-19, the Victorian Government has announced the current restrictions in place across Victoria will be extended. This means remote and flexible learning will continue in all Victorian schools until the end of Term 3. Any update or change to this will be communicated through the return to onsite learning plan that will be released next week.

We would like to thank our wonderful Bonbeach community for all of your support during this challenging time. We understand this lockdown is proving to be particularly tough for everyone and we acknowledge the resilience of our students and families at this time. Our staff are working hard to be creative and develop engaging activities for students to keep them motivated. We are also continuing to plan a variety of special activities in the upcoming weeks including R U OK? Day next Thursday 9^th September (please see the flyer within this newsletter), a Maths Day in the last week of term as well as a footy dress up day (more information to come).

Students and COVID19

It is apparent that some students are becoming more anxious about COVID19 and the current situation with the Delta strain.

It is highly likely that Bonbeach will have students, parents or maybe even teachers who contract COVID19.

As long as those who have tested positive follow the regulations from DHHS, isolate until they and family members have all tested negative and are cleared to return by the medical authorities, then they are no longer a risk to our community.

Rest assured, no one will be permitted to attend school until they have a clearance certificate from medical authorities.

We are taking all precautions at school to try to prevent any potential spread of the disease.

We constantly practise and remind students  of COVID Safe practices including social distancing, cleaning surfaces, use of sanitiser, wearing masks and good hygiene.

If your child is a little uncertain or worried about any aspect of their safety, please take the time to talk and reassure them that, if we all do the right things to protect ourselves, we will minimise the risk to ourselves and others around us.

Stress o’clock

by Michael Grose

A recent Australian study found that 7.00am is the most stressful time of the day for working parents. Dubbed stress o’ clock, this is a time in the morning when work and family pressures and the deadline of the clock converge.

Recent conversations held with parents indicate that children and young people experience stress o’clock too. This is a time soon after a child wakes when self-doubt, getting ready for school and looming fears clash. Children’s tummy-aches and heads-aches often prevail at this time of day.

“Mum, I don’t feel well. I think I’ve got a cold. I don’t want to go to school.”

How do you respond when you suspect there’s more worrying your child than a sniffle, and you’re hurrying to get ready yourself? Most parents don’t have a script to guide them when stress o’clock hits.

Pandemic induced anxiety

Since the pandemic adults and children are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety. Morning is one of the worst times for anxiety to strike. Like a fox, anxiety comes in the night robbing children of their courage, replacing assuredness with self-doubt, apprehension and fear.

Dealing with a child or young person in the middle of their anxious moment is super hard, particularly when you’re still wiping the sleep from your eyes. In times of stress it’s always best to stay SOBER. That is,

Stop what you are doing and pay attention to your child and to yourself

Observe the emotional reaction you are having to your child’s distress and ask what your gut is telling you

Breath deeply to remove yourself from panic mode (‘I can’t take this!’) and kick start your thinking brain that has succumbed to your survival brain

Expand your vision and look at the bigger picture. Perhaps your child is genuinely nervous but it’s important that they sit the test that makes them feel awful. Allow the bigger picture to guide your actions.

Respond to your child or young person calmly. Empathy and understanding are in short reply in the mornings, but if you have practised this type of response in low stress situations, you’ll be more than ready to respond appropriately, rather panic or over-react when your child is stressed.

Like everything in parenting, this plan sounds easy when there are no kids around, but it’s important nevertheless.

A lack of a plan you can follow when kids are anxious is the major cause of parent stress. In times of stress, it always helps to have a plan to follow. When dealing with children’s nerves, tension and anxiety at stress o’clock this plan will really help you.

Regards

Ken & Lisa

R U OK? Day Thursday 9^th September 2021 

Now more than ever, it is important to make sure we are looking out for our friends and family and asking R U OK?

Next Thursday, to recognise R U OK? Day, we will be having a wellbeing theme to the day.

Wear a touch of yellow in recognition of R U OK? Day

•   Students will participate in age-appropriate activities about asking R U OK? and looking out for our friends.
•   Participate in a variety of wellbeing activities – teachers will post this to your child’s daily plan and discuss during Google Meets in the lead up to the day.
•   All grade levels will participate in a 30minute magic show with Tim Ellis from Magic Unlimited. The Zoom invite will be posted to your child’s Google Classroom.

o  Years P-2 12:15-12:45pm

o  Years 3/4 – 12:50-1:20pm

o  Year 5/6 – 2:30-3:00pm