Health and Wellbeing

Our students have responded to the complexities and changes associated with Coronavirus (Covid-19) with impressive determination, understanding and support of one another. Their seamless adjustment to the Learn@Home program has been testament to their ability to adapt to changing circumstances and to approach the future with resilience and hope. The girls’ expression of gratitude to their teachers for preparing high quality online lessons under unprecedented time constraints has also been heartening to witness. While maintaining their education through online lessons is very important, it is also essential to address the anxieties of children and young people during these changing times.

The implementation and structure of the Learn@Home program has taken into consideration the need for consistency and routine in a time when young people and adults alike are feeling the effects of shifting expectations. In tandem with our goal to deliver optimal educational outcomes, under whatever constraints the school is placed, is our desire to monitor the wellbeing of our girls closely.

Apart from the regular online contact with their classroom teachers, the Heads of Year have been holding ‘chat’ forums for students during the Level periods. Similarly, the House Tutors have been checking in on students in the Academic Advisory sessions. These Wellbeing sessions have provided an opportunity for staff to monitor the students’ management of the online learning tools but importantly, how they are managing personally.

Key staff will continue to check in on the girls’ to see how they adapting. Parents will also be phoned early next term. The School Counsellor, Ms Amelia King, continues as a support for our girls and families and can be contacted on counselling@stcatherines.net.au. Parents are encouraged to be attentive to any prolonged or intense worry, low mood or changes to sleep or eating patterns during the break and to seek professional advice accordingly.

Student surveys undertaken have been overwhelming positive in regard to all facets of the Learn@Home experience but we are mindful that monitoring screen time and extended periods of sitting in a desk chair is essential. The Sports Department have created a Portal page with a range of videos and links to assist students to maintain physical and mental wellbeing. Examples include the HomeCourt Basketball app with interactive development drills, warm-ups and circuits, yoga, mindfulness and meditation videos; all of which can be done indoors or in confined outdoor space. The Sports staff have also created videos demonstrating how outdoor games can be modified to suit the equipment and space that you have available. Please encourage your daughter to build some of these activities into her daily routine – they will also provide a great opportunity for family time as parents and siblings can join in.

Whilst recognising the positives of closer family connections being formed in this time, there is no doubt that parenting a child or teenager will have added challenges in upcoming months. The barrage of media coverage, shifting expectations of social interaction and rising uncertainty of what lies ahead personally, socially and economically is daunting for adults, but we must be mindful of how young minds are processing their changing world.

Reachout.com Parent Advice offers parents advice on how to talk to teens about coronavirus. Key recommendations include reassuring your child that you understand that this is a stressful time and that it is normal to feel upset and to reassure them that they’re not alone. Parents are urged to discuss the proactive things they are doing to help them feel less hopeless and uncertain and there are some things in their control. Reminders about hygiene practices, cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, don’t touch your mouth, nose and eyes; and wash your hands with soap and water frequently for at least 20 seconds are simple examples of how we can exhibit control over our own circumstances. Practising social distancing is also rendering individuals a sense of individual control as well as social responsibility.

Encourage children and teenagers to view media, especially social media commentary with a critical eye. Misinformation can be unnecessarily alarming and increase anxiety. Limits on media viewing should be set and children should be encouraged to find fun ways to pass the time at home, including getting some fresh air and exercise.

ReachOut notes that “While it’s important to speak to your teen about it, you could consider setting an hour in the evenings during which no-one mentions Covid-19. Chat about anything other than the virus – what they’ve been learning at school, their hobbies, TV shows you’re watching. Time spent this way will help to keep a sense of normalcy in the house.”

Covid-19 presents many practical challenges to parents and other important adults in the lives of our girls. Staying calm, being informed, and adjusting our own habits are important. During this time, continuing to be civil to each other, looking out for each other and being mindful of the common good in everything we do is essential. In this, we can all take a significant lead.

The Heads of Year are also placing self-care tips and exercise links on the Student Portal Level and Wellbeing pages including the following tips shared by ReachOut.com.

  1. Stay active
  2. Take 10 to be zen
  3. Chat with your mates
  4. Check out the ReachOut forums
  5. Make a homemade meal
  6. Take a break from the news
  7. Make a music playlist
  8. Declutter for five minutes a day
  9. Watch or read something uplifting
  10. Learn something new

You may wish to check the following website for more information:

Glen Gerreyn- The Hopeful Institute: How to Help Students Cope with Change

 

Ms Merran O'Connor, Deputy Principal - Student Wellbeing