Transitioning Back to School

Here are some tips to help with transitioning back to school.

• Plan Ahead - The night before organise what books and things you may need for the next day. Also don't forget what you are going to eat for the day too - you won't have your kitchen handy.
• Get an Early Night - Sleep is important so remember to get an early night so you are able to wake up early enough - no more 5 min commute to school you need to factor in travel time.
• Think of Some Conversation Starters - Some of you may be so excited to see your friends that you may find that you will be talking non stop. Others may have liked the quiet time. If you are a bit worried about catching up with friends, these are a few things you would like to share about your experience and ask about theirs. 
• Be Kind to Yourself - Changing a routine even if you are looking forward to coming back is difficult, be patient with yourself and if you find being back a little overwhelming give yourself a little time out to gather yourself - try some of the strategies we talked about last week.
• Be Kind to Others - Different people will have different reactions, be a good friend and listen, ask people how they are doing and find ways to be nice to each other in these new social distance times. An Air Hug, or write a nice message for them.

Thought for the Week

"A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter when it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it." -- Nikki Giovanni  

Don’t forget...Your Danebank Counselling Team is here for you.

 You can contact the senior school counselling team at: counsellor.senior@danebank.nsw.edu.au

Staying Focused When You Feel Like You Can’t

Some helpful online resources to help you continue to have good mental health:

• Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/staying-well/reducing-stress
• Kids Helpline: https://kidshelpline.com.au/
• Reachout: https://au.reachout.com/

Especially when we are working from home (with lots of distractions) and in front of a computer all day, staying focussed can be a challenge. Finding ways to stay “on track” with your work is important if you are going to continue to be productive during this time.

Here are 4 simple steps to assist you to stay (or get) focussed when you need to be productive:

1. Relax
2. Breathe deeply in and out **
3. Stop fidgeting
4. Do 1 thing fully at a time

(from Waylon Lewis)

**or you could try this simple grounding (focussing) exercise as an alternative

Thought for the Week

Just because we’re in a stressful situation doesn’t mean that we have to get stressed out. 

You may be in the storm. The key is, don’t let the storm get in you.

- Joel Osteen

Don’t forget...Your Danebank Counselling Team is here for you.

You can contact the senior school counselling team at:counsellor.senior@danebank.nsw.edu.au

1. Focus on what you can control - The Power of Positivity 

In Philippians 4:8-9, Paul encourages us to consider carefully what we are thinking about. It is a wonderful place to start when seeking guidance on what to focus our minds on at this time.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Paul continues on to encourage us with these words about where we can find our strength and hope.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Activity: Thinking positively

Some things you might like to do:

• Read a Psalm
• Listen to a PodCast: Jonathan Doyle’s daily podcast

2. Take time to be thankful for what you have ... Be Mindful

When we’re stressed about something, our thoughts tend to speed up. Taking 10 minutes or so to practise mindfulness can help produce a sense of calmness. 

One such technique is the 5 4 3 2 1 Grounding Exercise 

This technique helps us reorient to the here and now, to bring us into the present.  

The '5 4 3 2 1 exercise'

1. Describe 5 things you see in the room 
2. Name 4 things you can feel 
3. Name 3 things you hear right now
4. Name 2 things you can smell right now
5. Name 1 good thing about yourself 

Try not to be judgmental about anything you notice

This is tricky to do, but try not to label things as "good" or "bad". Just notice things and let them be. For example, instead of labelling a particular smell as "bad", just notice it without judging it.

Activity: Being Mindful

Some things you might like to do:

• Take a walk outside: Get out in the fresh air and notice three things that are beautiful.
• Pray: Take some time to thank God for the blessings He has given you.
• Write a "thank you" list: Writing a "thank you" list is one way to slow down and appreciate the small (and big) things in your life. You could use "www" (What, Went, Well) and write down three things you are thankful for.
• Mindful breathing: Take a few extra minutes to focus on your breathing. It doesn’t matter if you have your eyes closed or open. What does your breathing feel like? What does it sound like? Where do you first feel the breath in your body?
  If you want a helping hand check out:
  

  Mindfully
  ReachOut Breathe app
  Insight Timer
  Smiling Mind

• Mindful eating: focusing on what you’re eating, rather than on your thoughts. Take your time and pay attention to every mouthful. Notice the delicious taste as you chew the food, feel the textures, savour the aroma.
• Mindful stretching: Take a moment to focus on your body, such as by doing some stretching exercises, it gives you a break from your headspace.

1. Staying Connected in Times of Stress  

In Colossians 3:12-14 we are encouraged to be people of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience towards others. Using these characteristics, especially in times of stress, can be a loving and powerful way to help us connect with others.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Making sure we are staying in touch with loved ones, friends and family during challenging and stressful times is vitally important to our wellbeing and our overall health. It can help us cope with the difficulties of being isolated from one another.

“Physically isolated, not socially isolated”.

Activity: Connecting

Some things you might like to do:

• Use social media (House Party, Google Meets, FaceTime, Messenger) or Zoom to connect to friends and family online. Teach others to use the online technology if they don’t already know how.
• Host or join live watch parties online.
• Create a Netflix party to watch movies with friends.
• Write letters or postcards to others and send them. Write encouraging messages to people in your life or people you would like to reconnect with.
• Participate in a “Bear Hunt” or scavenger hunt in your local community. Search online for activities going on in your local area.

Activity: Being a Good Friend

Some things you might like to do:

• Check in with your friends regularly, especially the ones who seem quieter than normal.
• Be a good listener: just be willing to listen to your friends, you don’t always have to give advice or provide the answers.
• Ask your friend what they need - be willing to sit with them.
• Tell them how you feel and how important they are to you.

(adapted from www.reachout.com “How to be a Good Friend”) 

2. Supporting Others in the Community: Be Aware

Think about how to assist people in your life who may be more vulnerable (for example, those with no access to the internet or who cannot easily use the internet to shop online). How can you reach out to others in a safe way?

Set up a communication system with a vulnerable members of your local community

Leave a note in their letterbox, offering help with shopping or gathering essential items. Employ a “Green Card/Red Card” system to allow vulnerable community members to indicate when they need resources (such as shopping) that you can assist with.

Activity: Be Aware

Some things you might like to do:

• Be considered in your approach to connecting with someone in your community each day. Ask yourself who you might like to connect with or check on in your local area or networking groups. Think about who you may not have seen or spoken to recently and take the time to make contact with them.
• Pray. Take some time to ask God to direct you towards people in your community who might need some help or assistance.
• Organise some extra resources to have on hand. If you are able, collect some extra supplies when you are shopping (such as toilet paper, paper towel, hand sanitiser and other in-demand items) and offer them to those members of your local community who might have trouble acquiring these.

Finding meaning in uncertain times

In times of uncertainty we can experience some tough emotions ... that’s ok, we all experience tough emotions. It is important to be kind to yourself when you experience these emotions. Acknowledge that this is a moment of suffering and that everyone will experience a moment of suffering. Remind yourself of your strengths and trust yourself to get through this moment. 

Activity: Developing a Routine

You might be missing the simple routine things you would normally do that would give you a sense of purpose and order to your day. Think about your new routine and plan things. Stick to a routine that would be as familiar as possible, waking up times, bed times, and meal times. Also incorporate new little routines into your day. 

For example:

• Missing catching up with your friends on the train home: organise at 3pm to meet your friends on Zoom and have a virtual train trip home together. 
• Missing being able to see nature: make time each day to take a picture of something in your backyard or something you can see out or your window. 

Also make sure that your weekends look different to your weekdays. If you had something that you would normally do on the weekend which cannot be done virtually, think of an alternative activity you could do at this time. 

Activity: Self-Compassion

To help with managing tough emotions, you can practice a "Self Compassion break" as described by Dr Kristin Neff.

When experiencing tough emotions you can say to yourself: 

• "This is a moment of suffering" or "this is an overwhelming situation, it is unfair, this hurts".
• "Suffering is a part of life, it is part of being human" or "I am not alone in feeling this, we all struggle in our lives at times".

Now, put your hands over your heart, feel the warmth of your hands and the gentle touch of your hands on your chest. Then say to ask yourself  “What do I need to hear right now to express kindness to myself?” Is there a phrase that speaks to you in your particular situation, such as:

• May I give myself the compassion that I need
• May I learn to accept myself as I am
• May I forgive myself
• May I be strong
• May I be patient

Adapted from https://self-compassion.org/exercise-2-self-compassion-break/

The importance of an active mind

Mental activity can be described as anything that stimulates, activates or enriches the mind.  Scientists have found that brainy activities stimulate new connections between nerve cells and may even help the brain generate new cells. Any mentally stimulating activity should help to build up your brain. Read, take courses, try "mental gymnastics”, such as word puzzles or math problems. Experiment with things that require manual dexterity as well as mental effort, such as drawing, jigsaw puzzles, sewing, and other crafts.  

The therapeutic value of reading fiction

Books can re-balance the self, providing a form of escapism that is more intense than in any other artform.  Bibliotherapist, Ella Berthoud, says:

“With a film or TV show, you’re given the visuals whereas with a novel you’re inventing them yourself, so it’s actually much more of a powerful event, because you’re involved.”

Escapism is one thing, but contemporary young adult novels also seek to help teenagers by addressing head-on the issues they may be dealing with in their day-to-day lives. Berthoud believes these novels may be instrumental in getting kids to talk about “the issues which might be happening in their lives, but they haven’t been able to articulate. I really think that a book can be the axe that breaks the frozen sea within us, as Kafka said, and that is true of any age.”

• Click here to read the complete article
• Link to Overdrive 
• Danebank Library 
• Google form: Suggest a new LIBRARY item
• Reading Ideas
• ELEs guide to home learning

Harry Potter Fun

• Hogwarts Digital Escape Room
• Harry Potter: A History of Magic - Explore the wonders of the British Library exhibition
• Harry Potter at Home: Bringing Hogwarts to You

Reading is Good for You!

• Why 'getting lost in a book' is so good for you!
• 5 benefits of reading as little as 20 pages per day
• Why reading can be good for mental health
• Here’s how to ignore your phone and just do it

Join a Library

• Georges River Libraries
• Sutherland Shire Libraries
• State Library of New South Wales
• Australian School Library Association - Resources to Support Parents

Prioritising your mental health is important, watch this video to find how you can prioritise your mental wellbeing during this time of change. Eating well, keeping active and talking with family, friends and neighbours are all ways you can stay healthy.

Given that Danebank has moved to a distance learning platform for the short to medium term, the biggest change to our services will be the way that the Counselling Team delivers counselling and support to you directly. This will primarily mean that in-person face-to-face appointments will not be possible during this time.

The Counselling Team will be offering contact via email, telephone and Zoom online sessions. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, please email your counsellor directly (for existing students of the Counselling Team). For students who require support for the first time, contact:

Senior School: counsellor.senior@danebank.nsw.edu.au

Junior School: counsellor.junior@danebank.nsw.edu.au

We are envisioning a 20 to 30 minute appointment via phone or online using Zoom, rather than a full period appointment, although this is flexible. Times will still only be offered during standard school hours 8.20am to 2.55pm. The Counselling Team will not be available during the extended School Holiday period, which includes the week of Monday 6 to Friday 9 April. 

As a reminder, the Counselling Team is NOT a crisis service. For any crisis concerns, please contact your local hospital or Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, Lifeline or KidsHelpline (numbers below).

When you schedule a distance counselling appointment with us, you will receive a calendar invitation for this meeting with details of date, time and the format (phone call or Zoom) for that appointment. In the case of Zoom video calls, a link will be included that will take you to your online meeting. Ensure you have the Zoom software downloaded onto your device to be able to participate.

Please RSVP for appointments, so we know you will be available to attend at the scheduled time. If you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us via an email so we can use the time for others and also reschedule a time for you. 

Prior to their first online appointment, Senior School students will receive an email with a new consent form outlining confidentiality when/for using this electronic distance counselling format. Please read this and confirm your agreement to the information via email prior to your first appointment taking place.

If you have any questions, queries or concerns, please feel free to contact us via email in the first instance and we will respond to you as soon as we are able to.

Please bear with us as we work out this new technology and platform. However, be assured that we are keen to stay connected with you and support you through this time!

Responsibilities during online learning 

• Identify a safe, comfortable, quiet space in your home where you can work effectively and successfully.
• Monitor CANVAS regularly and your emails for announcements and feedback from teachers.
• Learning in any form required commitment and being present.
• Complete all tasks with integrity and academic honesty.
• Do your best work, meeting timelines and due dates.
• Communicate proactively with your teachers if you cannot meet deadlines or require additional support.
• Collaborate and support classmates in their learning.
• Comply with the School’s policies regarding behaviour.
• Seek out and communicate with school staff as different needs arise.

Be ready to learn at home:

Focus your mind

• Wake up with enough time to get ready and have breakfast before your first class at 8.20am (or 7.15 for Period 0)
• Do not stay in your PJs. Get dressed in appropriate clothing as you would for a mufti day.
• Log on to CANVAS, check announcements each period
• Be ready to start your online classes at 8.20am
• Don’t try to multi-task
  • Only have apps/screens open that you need
  • Close any non-relevant tabs in your browser
  • Sign out of all social media apps
  • Turn off notifications

Your space

• Set yourself up in a quiet area, at a desk or table and try to limit distractions.
• You may need to think about handing your mobile phone to your parents or switching it off (not just putting it on silent)
• Let your family know that when you are in your workspace, you are still attending class, even though you are at home. 
• Turn off your phone, your microphone, your webcam — whatever it takes to help you stay focused while working. This isn’t always easy, but there are tools available to help set limits and stop distractions. You'll find some good ones in this article on website blockers.
• Make your learning space as tidy, comfortable and as quiet as possible 
• If you are sharing your learning space, be respectful of others 
• Have your books, notepads and pen handy as well as your device ready, fully charged and logged in 
• Test any apps to make sure they are working 
• Use headphones if possible 
• Here's how to sit at your desk.

Online Zoom sessions: clothing, etiquette and work-space

• Remember you will be live conferencing using ZOOM.
• Dress in appropriate casual clothes as you would for Mufti Days. Don’t stay in your pyjamas!
• Be respectful and responsible, understand how online behaviours affect others.
• Talk to your teachers online as you would in class.
• Sit at a desk/work-space for all ZOOM sessions, the floor or bed is not an appropriate work-space.
• Situate your device within your home or work-space so that it has an appropriate backdrop that does not expose any teacher or student to inappropriate imagery or conduct.
• Be safe, protect your privacy, security and wellbeing.
• Like at school, keep your smartphone off and away. 

NOTE: Should any student within the meeting behave inappropriately, be dressed inappropriately or be situated in an inappropriate location, your teacher will end the conversation immediately and contact you or your parent (if necessary) via email to pass on advice as to how you might be better prepared next time.

Be healthy

• Have your water bottle handy.
• During breaks, move, stretch your legs and get some fresh air - don’t sit all day at your computer.
• Have recess and lunch, eating healthy food
• With no commute to school, take advantage of the downtime and allow yourself to step outside, exercise, or find other ways to relax and regain your focus. 

Ask questions

Stumped by something? Don’t be afraid to ask for help. This situation is new for all of us, and there will be plenty of questions that arise. 

Know it's OK to feel anxious

Take things day-by-day and try to use some of the advice published here to stay organised and focused. Reach out to your teachers and classmates as needed. Remember, you’re not alone ... we’re all in this together!

What our students thought of their experience:

Dr Oldfield's virtual conference was an engaging and interesting presentation on electron microscopy which gave us insight into the different applications of electron microscopes. For example, knowing the 3D shape of the coronavirus to help make vaccines. He also spoke about how and why the different methods of forming 3D structures were used by scientists. His talk sparked curiosity about his work with ANSTO and many of us asked questions which gave us a deeper understanding of his work.  Gemma T, Year 9

The biology conference was a valuable learning experience for me. I was particularly interested in the use of electron microscopy to observe and study diseases at a molecular level.  Kaitlyn C, Year 11

Dr Aulsebrook gave us a detailed and interesting insight into the practical applications of chemistry, and into her job at ANSTO. It was eye-opening to see how the knowledge and chemistry we are learning in the senior years is being put into practice in the real world, and how it is being used to help others. The conference was a fantastic opportunity for us to find out what careers look like in science!  Emily F, Year 11

The one hour session is broken into 17 bite sized chunks of mini-videos. 
Topics covered are:

• How can families make the home environment a better space for learning?
• How much schoolwork should students be doing each day?
• What is the best way to approach the day’s learning?
• How involved should parents be and what if they also have to work at home?
• How important is it to stick to the curriculum?
• Any specific advice for senior students?
• What if students have trouble learning this way?
• What should senior students do if they feel they are disadvantaged?
• How can students stay motivated to do their schoolwork at home?
• How can students stay more focused in online lessons?
• What do you need to know about webinars?
• How much screen time can students have outside of schooltime?
• What can students do outside of their schoolwork to be more effective learners?
• What are the top tips for parents?
• What are the top tips for students?
• Where can you get help from?

• talk to your whole family about the infection – understanding the situation will reduce anxiety
• help your daughter to think about how they have coped with difficult situations in the past and reassuring them that they will cope with this situation too
• remind them that the isolation won’t last forever
• exercise regularly - exercise is a proven treatment for stress and depression.
• encourage your daughter to keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or social media (where appropriate). 

Online counselling services for children and teenagers

Parent resources and support 

You can help support for your daughter during Distance Learning by:

• establishing routines and expectations
• defining a space for your daughter to work in
• monitoring communications from teachers
• beginning and ending each day with a check-in
• taking an active role in helping your daughter process their learning
• encouraging physical activity and/or exercise
• checking in with your daughter regularly to help them manage stress
• monitoring how much time your daughter is spending online
• keeping your daughter social, but set rules around their social media interactions.

Click here to access a Learning Environment Check list from NSW Department of Education

ADHD Advice for Parents: Tim Connell

Click here to access a ADHA Advice Sheet from Tim Connell

NOTE: Tim Connell is providing consultancy support for schools and parents at no charge during this extraordinary period.

• Book a Zoom session by contacting; www.timconnellaustralia.com
• e. info@timconnellaustralia.com
• m. (+61) 0403473328

 Join a Zoom Meeting

• Click on the link shared with you

• Click 'launch application' which will install the Zoom launcher on your computer. If needed, you can also install the client by following the directions on their website, https://zoom.us/

• After the Zoom launcher is installed, your meeting will start. 

• If needed, click "join audio conference by computer" to connect your headset/microphone. 

Once the meeting has started you will see the Zoom menu bar at the bottom of the screen. If you do not see the menu bar, move your mouse slightly and the menu will appear. The menu bar may disappear in full screen mode. 

From the menu bar you can:

• Mute/unmute your audio
• Stop/start your video
• Configure your settings for items such as audio and video
• Invite more people to join by email, IM, SMS (mobile users) or meeting ID
• View a list of participants
• Share your desktop (everything you have open) or select a specific application to share (for example, Google Docs)
• Send a message to one person (private chat) or to all participants
• Record the meeting (if you have been granted permission)
• Leave or end the video meeting

Guide

You will need:

• An internet connection - broadband wired or wireless
• Headset/earbuds with microphone
• Webcam - built-in or USB plug in

Enter the Zoom Meeting

Your meeting host/instructor will provide the URL to the Zoom room. Simply click the URL or paste into your browser of choice to open the meeting.

Audio and Video Setup

After joining the Zoom meeting, you will be prompted to join the room’s audio. Zoom allows audio participation through your computer’s internal speakers, a headset, or a phone line. The initial step of joining the audio by computer looks like this: 

• Click on "Join with Computer Audio" so you can listen in and use your mic.
• If you experience audio problems after clicking on "Join with Computer Audio", click the arrow next to the microphone icon in the bottom-left hand corner, and choose "Test Speaker and Microphone".
• If you need to change your audio/video input device, click the arrow next to the microphone/camera icon and select the appropriate device.

Enable/Disable Mic and Video

To mute yourself so others cannot hear you, click on the microphone icon in the bottom-left corner. To unmute, click the microphone icon again. Follow the same process to turn the webcam on and off.

Participants List

The participants list shows all the active members in the meeting, including your instructor(s) and fellow students. To open the participants list, click “Participants” in the bottom menu. This will open a list on the right-hand side of the meeting screen. You can mute yourself or change your display name by hovering over your name in the participants list, clicking on "More", then clicking on "Rename". 

Click here to download a PDF "Zoom Guide" 

Information from Extend

Extend are committed to the Federal Government’s Essential Services Care package which includes Free Childcare for all Australian families for at least three months. 

It is very important that during the delivery of our services, we keep everyone safe. That’s why we are introducing all schools, families, children and staff to the NEW Essential Services Care (ESC). During the Free Childcare program, ESC will look different to your current Before or After School Care program and it’s important everyone understands what has changed, and what remains the same.

What has changed? 

Social distancing measures:

• Parents/guardians when you drop off or collect your child please remain four (4) metres away from the nearest child, and remain 1.5 metres away from the nearest Educator. This is for your safety as well as the safety of our children and Educators. 
• Children will be required to remain 1.5 metres away from all children and Educators whilst in our care. We know your children are already very aware of social distancing. They are telling us! However, please continue to reinforce this with your children at home so they still feel loved and welcomed at the service despite the physical distance.

Outdoor school playgrounds:

• As per current government restrictions, all playground equipment will remain off limits until we are advised it is safe to use this equipment.

Play:

• Play will look different in the service. There will be no team sports or group activities where close proximity is required. But that doesn’t mean there is no play. We will be constantly designing activities, and giving children a say in the activities, to ensure children remain engaged and connected. You may notice some of our regular play options are not available in your service, such as dress ups or the library, but we do encourage children to bring books from home for their personal use (not to be shared).

Food:

• You can now provide all food for your child. Our services are cleaned and disinfected and we practice exceptional hand hygiene. However, parents may be concerned about food preparation for their children. We will still provide non-perishable breakfasts and afternoon snacks (which require minimal handling with tongs) for those children who do not bring food. However, if you wish to have complete control of the preparation of your child’s food, please feel free to provide them with food and let your child and the Educator know the child is to eat the food prepared at home.

Illness:

• Keep your child at home if they are sick. We know before coronavirus (BC), children might have come to school with a sniffle or a cough. Based on health advice, during coronavirus (DC), we are unable to accept your child into the service if they have any signs of infection, and you will be phoned to collect your child. 

Drop off and pick up procedures

Sign in and out:

• Please use the tissues at the sign in table to wrap around your finger to sign your child in an out of the service using the tablet provided, then discard the tissue in the bin provided.
• Drop off your child at the door. We ask parents to not enter the service past the sign in table unless absolutely necessary (for example where a very small child might need help with their bags, or to wash your hands).
• When you collect your child, again please do not pass the sign out table, unless your child needs assistance or you need to wash your hands.
• Please wash your hands or use hand sanitiser prior to collecting your child. If you have been unable to do so, please wash your hands with the soap provided in the service. If you haven’t washed your hands prior to attending the service, please open any doors with your hands covered.

General assistance

• Educators will ensure they do not touch your child’s belongings at drop off, pick up or during the service, so you are able to assist your child provided you remain 4 metres away from all children except your own, and 1.5 metres away from our Educators.
• If your child does need general assistance (putting on a jumper, opening their bag, etc), Educators will step in, ensuring they have thoroughly washed their hands prior to touching your child or their belongings, and again wash their hands afterwards. Please inform your child that they may need to wait for their Educators to wash their hands prior to assisting them.

Electronic devices

Extend has been a vocal supporter of non tech, social, interactive play. However, for the duration of the delivery of ESC as part of the Free Childcare program, personal use devices will be allowed in the program. These devices must only be handled by the owner of the device and time restrictions on use will be in place. Please speak to your Educator if you wish to allow your child to bring their device to the service. The rules around device use will be fully explained to you and your child (including access to appropriate content on their devices during the service). The use of devices in our services will not continue after coronavirus (AC).

What remains the same? 

There are three administrative actions that have always been important but during Essential Services Care (ESC), these have become vitally important:

• Book in advance
• Cancel your place as soon as you know it is not needed
• Collect your children during service hours
• Please book your child in as soon as you know you need care and cancel as soon as you realise you no longer need care. Please manage your bookings carefully via LookedAfter.com 24 hours a day. There are aspects of the Free Childcare program that require careful management of attendances. At some services, places will be limited due to staffing restrictions associated with the program. In order to keep your children safe and provide Free Childcare places for as many families as possible, we do need to know exactly how many children we are expecting each day.

The Free Childcare program only applies to standard session times. It does not cover charges that will apply if you are running late to collect your child. We do not want anyone to pay Late Pickup charges so please pick up your child during the hours of operation of the service. Please ensure you have nominated appropriate people who can collect your child from ESC so you have back up plans in place if you are delayed. You can update your ‘can collect’ details at LookedAfter.com.

Handwashing:

• Educators have always been required to exhibit good hand hygiene and provide hand hygiene instruction to children. This has not changed, but our information has been updated in line with pandemic handwashing conditions.

First Aid:

• If your child requires First Aid, this will be administered in the most hygienic manner possible. It may involve our Educators touching your child to administer emergency assistance. This will be the main reason our Educators touch your child or their belongings.

• Creative writing: Students could imagine what it would be like to spend a whole day with a fictional book character. Who would they choose and why? What would they do?
• Write as a story or journal entry and illustrate with a picture of themselves with that character
• What would Mrs Buckley say?... Read a book
• Write a letter to a family member or friend
• Write a song
• Make a word bank of ‘wow words' to use in writing next term (remember the power of the verbs)
• Keep a writing journal of the things you are doing during the holidays
• Try sketching a beautiful flower from your garden 
• Design and create a series of gift cards (Birthday, Thank you, Easter, Christmas)
• Take a photo of yourself reading your favourite book in your favourite reading nook at home
• Students might like to watch the following link of children reading the picture book 'Chalk' and also model this idea to record themselves reading a favourite book. Alternatively they could use chalk or pencils to illustrate what they would draw if they found magic chalk at a playground. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MomQf_CTksM

Colin Buchannan: Kids Talks, Songs and activities

• Research your family ancestry. Start or add to your Family Tree
• Online Sudoku puzzles (various levels of difficulty) 
• Video link on how to complete Sudoku puzzles efficiently 
• Interview the oldest person you know (via phone, email or face time) and find out how they entertained themselves when they were your age
• Online Science Workshops 
• QAGOMA: Learning resources for primary and secondary levels
• Design and make some jewellery
• QAGOMA: Kids Learning
• Compile some of your families favourite recipes in to a Family Cook Book
• TATE: Kids Learning 
• Create a board game
• Ideas for home learning 
• Learn some basic first aid skills (treating bee stings, simple cuts, when to call for help)
• Learn how to create a series of origami animals
• Kids National Geographic

• World Museum Tours
• Tennessee Aquarium
• NASA - Virtual Tour
• National Museum of Natural History - Virtual Tour
• The Met Museum for Kids
• The Google Art Project
• Musei Vaticani - Virtual Tour
• The Holocaust Museum - Online Exhibitions
• Womens History Museum online exhibits
• Great Wall of China - Virtual Tour 
• The Philadelphia Museum of Art
• SCAD Museum of Art
• Science Museum
• WOOL Covilha Urban Art Festival
• Beluga Webcam, Georgia Aquarium
• British Museum, London
• Guggenheim Museum, New York
• MoMA The Museum of Modern Art, New York
• National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
• Uffizi Gallery, Florence
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
• Benaki Museum, Athens
• Picasso Museum, Barcelona
• The Rijksmuseum Museum, Amsterdam 
• The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
• Musée d’Orsay, Paris
• Smithsonian Institute Museum
• Biennale of Sydney
• Art Gallery NSW Education Resources
• Australian Museum, Sydney
• Museum of Contemporary Art Learning Resources
• Earth Observatory NASA 
• Australian Tours 
• The British Library's Harry Potter exhibition 

• Wild Life Zoo, Sydney - live feeding demonstrations 
• Taronga Zoo TV
• San Diego Zoo
• Sea Life Sydney
• Australian Egg Farms
• The Cincinnati Zoo: Facebook Live Feed
• Atlanta Zoo: "Panda Cam" livestream 
• Georgia Aquarium: aquarium's live cam
• Houston Zoo: live cam
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• National Aquarium, Baltimore
• Farm Food 360
• www.weareteachers.com/best-virtual-field-trips/

See your notes in SeeSaw on how to log in. Log in through iDanenet → Junior School → Orbit → Storybox → login code is on the screen.

Storybox has some great activity sheets to go with the books online. Here is an example of an activity:

The Activity Time For the book Grandad's Teeth. Collect and compare fingerprints. 

What you need:

• Greylead and sticky tape OR
• Ink and paper OR
• Oil, dark-coloured paper and talcum powder

Ask each family member to first press their finger on to a "wet" item before pressing it on to a surface to collect their fingerprint. 
Try: 

• Colouring a patch of white paper with thick greylead pencil.
• Press a finger on to this before pressing on to the sticky side of a piece of sticky tape.
• Pressing a finger on to ink before pressing on to white paper.
• Pressing on to an oily surface (this could be your forehead or a sponge dipped in oil) before pressing on to a dark piece of paper. Then lightly sprinkle over the fingerprint with talcum powder).
• Compare the fingerprints of your family members. 

GOING FURTHER:

• Use talcum powder to try to lift fingerprints from household objects.
• Try to match these fingerprints to the family database of fingerprints you have created.

• Find things in your garage to build a tree swing (with an adult)
• Walk your dog
• Make an obstacle course around your house/yard
• Gardening - planting veggies and herbs
• Choreograph a dance and video it
• Bikes/scooters/roller skates/skateboards/hula hoops
• Practise your skipping for ‘Jump Rope for Heart’
• Scavenger Hunts 
• Cosmic Kids Yoga
• GoNoodle
• Adventure 2 Fitness
• Just Dance Kids
• Kids Zumba
• Kidzbop
• Sport Supermovers

• ANZAC Day Poppy Wreath: ideas here
• ANZAC Biscuits
• Help with some chores around the house - washing, cleaning, cooking, gardening
• Readers Theatre with favourite books and poems - dress up and film yourself reading a story with expression.
• Stem challenges: Make a shelter that can protect from sun/wind and rain
• Build a cubby
• Find things in your garage to build a tree swing (with an adult)
• Pitch a tent and camp out in the lounge room or back yard
• Learn to build a fire with an adult in a fire pit and discuss what a fire needs to burn. (toast marshmallows or make damper on the fire)
• Make a musical instrument
• Gardening - planting veggies and herbs
• Make a billy cart with an adult
• Cooking eg. Make pizzas (homemade dough) 
• Learn to knit
• Practice musical instruments
• Learn to braid hair
• Play a card or board game with your family
• LEGO
• Challenge yourself with a Rubik's Cube (some solutions here)
• Learn to tie shoe laces

• First day we are open in Term 3, is Monday 12 July from 9am to 1pm

Regular hours will resume thereafter. Any online orders placed during the holidays will be processed once the shop reopens.

Home delivery will not be available during the holidays.

Collect online purchases from school 

Ranier are providing an option for families to collect online purchases from school. Parents must nominate The Junior or Senior office by typing in the space after the surname. Orders will be delivered once a week on a Thursday and will be available to collect from 2pm. To qualify for the delivery, orders will need to be placed by 9am. Please see below instructions on the Ranier website. 

106a Park Road, Hurstville (rear house at the end of the driveway)

• Tuesday  2pm - 5pm
• Thursday  8am - 11.30am
• Saturday  9am - 12noon (1st Saturday of the month - term time only)

Please note the following conditions 

• Student to be accompanied by one family member only
• Do not attend the shop if you are unwell
• Wait outside the shop until invited in
• Please observe social distancing while at our shop
• Please expect longer waiting times

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Click here for further details 

Email danebank@ranier.com.au if you have any problems with registration.

Phone: 0455 028 256

Ranier requests ordering online prior to collecting from store. For online ordering please visit www.ranier.com.au

• If you are unsure of the size required, purchase your best estimate online. 
• Only unworn items can be exchanged for free if required.