This last two weeks have been a very busy and demanding time for all of our staff as they work toward creating…Online teaching and School on-site daily classrooms ready to go in Term 2.

Staff are spending many hours both day and night in meetings with leadership and each other as they put together programs to support your children both here at Cedar and at home.

There is so much we don’t know ahead of us and we need your support.

But here are a few things we do know:

• We have an amazing supportive parent community. This means so much to us.
• It’s going to be messy and that’s alright. Be forgiving and patient.
• It is only for a season. (next year we will be back to normal)
• We will not be able to deliver the standard of education that we have enjoyed in the past. (However, that won’t stop us from trying to achieve this)
• This is going to put pressure and stress on both teachers and parents that they have never experienced before.
• We will endeavour to assist any parents who are struggling financially, so please let us know.

Mr Peter Thomson, Principal

Below are some tips that might help you navigate through this difficult time.

• Children thrive on routine and predictability, both of which are in short supply right now for families across the country and well beyond. Despite the uncertainty in the community, you still can try to foster an environment that includes as much routine and predictability as possible. 
• Acknowledge for your children that it may be frustrating, disappointing, and sad that activities have been cancelled or postponed. It also may be worrisome and stressful because none of us are sure when the return to more typical routines will happen. Let your children know that it is okay to have these feelings, and the family is going to do its best to make the most of these changes.

For mums, dads and caregivers, these changes have likely turned your world upside down, without sufficient time to prepare. You can feel exasperated and worried even when you’re trying to make the most of these experiences.

Try and keep a consistent schedule

• Sticking with a routine similar to the one practiced for typical school days will help make any return to school smoother, as well as give shape to each day. Try to keep your children’s morning and bedtime routines the same as if they were preparing for school. Keeping meal times the same also can help.
• Create a daily schedule that is structured for your children. You can foster a sense of collaboration and control for them by creating a list of activities and allowing your children to pick when they happen. For example, your children can pick during which hour-long blocks of time they do math work, science work, reading, etc. Look also to the advice your teachers give you for this.
• Be creative. Perhaps children can do a craft during art time, write a song that lasts 20 seconds to sing for future hand-washing music, see how many jumping jacks they can do or choreograph a dance for PE, and do improv skits for drama.
• If more than one adult is at home or working from home, it might be helpful to coordinate your schedules as best you can to allow tag-team monitoring of your children’s schedule when needed.

Have a plan for screen time use

Screens will be in use more often now, due to online learning programs and virtual classrooms. If you have a screen time plan for your family, you still can keep that in place for the typical after-school hours. Your plan should focus on recreational screen time use, such as the use of video games. Review any screen time plan and limits with your family, to avoid potential attempts to negotiate and argue. 

Be creative with socialising

Technology now allows us to get creative with social interactions to help prevent loneliness, while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. You can schedule virtual playdates for your children and Facetime calls with family members during after-school hours. Platforms such as Zoom allow children to have virtual group hangouts, so there are still ways to remain connected to others while staving off loneliness. This differs from online games that allow users to interact with unknown players. It’s important to monitor any virtual interactions that your children are having, to make sure those on the other end are known and appropriate connections.

Remember that you are not alone; we are in this together and doing our part as a community to keep everyone as healthy as possible.