Week 9 – Friday 27 March 2020 Principal’s Update Our newsletter would normally be full of the wonderful events that have happened of late at the DEM. For this newsletter, we only have a couple of things to report on. Unfortunately, as indicated in my other communications over the last two weeks many things have changed in the way we operate and all events have been postponed. This is not only happening at local level but on a global scale. The latest cancellation is NAPLAN. There will be no NAPLAN in 2020. However, I would like to start with a heartfelt thank you to the parents who have recognised the dedication, commitment and hard work of our staff during the last couple of weeks. We have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback and kind emails. We have appreciated your patience as we have activated our Learning Continuity Plan to ensure the students of the DEM are continuing with their education during these interesting times. Moving forward our school will be operational (until notified otherwise) with minimal staff on site each day to provide supervision to the students of essential workers. From Monday 30 March the majority of our staff will be working from home, monitoring Google Classroom and developing future learning plans, as directed by the NSW DoE. We acknowledge that learning remotely can be a difficult situation for some families, particularly when parents are also working from home. We recommend that students do their best to complete their allocated daily tasks, however we understand that for many students this may be difficult. We do not want to place any further pressure on families who are already dealing with the complexities of this situation. We are also mindful of the difficulties around accessing the internet or devices. We are happy for students to do what they can at a time that suits your household. As the impacts of Coronavirus continue to evolve, the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and school community continues to be our priority. Teachers and staff will be monitoring student activity on Google Classroom each day and may contact you to check-in if your child has been inactive for a period of time. Other suggested tips for looking after your children’s wellbeing during isolation include: Talking regularly to your family about what is happening. Understanding the situation may reduce anxiety levels. Help your children to think about how they have coped with difficult situations in the past and reassure them that they will cope with this situation too. Exercise regularly. Encourage your children to keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or Facetime. Our School Psychologists have suggested the following resources that might be helpful: • AskIzzy - is an up-to-date online service that refers to listed and trusted support services in Australia of all categories. It's easy to search by postcode and is accessible on devices. The Dem Newsletter
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Week 9 – Friday 27 March 2020
Principal’s Update
Our newsletter would normally be full of the wonderful events that have happened of late at the DEM. For this newsletter, we only have a couple of things to report on. Unfortunately, as indicated in my other communications over the last two weeks many things have changed in the way we operate and all events have been postponed. This is not only happening at local level but on a global scale. The latest cancellation is NAPLAN. There will be no NAPLAN in 2020.
However, I would like to start with a heartfelt thank you to the parents who have recognised the dedication, commitment and hard work of our staff during the last couple of weeks. We have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback and kind emails. We have appreciated your patience as we have activated our Learning Continuity Plan to ensure the students of the DEM are continuing with their education during these interesting times.
Moving forward our school will be operational (until notified otherwise) with minimal staff on site each day to provide supervision to the students of essential workers. From Monday 30 March the majority of our staff will be working from home, monitoring Google Classroom and developing future learning plans, as directed by the NSW DoE.
We acknowledge that learning remotely can be a difficult situation for some families, particularly when parents are also working from home. We recommend that students do their best to complete their allocated daily tasks, however we understand that for many students this may be difficult. We do not want to place any further pressure on families who are already dealing with the complexities of this situation. We are also mindful of the difficulties around accessing the internet or devices. We are happy for students to do what they can at a time that suits your household.
As the impacts of Coronavirus continue to evolve, the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and school community continues to be our priority. Teachers and staff will be monitoring student activity on Google Classroom each day and may contact you to check-in if your child has been inactive for a period of time.
Other suggested tips for looking after your children’s wellbeing during isolation include:
Talking regularly to your family about what is happening. Understanding the situation may reduceanxiety levels.
Help your children to think about how they have coped with difficult situations in the past andreassure them that they will cope with this situation too.
Exercise regularly.
Encourage your children to keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, emailor Facetime.
Our School Psychologists have suggested the following resources that might be helpful:
• AskIzzy - is an up-to-date online service that refers to listed and trusted support services in Australia of all categories. It's easy to search by postcode and is accessible on devices.
The Dem
Newsletter
• Energising Minds – is another great compilation of resources for parents supporting their children that might be helpful. Parents/carers are encouraged to watch the video on the page re. talking to children about traumatic events and worries about the future.
• Please also see pages 6-9 of this newsletter for a detailed list of other apps/websites that may be helpful to support you and your family’s wellbeing.
A reminder, parents should communicate with teachers via email only (not use Google Classroom). Some teachers may trial using video conferencing software (Zoom / MS Teams) to connect with students during this period of remote learning. A reminder this is an opportunity for students and teachers, not a time for parents to ask questions of teachers.
I will continue to keep you updated with any information provided by NSW DoE or NSW Health. However, this will be our last DEM Newsletter until school returns to normal. As requested many times before, please ensure you have downloaded the SchoolStream app as this will be the main form of communication during a school closure.
You may also like to download the DoE’s School Update App which will also advise when a school becomes non-operational. The app is free and available now for iOS and Android users. You can opt in for notifications about the operational status of as many NSW public schools as you choose.
• Download for iOS - App StoreExternal link.• Download for Android - Google PlayExternal link.
Wishing you all happiness and good health.
Ms Fiona Davis Principal
School News
Zone Swimming Carnival Congratulations to all our swimmers who represented the DEM at the North Shore Zone Swimming Carnival on Friday 13 March. We are very proud of the following students for their achievements on the day:
Dylan Zhou:
1st Senior Boys Individual Medley
1st 11 Years Boys 50m Freestyle
1st Open Boys 100m Freestyle
1st 11 Years Boys 50m Breaststroke
1st 11 Years Boys 50m Backstroke
1st 11 Years Boys 50m Butterfly
North Shore Zone Senior Boys Champion
Jo (Alesha) Mulyatmojo: 1st Junior Girls 50m Backstroke
Tristan Halstead: 3rd Junior Boys 50m Breaststroke
Holly Smith: 3rd Senior Girls 50m Butterfly
Relay Teams:
2nd Junior Boys Relay: Peter Yoon, Max Green, Tristan Halstead, Billy Jones
3rd Senior Boys Relay: Dylan Zhou, Alex Sands, Max Hancock, Zen Conybeare-Yamaguchi
https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/supporting-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/
https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/supporting-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/
Harmony Week Last Wednesday the school celebrated Harmony Day and you could feel the buzz in the playground and in classrooms. We had international flags, national dress, art and craft, cultural dancing, music, storytelling and so much more!
We celebrated how special our school community is and the vibrant, diverse cultural backgrounds of our students. The work that students completed in class on Harmony Day was beautiful. We also created a big ‘Harmony Tree’ in the playground and classes got to draw hands and hearts on the tree. The shared tree really lifted students and staff's spirits with the positive message that we are all connected together as one community, even as branches of communities we are still united. The tree symbolises our connectedness and belonging.
Harmony Day was truly a valued and enjoyable experience for our students and teachers.
ICAS 2020 In 2020 students in Years 2-6 will once again have the opportunity to participate in ICAS testing. ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment program. It is not compulsory, and the results are not part of the North Sydney Demonstration School assessment program. ICAS is run by the University of NSW. You can find out more about ICAS via their website: https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/about
In 2020 NSDS will be conducting each of the ICAS tests before school hours in Term 3. Each subject will be sat on a pre-nominated date set by the school. All subjects testing will take place sometime between Monday 17 August and Friday 4 September. Students will begin testing at 8:00 am on the specified dates and finish in time for the beginning of the school day. NSDS teachers will supervise children.
North Sydney Demonstration School will be offering ICAS tests in English, Mathematics and Science.
This year, assessments will be purchased directly from the ICAS website. (Payment for assessments will not be accepted at the school office.) Please access the Parent Payment System to view and purchase the assessments offered at NSDS.
Parent page link is: https://shop.unswglobal.com.au/pages/pps
NSDS school access code is: ZUF234
P&C News
The P&C wishes all Dem families the best in adjusting to these very difficult circumstances, and in consultation with the school is looking to find ways to help families and the school during this time.
Please note that the Tuckshop and the Uniform shop are closed and will not accept orders until communicated otherwise.
Next month's P&C meeting is expected to be held as a virtual meeting rather than in the Library - please stay tuned for details, and bear with us as we transition to an on-line platform. Next P&C meeting: Wednesday 8 April 2020 (virtual meeting, details to be advised). P&C Website: http://www.thedempc.com.au P&C Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthSydneyDem
Library News
You can apply to be a member of Stanton Library online and it only takes a few minutes. As a Stanton Library member you have access to some great Kids Online Resources including “Story Box library”.
Resources for Families During Remote Learning
If you or your child needs to talk to someone…
Name About Phone Online
Kids Help Line
For anyone 25 or under - Kids Helpline is a free,
private and confidential 24/7 phone and online
counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
1800 55 1800 24/7
Webchat 24/7 https://kidshelpline.com.a
u/get-help/webchat-counselling
Lifeline For all ages - 24-hour crisis support telephone service. Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis
support and suicide prevention services.
CALL: 13 11 14 24/7
TEXT: 0477 131114 6:00PM - Midnight
Crisis Support Chat 7:00PM – Midnight
https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/online-
services/crisis-chat
Suicide Call Back Service
A nationwide service that provides 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide,
experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide
1300 659 467 24/7
Online Chat 24/7 Video Chat 24/7
https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
Youth Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible
mental health, whatever their age and wherever they
live.
1300 22 4636 24/7
Chat Online 3:00PM - Midnight
https://www.youthbeyondblue.com/
SANE Australia
SANE Australia supports people living with complex
mental health issues and the people that care about them
1800 187 263 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Webchat 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
https://www.sane.org/about-sane
Headspace
eheadspace provides free online and telephone
support and counselling to young people 12 - 25 and their families and friends.
N/A
Group Chat 24/7 1 on 1 Chat 9AM - 1AM
https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/
QLife
QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support
and referral for people wanting to talking about
sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or
relationships
1800 184 527 3PM - Midnight
Webchat 3PM – Midnight
https://www.qlife.org.au/resources/chat
1800RESPECT
Confidential information, counselling and support
service, open 24 hours to support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse
1800 737 732 24/7
Interpreter: 13 14 50
Online Chat 24/7 https://chat.1800respect.o
rg.au/#/welcome
Carers NSW
Carer Line offer emotional support, referrals and
distribute carer specific resources and information to
carers and community members
1800 242 636 9AM – 5PM
Monday - Friday
http://www.carersnsw.org.au/how-we-
help/support/carer-line/
Mental Health Line
A mental health professional will answer your call about mental
health concerns for you or someone you are concerned
about, including children, teens, adults and older
people
1800 011 511 24/7
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/Mental-Health-Line.aspx
Child Protection Helpline 13 21 11
https://reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au/s/mrg
If you are looking for an app to support you or your child…
Name About Website
Calm Harm
Calm Harm provides tasks that help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm. You can add your
own tasks too and it's completely private and password protected.
Free
App Store Google Play
Clear Fear
The fear of threat, or anxiety, is like a strong gust of wind. It drags you in and makes you want to
fight it or run away. Instead, face your fear with the free Clear Fear
app and learn to reduce the physical responses to threat as well as changing thoughts and
behaviours and releasing emotions.
Free
App Store Google Play
ReachOut Worry Time
ReachOut WorryTime interrupts repetitive thinking by setting aside your worries until later, so you don't get caught up in them and can get on with your day. This means you can deal with worries
once a day, rather than carrying them around with you 24/7
Free
App Store
ReachOut Breathe
ReachOut Breathe helps you reduce the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety by slowing down
your breathing and your heart rate with your iPhone
Free
App Store
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a meditation app for young people. It has been developed by a team of
psychologists and uses mindfulness to boost calmness, contentment and clarity. Mindfulness
meditation has been shown to help manage stress, resilience, anxiety, depression and
improve general health and wellbeing.
Free
App Store Google Play
WellMind
WellMind is designed to help you with stress, anxiety and depression. The app includes advice, tips and tools to improve your mental health and
boost your wellbeing.
Free
App Store Google Play
If you are seeking additional information…
Name About Website
ReachOut
Our mission is to deliver innovative e-mental health services that enable young people to take control of
their mental health and wellbeing. https://au.reachout.com/
Black Dog Institute
Primary areas of mental health research and treatment include: depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, workplace
mental health, adolescents and young people, suicide prevention, e-mental health, and positive
psychology and wellbeing.
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
If you are looking for online support…
Name About Website
The BRAVE Program
BRAVE-ONLINE is an evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT) available online to help children (8-12) and teenagers (13-
17) cope with anxiety
https://www.brave-online.com/
Smiling Mind Online and app-based program to improve wellbeing of young people
through mindfulness meditation. https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
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