MESSAGE TO FAMILIES – THIS WEEK AT NHE

The staff and I are thinking of you all at this time. Friendly reminder to stay safe and healthy by practicing social distancing, washing your hands constantly and staying home/ in isolation as much as possible.

The teaching staff are in training this week and next week learning how to teach and conduct lessons online. Your child’s teacher will be making personal calls home to touch base with you and your child prior to Easter.

The support staff are calling homes to check in and to ask questions about your access to technology and to verify that your contact information is up to date.

Thank you for being patient while we navigate through these unknown times.

With respect to student supplies, etc. we will be working on a plan which we will notify you. At this time all families are asked not to come to the school until further notice.

In the meantime, there are many exciting and engaging websites for children and Apps (many free) that you could download to let your child use.

 

We wish all our families the best – reach out to others by calling and/or practicing social distancing – We are all in this together! As a community, we are going to be strong, patient and gentle with one another.

Blessings

Ms. Campbell

 

Tips and Resources for Talking to your Kids or Students about COVID-19


During this time, it is understandable for children to have questions or express concern about the COVID-19 virus.  As parents, teachers or caregivers, it is important to stay informed and communicate in age-appropriate ways that address children’s questions and helps them take steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

Here are some tips and resources to help:

  • Don’t be afraid to talk about it: Convey the facts and set an emotionally reassuring tone.
  • Be age-appropriate: Teens can process and handle a higher level of detail than five year olds. Focus on answering your child/student’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly; it’s okay if you can’t answer everything.
  • Follow their lead: Invite your child or student to ask questions and share their perspective: Invite them to tell you anything they may have heard about the coronavirus and express how they feel.
  • Check yourself: Feeling anxious?  Take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer your child’s questions.
  • Focus on actions you can take: Emphasize safety precautions everyone can take to help keep themselves and others healthy: good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, social distancing and staying home if you aren’t feeling well.
  • Stick to routine: Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.
  • Keep talking: Tell kids/students you will keep them updated as you learn more.  Let them know the lines of communication are going to be open and as you learn more, you will share the information with them, too.

Resources:

BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

 

The provincial government has released a self-assessment tool (click on link to open) that can be accessed by the public amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The free, online tool, was made available on Monday, March 16 and tells users if they, or someone they know, requires further testing.

This self-assessment tool, developed with the BC Ministry of Health, will help determine whether you may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19.  You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.

Who should be tested for COVID-19?

People with respiratory symptoms who are:

  • Hospitalized, or likely to be hospitalized
  • Health Care Workers
  • Residents of long term care facilities
  • Part of an investigation of a cluster or outbreak

Who does not need to be tested for COVID-19?

  • People without symptoms
  • Patients with mild respiratory symptoms who can be managed at home, including returning travellers with an onset of illness within 14 days of return to Canada

The BC Ministry of Health strongly urges anyone who has symptoms – including a fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, or difficulty breathing – to self-isolate for 14 days.  To protect yourself while out in public, wash your hands frequently and maintain a distance of about 2 metres from others. For more information on COVID-19, refer to HealthLink BC’s COVID-19 website.  Last updated: 3/16/2020 11:00 pm PDT

The province has created a phone service to provide non-medical information about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 am – 8 pm at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 604-630-0300.