Coronavirus

What technology is required at home?

• Senior School children should already have their own devices ready to go. 
• Junior School activities are not all based online, parents can stagger the use of the family devices as required, however it is ideal for each child to have their own.

What do I do if my children need to share a device?

If families cannot source a device, the College may be able to lend devices out, we are still confirming this.

Are children expected to be on their devices all the time that they are learning?

Sitting in front of a computer all day isn’t ideal for children, and so a modified timetable will be developed that caters to the online approach we plan to implement. This might include a more flexible approach to choosing when to work and could incorporate other things such as time for general wellbeing, reading, playing games, cooking, building things, sport, etc.

What is a suitable device for a Year 2 student?

Every parent will need a tablet, laptop or desktop computer to access the resources provided by the school each morning. It is beneficial for the child to have their own tablet, laptop or desktop computer to be used under supervision. However, this does not need to be dedicated to the child and can be shared. There will be a range of activities, not all of them are based online. It is a good idea to install the Seesaw Classroom App.

Getting IT Support

We are here to help and would like to remind you of the options available to you. Please send an email to helpdesk@sras.nsw.edu.au. If the matter is urgent, call 02 4421 7711 between our office hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm, and our Administration team will direct your enquiry to the most appropriate person. Please note that we are experiencing a high volume of enquiries, as a result, we have put on additional resources to handle the increased demand. This means you may have a delay in response to your inquiry (average response time is currently eight business hours).

Download any of the PDF files below for easy reference at home.

There are three attendance scenarios for Remote Learning:

1. Your child is participating in remote learning onsite
2. Your child is participating in remote learning offsite
3. Your child is sick and and unable to participate in remote learning at all

Please download Remote Learning – Attendance to understand how each scenario needs to be handled differently in our database/parent portal. There is a difference between official attendance records and participation in the remote learning lessons. We are required by the Department of Education and Communities to maintain attendance records. In addition, teachers are monitoring student participation and engagement in lessons. This is the “Roll Call” on CANVAS and SeeSaw, which is simply a response prompted by the teacher.

We remind families that the College Code of Conduct and other College Policies apply at all times during Remote Learning.

UPDATE: 27-03-2020

The Anglican Schools Corporation has sent through updated advice on the way the roll will be marked at school and this will change the way absences are currently being recorded in the Parent Portal. The following roll marking process has commenced at the College:

1. If the student is physically at school, the student will be marked as PRESENT. No action required by parents/carers.
2. If the student is connected online, the student will be marked as OTHER ACTIVITY (this will automatically apply the relevant F code). You will no longer receive an absence message via text or have to provide an absence reason through the NAC App or Parent Portal.
3. If the student is not at school and not connected online, the student will be marked as ABSENT. Notification will be sent to parents/carers as usual and a reason for absence will be required via the Parent Portal or App.

The e-Safety Commissioner offers the best advice to help parents monitor their child’s activity, as well as ensure only safe websites are accessed: e-Safety Taming Technology. Also, ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as Telstra or Optus.

How do I monitor my child's social media use when I am also working?

• In line with our College policy on mobile phone use, we encourage families to limit their child’s access to mobile phones whilst student learning is taking place.
• We encourage parents who are working to consider options for working from home, or where this is not possible, to check in regularly throughout the day with their child’s progress.
• Flexible school learning times may also enable students to engage in their learning when parent supervision is available.
• Parental controls installed on your child’s computer may also limit access to non-school activities whilst students are online.
• Using a family space for extended learning, not a bedroom, will also assist the monitoring of online activity. It should be a place that can be quiet at times and have a strong wireless internet signal, if possible. Above all, it should be a space where you or another adult is present and monitoring your children's learning.

The Community Relations team would like to publish some of the material that is being sent in by students, so you can see what others are up to. Unfortunately, our normal annual photo and video permission form does not cover COVID-19 type situations.

We ask for written permission from parents to publish images and videos captured in remote learning environments. Please email newsletter@nac.nsw.edu.au. Photos and videos will be edited where possible to remove any identifying features from remote learning spaces. Just a reminder that students are not to teleconference in their bedrooms.

Students in Year 3 to Year 12 know how to login to Canvas.

1. Visit https://dashboard.sras.nsw.edu.au in your web browser
2. Enter your student login
3. Click on the Canvas icon

If they need a reminder, please download: Canvas – How to Login

Here are some fantastic online resources to assist children with their mental health. 

The Black Dog Institute offers an online program, Bite Back, helping 13-16 yo with wellbeing and resilience; plus Webinars for senior school students and their parents; and Free school resources.

Headspace offers specific Coronavirus support plus general mental health resources

Reach Out offers specific Coronavirus support

More Resources

Head to Health

Beyond Blue

Supporting Families during COVID-19 (childmind.org)

How to Calm your Child’s Coronavirus Anxiety (childrenscolorado.org)

OMG! My child asked about Coronavirus (Lingo Kids)

Answering Kids' Questions About the Coronavirus

It is understandable that with the global spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) we feel vulnerable and at times confused about how best to respond. Parents may especially be ruminating over how they choose to protect and support their child/ren, not only from the virus itself, but from the fear, worry and at times panic that can be associated with the virus.

The following are some suggestions that may help inform your choices:

• Open communication – choosing to talk to your child about the disease means that you have the opportunity as their caregiver to provide your child with factual and age-appropriate information about the situation and offer any reassurance if required. It means the child has the opportunity to ask you their questions, express their fears and worries to you and for them to be addressed. Remember, that this may need to be a conversation that needs to be revisited as the situation evolves.
• Ensure that you allocate adequate time for the conversation and that you are calm when having the conversation. Your child will look to you and your response as a barometer to measure their own reaction.
• Start by asking your child what they know and understand about Coronavirus. This can help guide your conversation and helps you to address any misconceptions or concerns that they may have about the disease.
• Be clear and focus on the facts. Try to avoid going into detail or giving too much information. Especially with younger children.
• Reassure them that as their parent, you and the other adults in their lives (like their teachers and Principal) are keeping informed about the disease and making decisions to safeguard everyone’s health and well-being. Provide your child with the opportunity to take an active role in keeping themselves (and others) safe. This gives the child a sense of control and promotes resilience. Explain to the child that by choosing the following actions, they are choosing to be safe.
• Washing your hands with soapy water for 20 seconds (or sing the Happy Birthday song twice) after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food; and
• Following cough and sneeze etiquette i.e. covering your mouth and nose every time you cough or sneeze. Using a disposable tissue to cover your mouth or nose if possible and immediately disposing of the tissue afterward. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve. This prevents your hands from becoming contaminated with cold or flu viruses.
• Try to keep your child’s daily structure as normal as possible such as mealtimes, bedtimes, learning times.
• Try to minimise your child’s exposure to the news. We know how the media can sensationalise news items. For children, it is hard to put this into context so hearing updates or seeing images can escalate children’s fears. Choosing to listen to the news after the children are in bed, for instance, is preferable.
• It is understandable that we need to connect with one another in our community, to talk through our fears and concerns with others. However, be mindful of your children overhearing your conversations regarding coronavirus. As their parent, your child will look to you to provide that sense of safety. They need to hear consistent positive messages from you or may become worried you are ‘hiding’ things from them or ‘not being honest’. 
• Practice self-compassion. Be kind to yourself so you can be kind to your children and others.
• Please see the following link for advice from Dr Michael Carr-Gregg on this topic. It is an excellent resource – https://schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-coronavirus

Other resources

• https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-talk-your-child-about-coronavirus-covid-19
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-04/how-to-talk-to-children-about-coronavirus/12020324
• https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-talk-to-children-about-the-coronavirus-2020030719111
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html

We recognise that this is an unsettling time and the wellbeing of our students is our first and foremost concern. We will be ensuring that students have access to their Homeroom teachers, Year Coordinators, and School Psychologists. Requests for assistance can be sent to wellbeing@nac.nsw.edu.au.

For support in relation to your child’s wellbeing if impacted by the Coronavirus situation please email:

Head of Pastoral Care Secondary School
Mrs Brooke Hamilton
bhamilton@nac.nsw.edu.au

Coordinator of Pastoral Care Years 4–6
Mrs Jenny Delahenty
jdelahenty@nac.nsw.edu.au

Coordinator of Pastoral Care Years 1–3
Mrs Michelle Walsh
mwalsh@nac.nsw.edu.au