Thursday 9 September 2010

Looking forward

The school is still waiting for a second inspection by a structural engineer from the Ministry of Education. We sustained some new damage in Wednesday's aftershock. It is likely that this damage is only superficial but we want to be absolutely sure before we allow the staff to return to school.


Miranda, Toby and I attended a very useful meeting run by the Ministry of Education's Traumatic Incident team this morning. They had lots of useful information on the best way to support children and the families after last weekend's events. The staff will be meeting tomorrow, hopefully at school but maybe in another location. Here is a summary of what we will be talking about and the plans that we have put in place to help you and your children on Monday:


Our first priority will be to restore a sense of normality and routine for the children and staff.


What we will do:


The school day will start how it always starts. Teachers will be in their classrooms from 8.30am and I will be in the playground along with Toby and Miranda.

We will not be holding an assembly because it is better for the children to be with their teacher and classmates in their familiar classroom environment.

The teachers will have key and accurate information to share with the children – for example if any teachers are not in school, they will be able to explain why.

The children will want to talk about what has happened to them and what they saw. Teachers will support these conversations through discussions, drawings, story telling etc, and by ensuring the positive aspects of events are emphasised.

if children have lost possessions or things that are important to them, the teachers will acknowledge this loss and speak about ways that they can do to work towards replacing these items

If there are after-shocks, we will follow our well-established earthquake drills. That drill is to drop, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, and hold on, or shelter against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases etc.

The teachers will have been through the Civil Defence advice carefully.

We will give the children an opportunity to tell their stories and keep the focus on how well families and community have managed.


What we need parents to do:


Parents will also be anxious about their children starting back at school and may want to hang around the classroom after 8.55am. To help the children settle back in to routine and to help reduce any anxiety, it is best if parents can leave the classroom before or as soon as the school bell rings. The trauma team has advised us of this action. Asking parents to leave is not easy for teachers so I would really appreciate your help with this. We will be putting on tea and coffee in the village for any parents who want to stay close to their children for the start of the day.


The earthquake will have resulted in a range of reactions and questions from children depending on their experience of the event and their dispositions:


anxiety, fear of reoccurrence of the event

some children may revert to behaviours of younger children such as thumb sucking, bed wetting, etc

wondering what will happen next

concerns about being separated from their parents and whānau.


Typically most children will be coping with what they have experienced – but they will still have questions, want to talk about it, and hear from others. Children will be looking to us to provide a sense of safety and security. Children who experience high levels of social support from parents, friends and teachers have been found to cope well.


Helpful approaches:


Provide assurance that all reactions are normal.

Provide opportunities to keep routines going as much as possible and highlight what is and can be done to get things back to normal.

Remember that children listen closely to what adults talk about and they pick up on adults' reactions very well. Keep things positive and emphasise how people have coped and what’s being done - at a government, council and community level, at a school level and family and neighbours. Buildings and homes have been damaged and that makes people sad but we have all done well.

Focus on how things will be in the future.


Stay safe this weekend and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday morning.


Paul

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