As Catholic schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle we believe that parents are the first and foremost educators of the child, therefore parents are trusted and empowered to make decisions about how children learn at home.
As we move to learning at home, we need to keep in mind that we cannot replicate the school environment or overwhelm students and parents with an inappropriate delivery of distance learning. Learning will be different in every home. A school day will not be delivered from home. Parents are not teachers and are not expected to deliver a curriculum. Families have differing access to technology and devices in the home setting.
A routine can assist children to stay calm and reduce anxiety, this could include:
· Daily and Christian meditation
· Monitoring time spent at the computer
· Encouraging regular exercise and healthy eating habits
· Drinking enough water
· Keep normal bedtime routines.
We suggest that you provide your child with opportunities to play during the day. Play is crucial to a child’s learning and wellbeing. Play is important for healthy brain development. Through play children have the opportunity to act out experiences affecting their everyday life, which helps them to process their thoughts and understandings.
Setting up the home environment
We are suggesting that you and your child set up an environment to encourage engagement in learning, prayer, open creativity and expand imagination. As you get ready you may like to include:
· Pens, lead pencils, coloured pencils and paper.
· Board games
· Books (School books and notebooks)
· Craft materials
· Lego
· Packets of playing cards
· Age appropriate reading books
· Music
· Sporting equipment
· Natural materials e.g. shells, rock, sand, leaves etc.
Anything that sparks imagination
As we move to learning at home, we need to keep in mind that we cannot replicate the school environment or overwhelm students and parents with an inappropriate delivery of distance learning. Learning will be different in every home. A school day will not be delivered from home. Parents are not teachers and are not expected to deliver a curriculum. Families have differing access to technology and devices in the home setting.
A routine can assist children to stay calm and reduce anxiety, this could include:
· Daily and Christian meditation
· Monitoring time spent at the computer
· Encouraging regular exercise and healthy eating habits
· Drinking enough water
· Keep normal bedtime routines.
We suggest that you provide your child with opportunities to play during the day. Play is crucial to a child’s learning and wellbeing. Play is important for healthy brain development. Through play children have the opportunity to act out experiences affecting their everyday life, which helps them to process their thoughts and understandings.
Setting up the home environment
We are suggesting that you and your child set up an environment to encourage engagement in learning, prayer, open creativity and expand imagination. As you get ready you may like to include:
· Pens, lead pencils, coloured pencils and paper.
· Board games
· Books (School books and notebooks)
· Craft materials
· Lego
· Packets of playing cards
· Age appropriate reading books
· Music
· Sporting equipment
· Natural materials e.g. shells, rock, sand, leaves etc.
Anything that sparks imagination