Student Support Services Team

COVID-19 AND ANXIETY

Outbreaks such as Coronavirus, and the intense media reporting surrounding it, can significantly and negatively impact the mental health of children, consequently they may have high levels of stress and anxiety about oneself or loved ones.

Anxiety and stress experienced by the child's surrounding adults may also impact the child's sense of security and wellbeing.

Anxiety is a natural and usually short-lived reaction to a stressful situation, associated with:

Physical: panic attacks, hot and cold flushes, racing heart, tightening of the chest, quick breathing, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, feeling tense, shaking, feeling light-headed, wound up and edgy, sweating.

Psychological: excessive fear, worry, catastrophizing, feeling hopeless and helpless, obsessive thinking, anger.

It is important to seek professional help from a psychologist or counsellor if you observe that the symptoms persist.

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES:

For Anxious Teens and Children:

For Adults:

PRACTICAL TIPS AND IDEAS FOR PARENTS

• Being open and honest with children is the best way to help them cope with serious situations.
• Including them in the conversation, and sharing age appropriate information shows them that you trust and value them, which can enhance their resilience.
• Give children practical, reassuring information, telling them:
• Most people are recovering from Corona virus.
• Many important steps are being taken to limit the virus spreading.
• Scientists around the world are working hard to develop treatments and vaccines.
• Acknowledging and normalizing their anxiety is important.
• Practicing “relaxation and slow breathing techniques” (Using Apps like 'Smiling Mind' and 'Breathe Kids).
• Practicing daily physical exercise.
• Having good nutrition.
• Ensuring adequate sleep.
• Spending quality time with them.

After acknowledging what they cannot do due to social distancing, talk to them about the many enjoyable things they can still do, and that you can do together.

• Cook together: favorite recipes, dips, pizza, cupcakes, pasta. Be playful and stay active: put on some music, dance, play musical instruments, ball-games in the backyard, and board games with family. Learn a new skill: like photography, computer coding, painting, paper mâché, drawing, model-making, sewing, knitting, try a new language. Keep in touch with grandparents and other family on Skype or telephone, chat with friends on socials. Laugh every day: share funny videos, memes. Get creative: make greeting cards, design posters, make a short film to cheer up others, create a cubby house in your backyard/courtyard. Plant some herbs, vegetables, flowers.
• Nostalgia and reconnecting to happy times can also be comforting for children:Watching favorite childhood Movies together, on DVD or online. Revisit old toys. Get out the Lego and start building!
• Gently challenge negative self-talk
• Talking to children calmly and giving your continued love and affection will help to calm and reassure them that we will get through these uncertain times together.

SIRIUS COLLEGE COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT

A professional counselling service is also provided at SIRIUS College to assist students to deal with their social-emotional issues during this difficult time .

• Book an apponitment with your campus counsellor via Seqta
• Organize telethrapy sessions over FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or Google Hangouts
• If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact your campus counsellor.

Meadow Fair Campus:

Gonul Dirican: [email protected]
Hasan Ciftci: [email protected]

Student Support Services: Student Data Collection

Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers

Re: Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
• This information assists schools to:
• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school.

Teaching and Learning Coordinator Message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to Term 2 and I would like to begin with re-emphasising that Sirius College is committed to equity of learning of all students, providing appropriate and quality learning opportunities for students, both at school and at home.

Our first commitment is the health and safety of our students and staff. Whether your child is at school or at home, they will be undertaking a Remote Learning Plan which engages students in quality learning. If a child is attending school, they will be following the remote learning schedule under teacher supervision. Whether at home or at school, all students will be asked to complete the same learning tasks and assessments and can expect quality feedback through our respective learning platforms and activities.

Our senior students in VCE will continue with the Remote Learning and advice regarding assessment and reporting will be shared with families in the weeks ahead.

Our teachers have been working tirelessly over the weeks to ensure that students continue with their teaching and learning and their efforts have been commendable.

I would also like to thank families for their ongoing support and engagement with our arrangements of Term 2 given all the uncertainties.

We will keep you informed regarding any changes that may occur in the near future.

Warm Regards,