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| Dear Parents and Guardians, “Don’t get too organised for your future. Life is unpredictable. Things change”. This was writer, Anal Singh’s quote well before the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Our biggest responsibility as teachers has been to educate our girls in a sensitive but practical manner about COVID-19. We have taken the approach that our girls, if taught in an age appropriate manner, are able to understand vital information about the virus including its symptoms, complications, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission. We need them to stay informed and dispel the inevitable myths and fake news that circulate by word of mouth or online. This is what has been discussed in class at the level of that specific grade: Younger Grades It is normal to feel concerned and worried about this unusual situation. It is important to be able to ask a teacher or parent about the virus and not listen to unreliable sources. Girls should protect themselves by frequently washing their hands, coughing into their elbows and loving through words and not contact. Teachers did the glitter handshake to demonstrate how germs are spread as well as show how important it is to wash hands thoroughly with soap to get rid of germs. With the information they have, they can in fact be leaders in keeping themselves, the school, their families and the wider community healthy. It is their duty to share what they know about preventing disease and model good practices, especially to younger children. Equally important is that they do not stigmatise or tease their peers if they get sick. They must recognise that anyone, of any age, gender or ethnic group can get Coronavirus, although they know it is more dangerous for the elderly or those who are already sick with other illnesses. Finally, if they recognise the symptoms they have learned about, they must tell their parents or teachers and insist they stay at home until they are better. Older Grades The same factual information has been taught to the older grades but at a deeper level. In building the girls’ agency, we hope they will promote the facts about public health. They have discussed topics like their understanding of pandemics, the science of transmission and the necessity for policies recommending best practice and their evolution as information and data become more available. In so doing we are empowering our girls to become critical thinkers, effective communicators and responsible citizens. Our public specialist parent-doctors from both the Preparatory School and High School, are meeting with management weekly to review, update school policy and discuss further measures as the virus evolves. Their approach is one of containment and mitigation based on scientific evidence and lessons learned from other countries. Please read the updated communications sent out by Shelley Frayne on BlueSky. They reflect the official stance of the school. It is important that you co-ordinate and communicate with the school about your personal circumstances regarding the virus. According to our protocol, all families travelling to Europe are required to self-quarantine for fourteen days after their return. At this stage, the Grade 7 camp is going ahead. If that decision changes, information will be immediately published on BlueSky and sent to CLPs in each grade. I urge you to follow notices on BlueSky, our official communication platform, and through which all Coronavirus updates take place. Our teachers are presently honing their skills in online learning in the event that the school decides to close. However, it is important in these unusual circumstances, that we keep the day to day lives of our girls as routine and predictable as possible, but that we also support the school safety actions. The way we respond to the Coronavirus should reflect community support. It is in these very circumstances that altruism is born. The next few months will be uncertain, filled with anxiety, ordinary flu and the inevitable COVID-19. We will in time return to normal at St Cyprian's, hopefully stronger and wiser. Warm regards, Carol te Water   Human Rights Day celebrations at St Cyprian's Preparatory Girls discarded shoes and socks at school today for an experience not unfamiliar to many children across the globe. Our focus in Chapel was how to show love in practical ways and we reflected on our history of not always treating our fellow citizens with justice and equity. At this time, it may also be sobering to consider those facing COVID-19 without means to adequate health care. |
