Our new platform to support parents contains the following advice:
Coronavirus is an evolving international health concern. Around the world, people are being affected in many ways. Individuals of all ages from numerous nationalities are being diagnosed with the virus –– it doesn’t discriminate. Although children are considered at lower risk of infection, they are not immune to the multitude of news reports regularly seen or heard in the media.
This epidemic is a cause for great concern to parents, but it is also very worrying to young people. Many are wondering how best to discuss this epidemic in a way that will be reassuring to kids without making them feel more worried than what they may be already. Parents should not avoid such a discussion with their kids. Not talking about something can often make them worry more.
Although most children will have already heard about the coronavirus, it is important for parents and care-givers to take this opportunity to convey the facts about it and set the emotional tone. This may help kids feel more informed and reassured. Involving them and encouraging self-efficacy can also give them a sense of control and purpose.
In this Special Report, parents and caregivers will be provided with some guidelines on how best to approach this topic whilst still ensuring the wellbeing of their child. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or seek medical or professional help.
Auckland Regional Public Health Service – 04 March 2020
COVID-19 Information for parents
While a parent of secondary school students has been confirmed as the second COVID-19 case in Auckland, please be assured there has been no exposure from this case at these schools or any other schools. There will be concern in school and wider communities, and misinformation circulating through social media.
Here are the facts: The students did not travel with their parents. The students have been to school since their parents returned, but they were not infectious. They did not have, and do not have, any symptoms. All of the family is in isolation, but the students are well and are at home as a precaution. Credible, evidence-based information about COVID-19 can be found at the following places: The Ministry of Health COVID-19 webpage. The Auckland Regional Public Health Service COVID-19 webpage. The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 site. Anyone seeking health-related advice about COVID-19 can also free call Healthline’s dedicated 0800 number: 0800 358 5453.
Today parents face a multitude of modern day challenges in raising happy, well and resilient young people. Whilst there is a great deal of information available, this can often be confusing and overwhelming for parents looking for guidance.
SchoolTV addresses this as a new online resource designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies.
Following advice from the Ministry of Education and the identification of the first case of the virus in New Zealand, the same advice remains for our students. Risk remains low of the spread of the virus and we remind the community to take normal precautions – practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence:
– wash your hands often with soap and water before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet,
– cover coughs and sneezes with clean tissues or your elbow,
We have enrolled our first international students who started this term. I thank our team including Mrs Dada and Mrs Clansey (International Student Coordinator) who worked hard to gain accreditation. This builds on the growing international connections which started with our annual attendance of the Hwa Chong Student Congress in Singapore and our reciprocal visit to our sister school in Nanching, China.
This reinforces the mantra “think global, act local” and helps our students to appreciate and understand other cultures and perspectives.
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi – Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This important document helped to establish a formal relationship between the crown (Britain) and Māori. While there are still differences as to how the treaty can be interpreted and questions surrounding the legitimacy of those who signed it, the people of New Zealand/Aotearoa continue to work together to build a nation we can be proud of today.
MHJC is embarking on a journey this year to improve our collective understanding of the Māori world view which we feel aligns closely with the spirit of the treaty – “we are one people”.
A quick example of how we can learn is the urgent need for the world to respect, honour and be guardians of the land. The Māori phrase kaitiakitanga captures this perfectly and illustrates that we ignore lessons of the past at our peril. MHJC is fortunate to have a valuable resource, Tāne forest on our doorstep which we use to promote kaitiakitanga to each new generation of students which will extend to other areas of their lives. Making the world a better place.
