It’s Time to Return to School:

Greetings:

Thank you parents for your patience and support at these times. A few tips that help make this go smoothly:

• If you can stay in your car - or stand beside it - it helps keep traffic flowing. 

• Please put your phone away while driving through our Drop-Zone. We need you focused and moving forward so we can get cars off the main road and into our Drop-Off Zone.

• If you are not able to stop in the two parking lanes then try to keep well left while waiting so cars can get past you and out if they need to.

Thanks as always for your patience and support.

Reminders:

If your child is unwell please keep them home.

Soap literally kills the Covid-19 virus. Reinforce hand washing routines.

Reinforce sneezing into elbow, use of tissues and safe disposal of them.

PJ Day at Western Heights:

This Week’s Writing:

I have noticed there are a number of our children who are still a little fragile after Covid19. In many cases it is more likely connected to the hurt and challenges caused to families by issues other than the actual virus.

Our staff are very attuned to their children and display an understanding and empathy that has me in awe. 

One of the best tools at our disposal for supporting our children at this time is empathy. Here are a few thoughts on empathy that may be of use.

Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human. It’s a foundation for good relationships and professional success. At its core, empathy is also about valuing other perspectives and people. It’s about perspective-taking and genuine concern for others.

How can parents cultivate empathy in children: 

Empathise with your child, and model empathy for others

Why?

Children learn empathy from watching us and from experiencing our empathy for them. When we empathise with children, they develop trusting, secure attachments with us, which is key to their developing the stability needed to focus on and value others.

How?

It is important to listen non- judgmentally to their hopes and anxieties, and to acknowledge the importance of these feelings. Children also learn empathy by watching. They’ll notice if we treat supermarket check-out operators or a pharmacist as invisible or, instead, if we express gratitude to these people.

Engage in self-reflection and self-care. 

Try to find time to regularly engage in an activity — going for a walk, reading a book, meditating, singing, baking — that can help you avoid being swamped by stress, which can undermine your empathy.

Make empathy a family priority

Why?

If children are to value other perspectives and people, they need to hear from us that caring for others is vital. Even though most parents say that raising caring children is a top priority, most children aren’t hearing that message. Children are far more likely to report that their parents prioritise a child’s personal success more than they prioritising their child caring for others.

How?

Make caring for others a priority in your own actions and in your day-to-day interactions with your child, even if at times it requires your child to make a small sacrifice. 

●Help your children understand that the world doesn’t revolve around them. Expect your child to consider other. Expect them to consider your needs and feelings. Don’t let them treat you disrespectfully or like a doormat.

●Expect children to pitch in. Ask your child to help around the house. “We’re all in this together” begins at home.

●Value empathy and caring in others. Notice with your child when someone exhibits impressive empathy — or shows a lack of empathy — either in your daily life or in a book or on television. Discuss why acts of empathy are important and why lacking empathy can be harmful.

Develop your child's empathy muscle

Why?

Children are born with the capacity for empathy, but it needs to be nurtured throughout their lives.

How?

Learning empathy is like learning a language, an instrument or a sport: It requires practice and guidance. Regularly considering other people’s perspectives helps make empathy a natural reflex and, through trial and error, helps children get better at tuning in to others’ feelings and perspectives.

Try this:

●Encourage your child to find ways to be helpful to those who are struggling or at- risk during these times, and explore with them what they might do for others that they would find meaningful, like helping a friend  or writing a note to a neighbour.

●Discuss with your child ethical dilemmas that help them appreciate different perspectives.

●Ask your child to express appreciation and gratitude for people who have been helpful to them. 

Expand your child's circle of concern beyond family and friends

Why?

Almost all people have empathy for a small circle of family and friends. It’s important to also focus on  helping our children empathise with those who come from different backgrounds from them.

How?

It is important that children learn to take in the big picture and consider the range of people who contribute to their lives. Children need to consider how their decisions affect others. These times provide a powerful opportunity to help children understand how we are all linked and the responsibility that brings.

This Week’s Video Clip - Room 32 - Year 2 - Rainbow Fish:

This Week’s Star:

This Week’s Catch-Ups, Reminders and Notices:

As we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in our nation and around the world, climate-vulnerable communities in Malawi continue to experience the chaos caused by droughts and cyclones, resulting in food shortages, hunger and malnutrition. In these uncertain times, now, more than ever, it is your support that can make a real difference for Malawian children and their families, by providing them with the support they need to adapt to and survive the changing climate. Every little bit helps.

Where are speed limits changing?

Most of the changes in this first phase are in Rodney, Franklin and Waitemata, including the city centre.  Plus on 98 other roads across the region. A full list of the changes can be found at at.govt.nz/speed

What are the limits changing to?

The new limits vary according to the type of road. e.g. urban or rural. The city centre roads will have 30km/h and 40km/h speed limits. These new limits recognise there are a growing number of vulnerable road users like pedestrians and people on bikes in the city centre. Details of all the roads and changes can be found on our website. at.govt.nz/speed

What happens next?

New speed limit signs will be installed in the coming weeks and will be uncovered on 30 June 2020, the date from which the limits will be legally enforceable by NZ Police. From 1 June there will be a public information campaign letting people know of these changes.

This is the first phase of tranche one. This tranche will be completed by November 2021. We are in the process of planning the second tranche of roads to assess.

This Week’s Tip:

This Week’s Notices:

This Week’s Thoughts:

This Week’s Humour:

This Week’s Covid Tweet: