Principal's Message

Dear all,

I hope you had a good week.

We appreciate that there is a lot going on in Hong Kong and around the world, that will be causing concern for many and is having a direct and indirect impact on children, parents and our staff. Even when we try to shield our children, it is not possible to escape the information on the news, social media and they might be overhearing different conversations or just reacting to our feelings and emotions.

Our staff keep checking in with students and parents and we are ready to offer any necessary support. Thanks to a combined effort of staff and parents we have a bank of very useful resources that support students' wellbeing. Our Well-being Committee under Belinda’s leadership and with the support of the PTA is currently working on collating it all to reshare them with parents through an easily accessible platform. I would like to thank our PTA for offering much-needed support to our parent community so please read on to find out more on how you can get engaged.

While there is still a lot of uncertainty about the Compulsory Universal Testing (CUT) period we are working with our staff to ensure that we minimise the impact on students' learning and I have outlined our contingency plan in the previous communication to the whole school community. We will adjust our plans as necessary when we have more clarity on what will be happening in the next few weeks. We are happy to announce the launch of the ESF Connection Programme (see more information below) that will complement the school distance learning provision over the next three weeks. We are navigating challenging times and we greatly appreciate your support and understanding.

Additionally, we would like to acknowledge and celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

The theme for this year's IWD is ‘Break the Bias’, and this theme challenges us to imagine a gender-equal world:

* A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

* A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

* A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

‘’Every one of the world’s 1.2 billion citizens with disabilities should have the same opportunity to live life to the fullest, chasing their dreams, finding their way through life’s ups and downs, and contributing to society. As humankind, it is up to each and every one of us to Commit to Change to guarantee that opportunity.’’ I am sure words spoken by Andrew Parson during the Paralytics Opening Ceremony resonate with all of us as we all watch with pride the achievements of Para-Olympians and of our students.

Both events help re-energise our commitment to achieving our vision and to making our school and community more inclusive for the students we serve.

Stay safe and enjoy the weekend,

Anna

Curriculum: NPDL Project - Come Cook With Us!

Come Cook With Us (Family Favourites)

Jade class students have been very busy diving deep into the NPDL project: Come Cook With Us. Students focused on identifying their family’s favorite dish, constructing a recipe, and using video clips to model the cooking process. In these videos, you can see how the students blossom to become active participants and self-directed learners. You can also see how our supporting parents are working in partnership to strengthen the impact of student engagement in this project.

Here are the links to access:

• Marcus’s pumpkin soup
• Katy’s Lorne sausages

We want to hear from you

Jade and Ruby class would like to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to collaborate with all families. If you have a family favourite dish you want to share let us know by completing the Google form below. Our students will be in touch to follow up on your responses.

Parent Partnership: We want to hear from you.

Reminder that if any families have expertise or ideas to support - also let us know via the Google form.

Jackie Newman and Max Lewis

ESF | Connections Platform - Live Engagement Sessions

In response to the current needs of the school communities, ESF has forged partnerships with external providers, Move for Life being one of them,  to supplement and support schools with their distance learning provision. 

Starting from Monday 14 March and finishing on Friday 1 April, the programme will consist of short interventions (20 minutes) repeated twice a day from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

The live sessions are arranged into three differentiated age groups but our students can join the group that will fit the best with the students' needs.

The ESF Connections programme has been designed around the following themes:

• Dance
• Wellbeing
• Arts and crafts
• Storytelling
• Coding

 Please find the ESF Connections website here.

Mental Health Awareness Information Session

March 30th 4.00 - 5.00pm on Zoom

Please indicate your intentions to attend by completing the sign up form.

Zoom link will be shared following sign up by Friday March 25th.

Details:

JCSRS will be hosting an online information session delivered by Shirralee Sisson from Positive Wellbeing HK. This 60-minute Zoom session designed specifically for our community will focus on raising awareness around Youth Mental Health, providing information on signs, symptoms and next steps in identifying and supporting the mental health of our youth. The session is suitable for families/staff supporting students of all ages who are interested to understand more about this topic. Please note this session will only be offered in a live format.

Staying Safe Online

Online Learning

Creating a safe environment during online learning:

During live zooms lessons  set up and position devices so that personal family activities, or belongings that could cause later embarrassment can not be seen. A virtual or plain background is suggested.

Recording and sharing:

In order to protect students' and staff privacy, only ESF staff may record online learning. Schools and staff commit to ensuring all recordings, whether they are lessons or products of learning, are made using approved platforms and are stored securely by schools. Students, parents or caregivers may withdraw consent to be recorded. Parents and caregivers are not permitted to record or share any lesson content or take photos and videos of the screen.

Internet Safety for families

Set up parental controls:

• Enable web filtering. This can be done in several ways, including subscribing to the Cyber Security Service from the internet service provider. They protect against phishing, malicious sites and block potential botnet connections.

• Google Chrome and Firefox extensions. Parental control extensions/add-ons are available free of charge, and allow you to protect your kids from unworthy and inappropriate content on the Internet. It also provides a safe search free of unwanted content.

• Privacy. Teach your child that information shared on the internet is not private. Review information that should not be shared (personal details, passwords, credit card numbers).

• Make it public. Keep computers in shared places where it’s easy for you to monitor online behaviour.

• Always ask permission. Teach your child that they should always ask permission before going online.

• Stick to places that's right for them. Students should be encouraged to stick to websites that are just right for them and to tell a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right or makes them feel uncomfortable.

• Safe search engines for kids. Encourage students to use safe kid friendly search engines to search the internet.

• Keep login information safe. Students should be taught to keep their login information and passwords safe and to not share them with anyone other than a trusted adult.

AAC Top Tips & Morning Meet Up

Following our last AAC meetup discussing top tips for AAC users, here is a video from an AAC user explaining how important it is to understand that the AAC device is an extension of them and this should be respected.

AAC Morning Meet Up

Our next AAC meetup is happening at the end of this month with a focus on sharing books and reading. Please click here to sign up. We look forward to seeing you there. Please bring along your child’s favourite book and some post it notes.

PTA News

Dear Parents,

Do you know the book, The Boy, the mole, the fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy? It is a lovely book about friendship between the boy and these animals.

I don’t know what you have been focusing on or what strategies you have been using to cope during these difficult times, but it is important to remember that you are not alone.

Many of you may know, but some of you may not, that we have a parent support group at JCSRS, called PTA CARES. The CARES is an acronym for what this group is about, C-cares, A-affirms, R-respects, E&S-experienced shared. PTA CARES is a social group that offers support by the PTA to individuals and the whole JCSRS community. Presently, PTA CARES exists as a Whatsapp group that connects parents. Parents can use the Whatsapp group as a platform:

• to share about relevant courses, talks or meetings organized by organisations, such as Special Needs Network Hong Kong (SNNHK) or YAMA Foundation;

• to communicate helpful resources and information and/or articles on relevant matters; and

• to support and cheer one another on with their child’s achievements.

PTA CARES has also wanted to offer care through “care pack” gifts given to families during crisis using PTA funding. Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions and the PTA being in a transition period, we are unable to offer this support at present. However, please do reach out to the PTA via email (pta.jcsrs@jcsrs.edu.hk) should you need this level of support.

During this period of online learning, we are even more aware of the importance of social connections. So, we’d like to start some monthly Zoom gatherings to connect and support parents and their families. These gatherings could simply be sharing over a cup of tea or coffee or enjoying a fun online game. To ensure you are informed of these Zoom gatherings, please make sure you are part of our PTA CARES WhatsApp group. If you would like to join the PTA CARES WhatsApp group, please email Megan McCoy at pta.jcsrs@jcsrs.edu.hk or talk to another parent who has already joined the group to help you get connected.

Looking forward to connecting with you soon.

Stay safe and take care.

Megan (McCOY)

JCSRS PTA Chair

Health Support: COVID-19 Vaccination and Advice on Caring for Children

Dear all,

I know that the news recently can be a little scary to read and it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. I wanted to reach out to you all and let you know that if you have any questions about your child's health please don't hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to point you in the right direction for the help you need.

I have attached a document below that gives some helpful information about what to do if your child tests positive for Covid-19. It was written by a group of paediatric doctors and nurses in Hong Kong and guides you through each step of the process from the moment of a positive test to how to seek medical support if needed.

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that most children who test positive never require any medication and recover well on their own. I just wanted to share this information sheet with you should the need arise so you can be prepared and calm.

I have also attached a file with detailed instructions on how to book a covid vaccination for your child as I know this can be complicated. This is a step-by-step guide and explains the different options available to you and your child. It also details what paperwork you need to take with you when attending a vaccine appointment to ensure you are prepared.

Again, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns and I will do my best to answer them as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Tilly

School Nurse

Attachments:

1. Recommendations on Caring for Children and Adolescent with COVID-19 at Home

2. Covid 19 Vaccine - Booking procedures 2022

Diversity: Celebrating and Supporting

Spotlight: Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological condition that affects body movement. “Cerebral” refers to the brain and “palsy” refers to the impairment of motor function.

There are 17 million people across the world living with cerebral palsy (CP). Another 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with CP. It is the most common physical disability in childhood. CP is a permanent disability that affects movement. Its impact can range from a weakness in one hand, to almost a complete lack of voluntary movement. It is a complex disability.

What Is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month?

March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day is Thursday, March 25th. This initiative was started by a cerebral palsy advocacy group in 2006. Supporters, activists, and advocates celebrate by wearing the color green, using the #GoGreen4CP hashtag, and donating to organizations such as the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

During the month of March, individuals living with cerebral palsy as well as family members and activists come together by advocating for the cerebral palsy community.

The goal of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is to push for positive change in education programs, the health care system, and the job market to give opportunities to those living with cerebral palsy.

As National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month grows, more people living with the condition are coming forward to share their stories. Several organizations are working to make sure people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities get a national voice.

Further information:

• Cerebral Palsy Guide
• World Cerebral Palsy Day