Quick News

Quick News!

Weekly (or more often!) updates from Principal Dan Sterling.

Dear Holt Families,

We know your inboxes (and brains!) are flooded right now with important information. Everyone’s responsibilities have changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and these changes are unprecedented for most everyone alive today. We’re reaching out with this Tips for Student Success edition of the Holt Quick News to share some Holt Team tips for supporting yourself and your student(s) through these challenging times.

Darla, our wonderful school counselor, Kara, our resourceful & enthusiastic school psychologist, and I wanted to share advice for not just surviving this experience with your family, but making the most of it. While there are many things we cannot control, it’s up to us to make each day count. We got this!

5 Simple Tips for Supporting Yourself and Your Family

    1. Stick to a Routine Each Day

      • Go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time

      • Stick to a schedule that includes varied activities and includes time for work as well as self-care

      • Get showered, dressed, and even make your bed. Sometimes it is helpful to get dressed for the day, sometimes it is helpful to wear your “daytime” pajamas. Decide what works for you and do it.


    1. Attend to Your and Your Children’s Physical and Social Needs

      • Reach out to others regularly. Set up virtual playdates with friends daily via FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Kids, Zoom, etc—your kids miss their friends, too!

      • Find some time for movement each day (at least thirty minutes). Preferably outside! (Please follow social distancing guidelines when you go to public places).


    1. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt and a wide berth

      • Let family members find their own retreat space. For children, help them identify a comforting (safe) spot where they can go to retreat when stressed

      • Expect behavioral issues in children. Please respond gently and with understanding. Expect increased anxiety, worries and fears, nightmares, difficulty separating or sleeping, testing of limits, and even meltdowns

      • Keep upsetting news and alarming conversations out of earshot of children—they see and hear everything, and can become frightened by what they hear


    1. Focus on safety and attachment

      • We must remember that these are scary and unpredictable times for children

      • Focus on strengthening your connection with your kids through play, through physical touch, through reading together, by spending some time following their lead, and through verbal reassurances that you love them and will make sure they have what they need


    1. Last but not least, please reach out for help if you need it—the Holt team is here for you

      • Darla and Kara are available to support Holt’s families!

        • You can reach Darla at: humbert_d@4j.lane.edu

        • and Kara at (541)790-6109 or boulahanis_k@4j.lane.edu

If you’ve got just a few minutes, click here for a 5 minute video where Kara and Darla discuss these and other tips for families who are making it through the COVID-19 pandemic experience.


Here are a few good links if you’d like to learn more:

Home Schooling Your Children in a Time of Crisis

Reassuring Children Who are Fearful or Anxious

Some Tips on Explaining COVID-19 to Kids (Some parents may wish to engage this, others may not)

Another Article about Explaining COVID-19 to Kids


Sincerely,

Dan