COVID-19

If COVID-19 or lockdowns come up when you are talking with family and/or friends, feel free to excuse yourself from the conversation. If you would like to stick around or leaving does not feel possible, try and change the topic. If you are questioned about this, let others know how talking about this makes you feel. Then talk about something FUN!

Make sure you are aware of what you can and can not do at each COVID-19 Alert Level - including the traffic lights . If the recommendation is to stay at home, make sure you do. If the recommendation is that you wear a mask and social distance, make sure that you follow these guidelines. These rules have been put in place to keep you and others around you safe. Remind friends and family to follow the rules too.

It is important to remember that some of what is happening is out of our control. Levels will change, we may have to move to online learning, things that you enjoy doing and/or events may be cancelled, but most of these things we can not change. We also can not control what other people do in terms of following Alert Level guidelines. Focus on what you can control and make sure you are doing all you can to keep yourself and others around you safe.

One of the best ways that we can keep ourselves and others around us safe is to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccinations are free and are one of the most powerful tools against COVID-19. If you are aged 12 or over, you can book now. Talk with your whanau about their thoughts about vaccination and share what your wishes are. If you are learning about vaccinations for COVID-19, make sure you are getting your information from reputable sources.

Your brain is used to being at school for over 5 hours each day so it will need a bit of exercise. During remote learning, teachers and Hub Coaches are loading your work up for the week on Monday mornings so spend some time planning out what your school work week will look like. Make sure you are taking regular breaks when learning, to get some fresh air, something to eat and move around. Once we are back onsite for learning, it may take you a little while to settle back into being at school. This is absolutely understandable. Give yourself time to do this and take small breaks when needed.

It can be very easy to get out of sync with your sleep during lockdown or when our movements are limited due to COVID-19 - especially staying up late at night and sleeping in. Having a regular sleep routine that includes going to bed and getting up at a similar time every day can really help you get the most out of your days. Try to stick to a routine with eating too. Aim for at least breakfast, lunch and dinner and try to vary what you are eating to meet what your body needs to stay well. Remember that these routines are still very relevant once we out of lockdown.

Moving our bodies in even small ways can really improve mood. When we exercise (this does not have to be intense), we release endorphins which lifts how we are feeling. Take the dog for a walk, check the mailbox, do an online yoga class or check out some online sports activities like Zumba and boxing!

Remember that Vic and Shireen (counsellors) are available if you would like to talk with us. You can get in touch by emailing counsellor@hobsonvillepoint.school.nz. During lockdowns or if you are at home isolating, we are available to talk over email, on the phone or we can set up a Zoom meet. When we/you are back at school, email us and we can make a time to meet in person.

Even if we follow all of the guidelines and recommendations, some of us may still get COVID-19. It is OK to feel stressed and anxious about this but remember that most people who get COVID-19 experience mild symptoms. You may experience any of the following: fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, body aches, sore throat and loss of smell/taste. If you do test positive for COVID-19 you must self-isolate for 7 days. If you test negative on day 8 and are not showing any symptoms, you can resume your regular daily activities. If your symptoms get worse or you need urgent medical care, call your Dr or Healthline on 0800 358 5453. If you are isolating at home, let yourself rest - this will speed up your recovery. Do you best to eat well and take things slowly. Try to keep in contact with your friends online to help any loneliness that might come up for you. It can help to stick to a bit of a routine too if this is possible. If you are feeling well enough, you can access your learning on Google classroom. And don't forget - this is a great time to catch up on any TV/online shows you have been meaning to watch!

So you have avoided getting COVID-19 yourself - good work! BUT, someone who lives in the same house as you has tested positive. If you follow the guidelines around distancing, washing your hands and sanitising, you may not necessarily get COVID-19 yourself. We have shifted from household contacts having to isolate for 7 days. Household contacts are now asked to take a RAT test each day for 5 days. Each day that you test negative, you may leave the house as usual. If you test positive at any point within this 5 day period, you start 7 days isolation from the day of your positive test. If you are not feeling unwell, you can access your learning on Google classroom and continue working as if you were in remote learning. Some good tips here to stay focussed during online learning. Try and set a routine for yourself each day and stick to it as best as you can. Make sure you are getting good sleep, eating well and staying connected with family and friends.

If you test positive for COVID-19 during the 5 day testing period as a household contact, you need to start 7 days isolation. This might feel very frustrating and that is OK. Depending on how well you feel during this time, you can have a go at some of the activities in the next section. If you are feeling unwell, it is OK to go to bed, rest and give your body time to recover.

For some people, 7 days of isolation sounds like a dream - no school, no work, no other commitments outside of your own home. If this is you, try and make sure you include some 'me time' and some 'connection time', whether this is with the other people in your house or online. For other people, 7 days at home is not something they would choose for themselves. For these people, lockdown can seem quite daunting. There are some great activities here and here that might help make isolation a little easier.