Corona Response!

The corona or COVID-19 virus has changed all of our lives. We are starting the year with distance learning and we hope to be back in the classroom soon.

Here you will find information about how to talk to your son or daughter about the virus, coping strategies, videos, and other ways in which we can all work together to get through this together.

Reach out if you need to!

Your counseling team is available to help. Just email us:

Loren Rivers: Grades K-5 Loren.Rivers@k12.hi.us

Bri Compehos: Counselor Aide Bri.Compehos@k12.hi.us

Yes, it's so different now, but keep a schedule if you can:

Our distance learning will be in place as long as we are not allowed back on campus and your homeroom teacher will be hosting online classes. But...the virus still affects our daily lives. Keeping a regular schedule of school, family and other healthy activities will help us keep organized and busy.

A great site for making a plan of daily activities and other ideas is at Wide Open School

Here's a site with ideas and sample schdules: Calendar ideas and samples.

You can make a schedule that fits your family.

You can download and edit this one: Sample Calendar

Whether your son or daughter is participating in the distance learning or the Acellus program, everyone is still spending a lot of time at home. This can be stressfull for the entire family. Your child may have been exhibting unusual or concerning behaviors since the lockdown began last spring. Be on the lookout for:

Crying or being irritated, especially in younger children.

Excessive crying or irritation in younger children

Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)

Excessive worry or sadness

Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits

Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens

Difficulty with attention and concentration

Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past

Unexplained headaches or body pain

Get Help!

If you become very concerned about their behavior, be sure to reach out to your Primary Care Provider.

*You can also contact the Department of Mental Health's Child and Adolescent Unit at: Dept of Health

Here's a couple of articles to help: Isolating Together and Child Mind Institute

What Kids (and families) Need Now:

How to talk to your kids about corona virus: Talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and get Corona information about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.

Your child probably knows what a Brain Pop video is. They have one for explaining the virus to kids here: Brain Pop Virus Explanation

Second Step has also stepped up with their own videos: Imagine Neighborhood

Reassure: Let your child or teen know that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.

Coping Strategies: If they get upset or are feeling other strong emotions, they can practice the Second Step calming strategies. Please visit our Crush Corona page for more!

There are also some great sites to get more coping skills like this one! Coping skills for children and teens.

Healthy Habits: Eating healthy and getting a good night’s sleep. Get exercise! Mr. Wong has uploaded an exercise video Exercise! Kids also love the GoNoodle site to keep moving! GoNoodle

Limit Social Media: Don't allow your son or daughter to spend your day on social media-it’s all bad news! Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.

Family in Lock-Down!: It's a whole new world-how do we handle the challenges of being together more than we bargained for?

Field Trips: It is possible that there might not be any field trips this year, even after we come back to school together. Having a peek at the world outside our four walls is a great idea. Try a virtual field trip! Here's a site with links to zoos, museums, and aquariums all over the world! Go on a Field Trip!

*Here's a megalist of stuff to do: 100+ Things to Do!

Time for family reading: Read to your kids and/or have them read to you. Visit Ms. Lynch's Mauka Lani Library Page! Library!

Express themselves: Find healthy and creative ways for your child to express feelings: Be creative! Artwork-painting, colored pencils, expressing how they feel through art. Simply mashing the Play-Doh, Legos. Create something! Journal or diary. Each child is different and has those ways of expression that work best for them:) There are lots of great sites for art activities like this one! Art!

Social support: If possible, have your children stay in touch with friends from school. Grandma and Grandpa in lockdown, on a neighbor island, or on the mainland would love to hear from your son or daughter. This also gives them a healthy way to reach out to others and reduce feelings of isolation for themselves and others. You can also write to an elder who could use a lift at: Love For the Elderly

*Also: Check out our Crush Corona page to find out how to reach out to our heroes- front line medical workers!

Parents-You can be a role model: Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.