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Education ministers met today and decided that NAPLAN will be cancelled for 2020.
This decision was made so that school leaders, teachers and support staff can focus on the wellbeing of students and prepare for the continuity of education, including working on online and remote learning options.
This decision means that the scheduled testing of NAPLAN Online platform – the Coordination Practice Test (CPT) – scheduled for Monday 23 March will not go ahead.
The ministers thank every school for their hard work in preparing for the CPT and all the preparations for NAPLAN in general.
Today’s communique from the Education Council is available on the ACARA website and can be accessed here.
Please contact the AISSA NAPLAN Team (8179 1400) regarding any queries related to this correspondence.
The Hon Minister John Gardner has written to parents and caregivers of SA Independent school students regarding the COVID-19 pandemic:
Parent letter – non government services – 18.03.2020
For further information on COVID-19 please visit www.health.gov.au.
If you have any queries regarding the operation of a specific Independent School in relation to COVID-19 please contact the school’s Principal.
Independent Schools Victoria’s parent website features a selection of articles to assist families during the COVID-19 pandemic:
How to use a school closure to surge ahead academically
Coronavirus: A guide for parents to support their children
For further information on COVID-19 please visit www.health.gov.au.
If you have any queries regarding the operation of a specific Independent School in relation to COVID-19 please contact the school’s Principal.
Dealing with the impact of the Australian Bushfires will be a significant challenge for many. Please consider the following resources related to the wellbeing of children and adults during this difficult time:
Beyond Blue
Bushfires and Mental Health
Talking to kids about scary stuff in the news – tips for parents and guardians
Australian Childhood Foundation
Making Space for Learning: Trauma Informed Practice in Schools – is a resource guide to assist schools to unlock the potential of traumatised children and young people to grow and develop at school.
Emerging Minds
The Community Trauma Toolkit contains resources to help and support adults and children before, during, and after a disaster or traumatic event. It will help you understand some of the impacts of disaster and how you can help lessen these impacts.
Good Grief Organisation
https://www.goodgrief.org.au/
Stormbirds program supports young people in understanding and managing the changes they experience as a result of natural disaster. It enables them to realise they are not alone in dealing with the impacts of the natural disaster, and supports them to develop coping, problem solving and decision making skills in an atmosphere of like-to-like peer support. Stormbirds training and materials are available free of charge to schools and agencies supporting children and young people after a natural disaster. Please contact the Good Grief National Office (61 2) 8912 2700 for more details.
NDIS
Bushfire information and support for NDIS participants and providers
UNICEF
A guide for how to talk with children overwhelmed by Australia’s devastating bushfires.
Australian National University
Disasters: Bushfire resources | Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network https://earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au/resource-centre/disasters-bushfire-resources
Victorian Education
Helping children after a bushfire – teacher booklet
Helping children following a natural disaster – information booklet
Queensland Health
Four ways you can help your kids deal with a natural disaster
Birdie’s Tree – Growing together through natural disasters
Phoenix Australia (Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health)
Recovery Online – coming to terms with trauma
Joel and the Storm a free evidence supported storybook to help children understand trauma and recover from natural disasters.
Early Connections
Bushfire Social Story – Social Stories are a social learning tool that supports the safe and meaningful exchange of information between parents, professionals, and people with autism of all ages.
The Conversation
Bushfires can make kids scared and anxious: here are 5 steps to help them cope http://theconversation.com/bushfires-can-make-kids-scared-and-anxious-here-are-5-steps-to-help-them-cope-126926
The Parents’ Website – Independent Schools Victoria
Helping people deal with traumatic events – University of Melbourne’s Professor Meaghan O’Donnell provides some useful research-based advice to support family and friends who have
been through life-threatening and distressing events
My tiny humans: Explaining the bushfires – Author Natalie Moutafis’ toddler has seen images from the bushfires on the TV and wonders about the ‘grey’ sky.