During the enforced stay at home during lockdown, pupils and staff have still been working away at learning and teaching as well as having to find different ways to work. These fantastic articles by S2 pupils under the direction of their English teacher have now been collated online.
As part of their recent studies in journalism, S2 have created an online news website containing their own articles and content. Many of the pupils have used the current pandemic as inspiration for their reports. As a result, they have created an impressive record of the impact of Covid-19 locally and personally.
Content will be updated regularly. Please check it out at:
On March the 23 rd Boris Johnson put the whole country in lockdown because of the Covid- 19 outbreak. The lockdown has put nearly everything to a stop but farming, here in Orkney as elsewhere, still continues. For many farmers Spring is the busiest time of the year.
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme is Kindness which is incredibly important in these strange and unusual times which are now impacting on many people’s lives around the world – none the least on our mental health. From across the world and in our own country we are seeing compassion and kindness on many levels, the volunteers in local hubs delivering food to the vulnerable, the acknowledgement of the NHS and emergency services, the doorstep cake drop from a neighbour – all acts of kindness that are helping us somewhat to get through.
Mental health and emotional wellbeing has in recent years been spoken about much more openly, recognised by the medical profession, and being recognised and acknowledged by employers, and schools, etc as an illness that can impact our personal and working lives. Sadly the current pandemic is doing just that.
Around the world many people’s lives have changed in how we work and live due to a pandemic caused by an invisible enemy – a new or ‘novel’ coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2 which causes the severe respiratory disease now known as COVID-19. This particular coronavirus is just one of many of coronaviruses that cause illness in animals in humans. In humans, the vast majority only cause mild illness and upper respiratory tract illness, such as the common cold but can develop into pneumonia. Some are more severe such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003 and the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) recognised in Saudi Arabia in 2012. This one has rapidly spread round the world and was declared as a pandemic on 12th March 2020.
Countries around the world restricted their populations movement, ordering ‘lockdown’ or ‘stay in place’ orders, embedded in law. Restrictions varied from country to country. Some locked down early prior to any outbreaks getting too big a foothold, others delayed. Only essential travel was allowed for weekly food, and work, if you could not work from home, and a short period of exercise from home – if you were lucky to be in a country that allowed leaving the house for exercise. This new way of living has impacted many. Those essential workers, the NHS staff, the carers, the shop workers, the posties, the bin men, etc. all still have to go to work, knowing they risk contracting the virus and bringing it home to their family, let alone, those in the NHS who are dealing with the tragic number of deaths, those of us trying to work from home, the school pupils, the students, the teachers, those who have been furloughed, those who have lost their jobs, lost family and friends to the disease… everything is different it impacts us all whether we have underlying mental health issues or not. Anxiety, Loneliness, sadness, loss (of loved ones, and a normal way of life), fear, insomnia & other sleep issues, anger, overeating, under eating, lack of motivation, heightened emotions, uncertainty, etc. are experienced by many.
Some reassuring points I personally took away from a recent webinar Covid-19: Safefty Tips for Reopening your Library by Prof. Dipesh Navsana (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health) – this is worth a listen to – particularly the first half giving reassuring and clear facts about COVID-19:
Uncertainty – roll with it!
No human activity of any kind is 100% safe
Looking for information about COVID-19 – use well-vetted reputable sources (eg. NHS, WHO). Avoid social media as sources of info – which are often inaccurate, sensationalised, and fear mongering.
Be caring and compassionate – to others, and importantly to yourselves!
Suggestions to help yourself – which have been shown to help
Exercise
Get outside, appreciate what’s around you. Take time to just stop and listen.
Connect with people – Facetime, Whatsapp, videoconferencing
Help other people in your household
Set yourself goals or challenges – don’t have to be big ones, whether it is to carry out an act of kindness (eg. make a cuppa for a family member),
Interact with your animals
Meditation
Baking & cooking
Create a routine – including sensible bed times and get up at same time every day
Accept what you can’t change
Remember – talk to people. Seek help, whether it is from your GP, a counsellor, a line manager, a guidance teacher – Reach out for help if you need it!
As we continue to work and study from home, we mustn’t forget the amazing resource that most of us can access without leaving the house – the Orkney Library & Archive’s online resources. Most of these resources do require you to have an Orkney Library membership. Currently, if you were to email them on library@orkney.gov.uk they will set up membership for you, but will require a signature at a later date.
If you are interested in local history, then the Archive page is also worth a look. They also have an archive blog, Get Dusty.
eBooks & eAudiobooks
With an Orkney Library membership, you can access eBooks and eAudiobooks for free via BorrowBox, and stream or download music via Freegal. Again, you will need a library membership to access these.
Extraordinary circumstances – library loan limits waived – overdue reminders went out in the last two days and it is preferable but not essential to get them returned or renewed.
Pupils and staff can take as many books as they feel they need for the next few weeks. Ignore the loan date stamped – just for records. No overdues will be sent out.
Remember to get library books stamped out at the desk.
Also please also help yourself to the non-library books off the book swap trolley or the boxes of books on the tables. You might find something your parents or younger siblings might like to read.
If you have any queries in terms of book suggestions, or information requirements in relation to you studies or interested please do not hesitate to contact me via email: frances.sinclair@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk
Anyone interested in joining a Microsoft Team to discuss books and reading can get in touch via the above email.
If you like e-books and audiobooks, the Orkney Library & Archive have a loan facility for these. If you are an Orkney Library member, you can use Borrowbox. They also have a digital music lending service called Freegal. There are also some great online reference resources available at Library Online.
Stay safe over the coming weeks –
Develop a daily routine
Get your allocated schoolwork done
Read
Build in relaxation and chilling time
Protect your mental health
Practise social distancing to keep vulnerable family safe
All the best – will be thinking of you in these times.
We are all, or at least should all be aware of double and triple checking the sources of information we view on the internet, yet many of us get caught out. In the light of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, it is doubly important to ensure you are getting the correct information and to be aware there is a lot of misinformation out there which may cause increased anxiety. Firstly, Here is the official information schools have been given (Click on the image):
Building a Reading Culture – WORLD BOOK DAY: Thursday 5th March 2020
Here are a few of the things to look forward to:
WBD £1 BOOK TOKENS – Can be used in local participating books shops including to exchange for the specially published £1 books. Tokens will be issued during library periods. Senior phase may came and collect one from Mrs Sinclair in the library. www.worldbookday.com/books/
BOOK SWAP – Bring a book, take a book! Do you have any pre-loved books you no longer want to keep? Would you like to acquire some new (to you) books? A book swap will run from next Wednesday in the library (and staffroom). Donations to populate the trolley gratefully received prior to the launch. Books (fiction or non-fiction) should be in very good or excellent condition (no scribbles, mildew, stained pages, etc) and suitable for the school population.
BOOK BLIND DATE – Take a chance on an unknown book. Pick a wrapped book and borrow it, read it, review it (a brief review, even if you didn’t like it or get very far).
BOOK CAFÉ – An informal event in the library to read and share favourite reading, do the National book token competition, literary colouring in, chilling with books. Hot choc / tea / coffee on offer. Bring lunch (eg. Sandwiches) – no hot snacks. Reading and discussion. No PCs available. Please let Mrs Sinclair know if you are interested.
The school library at lunchtime has become a place where pupils can do a variety of different activities whether it just chilling out on a bean bag, doing homework, or playing board games. It can be busy with sometimes between 40 and 50 pupils in the library, averaging around 25-30 most days. Most of the activities are pupil driven – they can choose what they want to do within the bounds of what is appropriate and as long as they are not rowdy or disruptive we offer great flexibility within the bounds of a 40 minute lunch break.
What do pupils do:
Computers for leisure (games or browsing) or work – work always has priority. Pupils may book PCs in advance if they know they need to do work.Pupils manage to find plenty of games to play, however they are restricted to those that are of appropriate age range and to the school setting (same with general internet browsing). Often they are ‘competing’ against each other in a game on an individual or team basis. Most of the time the atmosphere is of happy cooperation.
Board games (as listed below)
Reading for pleasure
Writing for pleasure
Drawing
Homework
Study & revision
Research
Chilling and chatting (hopefully relatively quietly) on bean bags and soft seating
Dungeons & Dragons character creation, game preparation and design
Pupil Library Assistant jobs
Occasional pupil working group meetings (Upper Library)
Magic the Gathering and other trading card games such as Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh)
Nintendo switch games – often in groups with individuals or teams going against each other
Colouring-in – a recent addition with a view to being a fun activity, yet also as a relaxing one to help relieve anxiety and stress. This is tied in with a display of books on mental health awareness.
We have some more formal activities on set days although these can be done on any day:
Monday – Miniature Painting: Mrs Sinclair, the Librarian, ‘teaches’ pupils the basics of miniature painting, and even pupils teach Mrs Sinclair. The library, due to generous donations over the years has a variety of miniatures pupils can choose from, which they can paint for the library collection, or keep for themselves, if they so wish. Some will paint up one to represent their character in Dungeons & Dragons activities we run on Tuesday after school and Friday activities period.
Tuesday – Chess & Board Games: We have several chess and draughts boards as well as Connect4, Mastermind, Topple Blocks, Ker-Plunk, D&D Board Game and Lord of the Rings Risk available. The ‘official’ session is on a Tuesday but pupils will play them most days as they are on an easily accessible shelf.
Wednesday – Magic the Gathering: MtG is a strategy (collectable) fantasy card game which has been played in the library for many years. Individuals and teams can play against each other with cards that represent monsters, spells and other effects and equipment with the aim to reduce each other’s hit points from 20 to 0.
We always welcome recommendations for activities, especially if pupil led, or suggestions for new board games – of which donations would be gratefully received. Might even look into having a few jigsaws available too.
Curriculum for Excellence
Health & Wellbeing
Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
I know that friendship, caring, sharing, fairness, equality and love are important in building positive relationships. As I develop and value relationships, I care and show respect for myself and others. HWB 3-05a / 4-05a
Social Wellbeing
As I explore the rights to which I and others are entitled, I am able to exercise these rights appropriately and accept the responsibilities that go with them. I show respect for the rights of others. HWB 3-09a / 4-09a
I recognise that each individual has a unique blend of abilities and needs. I contribute to making my school community one which values individuals equally and is a welcoming place for all. HWB 3-10a / 4-10a
I make full use of and value the opportunities I am given to improve and manage my learning and, in turn, I can help to encourage learning and confidence in others. HWB 3-11a / 4-11a
Through contributing my views, time and talents, I play a part in bringing about positive change in my school and wider community. HWB 3-13a
I value the opportunities I am given to make friends and be part of a group in a range of situations. HWB 3-14a
Relationships
I understand and can demonstrate the qualities and skills required to sustain different types of relationships. HWB 3-44b / 4-44b
I am aware of the need to respect personal space and boundaries and can recognise and respond appropriately to verbal and non-verbal communication. HWB 3-45b / 4-45b
Literacy
Listening & Talking
When I engage with others, I can make a relevant contribution, encourage others to contribute and acknowledge that they have the right to hold a different opinion. I can respond in ways appropriate to my role and use contributions to reflect on, clarify or adapt thinking. LIT 3-02a
Reading
I regularly select and read, listen to or watch texts for enjoyment and interest, and I can express how well they meet my needs and expectations and give reasons, with evidence, for my personal response. I can identify sources to develop the range of my reading. LIT 3-11a
Writing
I enjoy creating texts of my choice and I am developing my own style. I can regularly select subject, purpose, format and resources to suit the needs of my audience. LIT 3-20a
Technologies
I enhance my learning by applying my ICT skills in different learning contexts across the curriculum. TCH 3-04a
By considering ways to protect technological devices, I can act safely and responsibly when selecting and using different technologies to communicate and collaborate. TCH 3-08a
Magic the Gathering and other trading card games such as Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh)
