Getting ready for a very different new academic year

Here at the Human Values Foundation (HVF) we have started a community blog series. We are asking Members and Friends of the HVF to share a story about one of their experiences related to the HVF and how it demonstrates the life-enriching potential of living our values.

Fourth in our series is a story reflecting on how values can help communities reconnect and support each other, from the Human Values Foundation CEO, Rosemary Dewan. For Rosemary this story captures the values of Responsibility and Time Well Spent.

Everyone needs to process the personal effects of the coronavirus lockdown.

We know that children learn best when they are happy but will their fears and anxieties, traumatic experiences and emotional concerns due to Covid-19 block their capacity to engage with others and their schoolwork?

And what of the wellbeing of teachers?  How can they too cope with all that has happened and still be positive, empathetic role models as school communities come together again at this exceptional time?

Under normal circumstances, a fresh academic year is exciting with a range of stimulating prospects just over the horizon.  But 2020 is very different. 

How can teachers get themselves and their pupils back on track, with everyone benefiting from timely assistance when they need it?  

The repercussions from the pandemic will be with us all for some time to come so we need to keep supporting each other.

Our Circles of CARE mini programme has been designed to create an understanding, empathetic school culture with everyone learning to ask for and providing help when needed.

We hope that prior to the start of the new school year teachers will take some time to explore the content for the 4 sessions created for ages 5 to 7 and the 4 for ages 7 to 11 with the themes of Community, Appreciation, Responsibility and Empathy.  Listening to the 5 relaxing mindfulness tracks and 4 songs and inspecting the lesson materials and the journal pages for the children could spark some helpful thoughts on how to maintain personal strengths and the robustness needed to assist others:

* self awareness – listening to one’s body and mind; knowing one’s unique identity

* self regulation – monitoring and managing one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour

* self motivation – what drives one and inspires us to keep going and overcome obstacles  

* self management – handling pressures, relationships, goals, etc successfully.

Reflecting on the effects of the pandemic can enable us to care for one another, especially as we are likely to continue to face unprecedented challenges in the weeks and months ahead.

Tell those you know about the Circles of CARE content and how adults can use it to maintain personal qualities and nurture children’s wellbeing whether they attend schools or are educated at home.

This resource can lay solid foundations for Relationships Education, which Primary schools must start teaching during the 2020/21 academic year.