Dr. Sharon Bal speaks to the importance of stability in schools, and has questions about testing and case and outbreak management. Many processes are still unclear. We need consistent and clear communication, predictability, structure. @SharonBalMD facebook.com/catherinefifeK…
Viewer Ian speaks about the importance of student mental health. Arisa Alexanian shares her concerns as a parent of a child with a cognitive disability. Fostering relationships in a remote learning environment is difficult to do. Students can fall through the cracks.
Arisa Alexanian notes that parents are also suffering from anxiety and mental health issues. Struggling with balancing their kids' needs as well as their own work has been a huge challenge, especially as a mom of a child with special needs. Parents need support as well.
Catherine Fife notes that many parents have reached out to her, especially working moms. Mental health has been an ongoing crisis in our community, but we need to place emphasis on this in September. @CFifeKW
Dr. Sharon Bal notes that physicians are seeing many mental health issues in our community... "every visit is a mental health visit" in family practice right now. Record numbers of crisis calls. Thank you to all family doctors for supporting our community. @SharonBalMD
Eating disorders are on the rise in our community's youth. We need to normalize the conversation about the impact that this pandemic is having on our families. Dr. Bal asks, is there a place for some of our community health workers to provide support in schools?
Families need information to help them cope with the stress of this pandemic. Providing system navigation support will be key for supporting parents in our school communities.
Catherine Fife notes that the allocation of resources is key this year. "If there was ever a time to invest it is this year". @CFifeKW
Student Madiha Syed notes that she has struggled with mental health throughout this pandemic. She was lucky to have a very supportive family and education community to support her, but notes that not every student has a great team in their corner supporting them.
Student Madiha Syed notes that guidance counselors are NOT therapists. Teachers are helping students cope with many significant needs, but are truly not prepared to provide the mental health support for their students. For some kids, school is their safe, happy place.
Teacher Niki Kazemzadeh speaks to the importance of in-person learning to student mental health. As a working mother trying to do synchronous instruction while also caring for her own children at home, she can relate to parent frustration and struggle during school closures.
Teacher Niki Kazemzadeh notes that there's a constant worry about infecting our own students as well as bringing the virus home, and worrying about student health... it's taken a lot of the summer to heal from the stress. @MmeKazemzadeh
Catherine Fife notes that student mental health needs a holistic response. School boards have a LEGISLATED responsibility for student wellbeing. #OntEd
In speaking of learning loss, student Madiha Syed notes that additional classes or self-paced supplemental learning opportunities may help students to feel less overwhelmed as they prepare for post-secondary applications.
Niki Kazemzadeh reminds us to put student mental health first. Educators teach ALL kids at many different levels. It will be okay... the curriculum will be taught. Kids need to feel safe. Student wellbeing should be our focus. EQAO should be cancelled to let us focus on kids.
Niki Kazemzadeh notes that students who feel safe and supported will do well academically. Teachers know what to do, if only the province will just allow us to do it. #OntEd
Dr. Sharon Bal notes that we need to accept the fact that everyone has missed out on some learning, and socialize that this is normal. There will be time needed for review and confidence-building. Being back in school with the social aspect will support learning.
Parent Arisa Alexanian says we need to learn from our mistakes and move on. We have learned to be more proactive. Mental health trumps curriculum. Nobody learns well when their mental wellness is threatened. She says innovative teachers did an amazing job last year. #OntEd
Arisa Alexanian reminds us that "kids feed off of adults". When adults are anxious, the kids will experience anxiety. The stakes are high for parents of kids with developmental disabilities. Kids with Down Syndrome are higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and dying from it.
We need to recognize that some parents are more anxious than others about safety protocols, and not judge each other. We don't know what parents are going through or what medical issues a family may have.
Dr. Sharon Bal says that she wants students to feel empowered. We know a lot about this virus that we didn't know in February. Follow public health advice. Distance. Mask. Get Vaccinated. We have this backpack to help us get back to a new normal. @SharonBalMD
@SharonBalMD Dr. Bal reminds us that anyone can walk into a vaccination clinic, to get 1st or 2nd doses. Vaccines are safe and they work. Some parents quit smoking because their child came home from school and made them stop (haha I was one of these kids!). Education has power to influence.
@SharonBalMD Student Mediha Syed says "Quadmesters have to go!! They do not work." She thanks teachers, healthcare workers, parents, school staff, frontline workers and others for their support in getting us through this pandemic. It's a team effort.
@SharonBalMD Teacher Niki Kazemzadeh reminds us that most young children can safely wear masks. Kids are resilient and adaptable. We need to give them more credit. We know that the pandemic does not affect everyone equally. We have the opportunity for change, for unlearning and relearning.
@SharonBalMD Parent Arisa Alexanian says she is "cautiously optimistic" now that her family is all double-vaxxed. She encourages parents to open the line of communication with educators. It's easy to be a critic. She challenges everyone to be part of the solution.
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