WISHING OUR PRETORIA-EAST COMMUNITY WELL FOR 2023
MIGNONNE GERLI • February 23, 2023
Dear fellow Pretoria-East Community Members,
I hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful time over the festive period, with those of you who worked through December still managing to enjoy quality time with family and friends during the public holidays. May 2023 be a year filled with peace and the successful accomplishment of goals, while we all hope that our economy becomes more stable. I wish you and your family all the best for 2023.
The start of a new year is one filled with new year’s resolutions for countless people (many of whom have probably already broken a resolution or two. Never mind, just keep going!). It is a time of reflection for most, where we look back on our successes and failures, joys and sorrows of the year gone by. The new year marks the possibility of a fresh start, the turning over of a new leaf in some instances and a sense of hope and possibility for the year ahead.
For those of you with children at school and for the older students, I would like to share a few points to consider in order to start the year off well, and keep going strong until the end:
- Aim to have all the stationery and textbooks that are required at the start of the school year.
- Create and/or maintain a routine for bedtime, wakeup time and homework, including time for leisure and relaxation.
- Older students should set academic goals for themselves, based on their achievements the previous year and what they want to or need to achieve in 2023 for their future academic success.
- Ensure that students get enough sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9 12 hours per 24 hours and teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours.
- Children, including teenagers, should have their mobiles on silent or off when they go to sleep, to avoid the temptation of late-night communication with friends, which leaves them exhausted during the day. If need be, have a routine where phones are left charging in the kitchen or put away in one place. Many children and teenagers struggle with self-control when it comes to parting with their devices at night, which has huge repercussions when it comes to their ability to focus and function at school. Stricter parental control may be necessary within some homes.
- Managing homework and study can be extremely stressful for parents and children alike. Try to develop a partnership where parents assume a supportive role and where children assume responsibility and take ownership of their homework and studies. As far as possible, use positive reinforcement rather than punitive measures to encourage your children to achieve to the best of their ability. Punitive measures tend to have a negative effect on children’s interest in their schoolwork and their attitude towards their studies, leaving them with negative feelings towards their educational journey (and causing untold unhappiness and frustration in the home). If you are at your wits’ end, enlist the assistance of your child’s teachers and, where appropriate, the help of an Educational Psychologist.
Finally, I wish all students and their parents the very best for the 2023 academic year. May you rise to the challenges and enjoy the good times.
ADvTECH SCHOOLS CLAIM TOP HONOURS IN WESSA CENTENARY AWARDS
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As the preliminary and final examinations approach, both students and parents or guardians often experience heightened anxiety and stress. This guide provides practical strategies to help parents and guardians support their children through this critical phase of their academic journey. 1. Foster Effective Organization Create an environment conducive to studying by providing a quiet, well-lit study space equipped with essential stationery. Collaborate with your child to develop a structured study timetable to set clear expectations and promote disciplined preparation. Encourage the use of resources such as past question papers, which serve as valuable tools for revision and practice. 2. Maintain Daily Check-Ins Schedule regular, intentional conversations, such as during dinner, to discuss your child’s progress. Inquire about their experience with the day’s examination paper, adherence to their study schedule, and their feelings about upcoming tests. These check-ins foster open communication and allow you to gauge their emotional and academic state. 3. Minimize Distractions Help your child stay focused by keeping electronic devices like phones, tablets, and gaming consoles out of reach during study sessions. Set boundaries on screen time and social media access to prevent procrastination. While challenging, limiting Wi-Fi access during study hours can significantly enhance productivity. 4. Support Emotional Awareness Encourage your child to identify and articulate their emotions, such as anxiety, stress, or fatigue . Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward addressing them effectively. Discuss coping strategies to help them navigate emotional challenges during this period. 5. Teach Self-Regulation Techniques Guide your child in practicing self-regulation to manage stress. Techniques include: Breathing Exercises : Inhale deeply for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, and repeat. Sensory Focus : Identify five things they can see or hear to ground themselves in the moment. Tactile Stimulation : Hold a cold object to shift focus and reduce anxiety. These methods can help your child regain calm and focus during stressful moments. 6. Promote a Balanced Routine Prolonged study sessions late into the night can lead to burnout. Monitor your child’s study habits and encourage breaks to maintain balance. Plan activities such as outings with friends, a family meal, or short recreational periods with access to devices. Engaging in non-academic activities, like helping prepare dinner, can provide a refreshing change of focus. 7. Prioritize Self-Care Support your child’s well-being by ensuring they: Eat nutritious, regular meals. Get at least eight hours of sleep by limiting screen time before bed. Engage in physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, dancing, or gym workouts. These practices help alleviate stress and anxiety, which are common during examination periods. 8. Practice Empathy and Patience The examination period can be emotionally taxing for both students and parents. Approach your child with empathy, actively listening and offering guidance without criticism. This fosters a supportive environment, bolstering their mental health and sense of inclusion. By implementing these strategies, parents and guardians can play a pivotal role in helping their children navigate the challenges of examinations with confidence and resilience. Good luck to all the Grade 12 students with the upcoming examinations - you most certainly can do it!
