To our valued community:
Last week, families everywhere began to navigate rapid changes, uncertain of what would happen next. At EPIC, we transitioned to working remotely, but our commitment to you does not waver.
WHAT WE ARE DOING:
Every week, we will send out an update with parenting tips, homeschool strategies and resources for families as they begin to craft their "new normal" - remembering that may look different for each family and that's okay. Additionally, our social channels will provide daily homeschooling ideas for you: whether that's a science experiment, art project or referencing an expert or organization to help navigate these new waters.
Our first priority is the safety of you and your family. The Coronavirus Hotline is
1-888-364-3065
, and we encourage all our families to remember if you or anyone in your household gets sick with fever
(100.4°F/38°C or higher), cough, or has trouble breathing:
- First, call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms.
- Avoid contact with others.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Before seeking health care, call ahead to the facility and tell them your situation. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to your illness.
WHO WILL BE THERE TO HELP:
The same faces you've already been working with, plus more. The entire EPIC team is rallying to make sure we are there for you in this unchartered territory. In addition to shifting some of our programming to virtual models, we're working to create a parent support line that you can call and get directly connected to whatever expert best fits your needs. Stay tuned for that!
OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK: COMMUNICATION + CONSISTENCY
On communication:
Kids may have a lot of questions about what's currently happening, and if you feel uncertain on
how to share with them
, just remember:
- Manage your own nervousness - remain calm and reassuring
- Be honest but not alarmist - look at the CDC website for more information and make time to talk with your children (we've linked it here)
- Teach kids what they can do - wash hands, sneeze into a tissue, don’t touch your face
- Avoid language that blames others - anyone can catch the virus
Another approach is viewing COVID-19 as another thing to prepare for and monitor. Much like a fire safety plan or other family "game plans" you may have set, involving children in creating a family plan may help them feel a sense of safety and security. The CDC has
a family checklist
you may find helpful.
On consistency:
Remember, nobody expects you to be a perfect homeschool teacher- especially your child's actual teacher. Your kids will be looking to you for regulation , and one way to provide that is to set up a generic framework of what each day, or each week, will look like. Here's an example of a
daily schedule
that applies to all age groups, or a
weekly outline
if that works better for your family. For a little more creative freedom, you can get
general guidelines
regarding a homeschool schedule and creating a designated "school space"!
WHERE TO FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
As always, EPIC remains committed to ensuring every child has a strong start and promising future. We will remain transparent through the next several weeks as we continue to monitor the situation, and will continue to act with our staff and community's needs at the forefront of our decision making.
From the EPIC family to yours, we wish you health and peace during this stressful time.
Tara
Tara N. Burgess
Executive Director
and the entire EPIC team
