What to Expect Creative Secondary School’s distance learning model upholds our mission for providing a balanced, diverse, and secure community that prepares students academically, socially, and ethically for college and meaningful life. We combine synchronous (e-learning) with asynchronous (accessible anytime) learning methods. The method is intentionally designed to provide balance for our students as we continue educating the whole child using our core values of courage, integrity, respect, compassion, and excellence to guide us in all our interactions. To enhance the online learning experience, this handbook will provide you with the required information to guide your study in Creative Secondary School, including how parents can support their children at home, responsibilities and expectations for students, parents, and staff, advice on health and well-being, various communication channels as well as support services and facilities provided by Creative Secondary School.

Contents

Guidelines for Effective Learning at Home

05

How to Best Support Your Child’s Online Learning?

06

How to Manage Parent-Teen Conflict?

08

The Key to a Good Connection at Times of Conflicts

09

Expectation for Online Learning Expectation for Students Expectation for Parents Expectation for Staff

12 13 14

Students Wellbeing Physically and Mentally Positive Mind Sharing

15 16 17

Who to Contact

18

Guidelines for Effective Learning at Home Structuring Your Daily Routine!

Although you are not physically in school, a well-established routine is essential. In addition to your regular school lesson timetable, make a timetable and plan what you could do outside of lesson time!

If you have questions about your work, contact your teacher who will be able to offer help and advice.

Wake up each day early to prepare everything you need for your learning

Focus and complete your work during designated lesson times

Workspace

We recognise that this is a challenging time and that many of us will not have the ideal workspace; however, try your best to: Make yourself should feel comfortable at home when learning online, by sitting on a chair instead of a sofa or the bed Make sure your desk is clean and tidy Remove any distractions such as social media, unnecessary apps, etc Use headphones if needed to avoid background noise

How to Best Support Your Child’s Online Learning? Children of different ages face different challenges in remote classrooms. Parents can play a vital role in helping children learn and develop to their full potential. For teens, they are feeling the stress of online learning due to loneliness and isolation from peers, increased workload, prolonged screen time and less one-on-one instructional support. Parents can help them manage stress by listening to their challenges, encouraging frequent breaks and offering support.

Supporting Learning Needs Supporting your children and their specific learning needs will help smoothen the online learning process and give them the confidence and opportunities to overcome challenges independently and thrive. Parents can: Create a regular routine and encourage good homework habits Limit screen time Help set up an environment and space conducive for online learning Encourage children to set goals for the future, make plans and manage time, effort and emotions

Communicating Positively and Taking Care of Mental Health Being a good listener, building safe spaces for conversations and providing emotional support will go a long way in stress management, strengthening the bond within the family and giving children the courage and trust to communicate both positive and complicated emotions more openly with parents. For positive communication and mental health support, parents can: Listen with empathy and offer guidance Offer and be available for emotional support and care Consult with other parents for parenting advice, and encourage children to lean on their friends for support Give compliments for efforts and achievements Avoid force, coercion and pressure Encourage children to observe and accept situations that are out of their control as well as their feelings Be a positive role model by showing responsible and respectful behaviour, as well as demonstrating flexibility in making work from home manageable

How to Manage Parent-Teen Conflict? Restore family relationship Deep breathing help restore mental clarity

Take a self-care break

Regain control of your anger, or it will control you

Set time limits for argument Set limits to place of argument

Don’t let conflict dominate but restore balance in your life

Find something else to think about to help you cool off and gain insight

Recharge

The 3R’S of conflict management

Restore

Relationship

Put relationship as priority ONE Having disagreement ≠ Being antagonistic Keep the lines of communication open Hugging is a great way to re-affirm your love

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Expectation for Online Learning

Expectation for Students Checking and Responding to Email

Any emails or non-urgent matters should be kept between 8:00am - 5:30pm (Monday - Friday) for student and staff well-being. We all need time to disconnect and recharge.

Google Classroom’s Notification Functions

Google Classroom’s notification feature is an efficient way to keep students, teachers, and guardians abreast of important information. However, to avoid too many duplicate messages, teachers will not update Google Classroom’s notification functions after 5:30pm

Assessment/Homework Deadlines

To encourage a smooth flow of work, assessment or homework deadlines will be set at 4pm each day (Monday - Friday)

Be a good netizen and demonstrate good “netiquette”. It’s really simple and important to achieve this. Be on time! Be engaged! Camera always on and fully present on screen unless asked to do otherwise by the teacher. Microphone muted unless asked to do otherwise by the teacher.

Expectation for Parents Encourage your child to share with you their work, highlights from lessons and concerns Remind your child to maintain a healthy lifestyle

e.g. drink more water, eat at regular times and do some stretching exercises during breaks and after online classes

Give positive encouragement and reinforcement Ensure that your child is following the daily schedule Ensure that the learning tools and environment are made available to your child Regularly check in on your child’s progress and submission of work and assignments Allow your child to complete their assignments independently and to the best of their ability Contact the appropriate person with any questions as they arise

Expectation for Staff Lessons should be planned to allow students a balance of activities that are fully on-screen and activities that require less screen time or eliminate screens completely. Some disruptions are inevitable with students in their home environment and should be accepted. Continue to give the encouragement and prompt, regular feedback to students that you would give in face to face lessons. Ask for feedback from students about how online learning could be improved. Any emails or non-urgent matters should be kept between 8:00am - 5:30pm (Monday - Friday) for student and staff well-being. We all need time to disconnect and recharge. To avoid too many duplicate messages, teachers will not update Google Classroom’s notification functions after 5:30pm Become familiar with schedule send/post functions Become familiar with schedule send/post functions

Students Wellbeing - Physically and Mentally MYP Service as Action Stay Healthy - Physically and Mentally Ensure you allow your eyes to rest regularly to avoid too much focused on-screen time. After each lesson, allow your eyes to rest - look ar something far and green for a few minutes Plan for some physical exercise/activity each day which may include stretching, dancing, running, etc Try out some mindfulness exercises such as mindful breathing to allow the brain to rest at regular intervals Take some short breaks when possible and drink lots of water Listen to music when taking short breaks or background music when working independently Eat healthy at regular times, avoid eating snacks all day! Sleep early and get up early - don’t stay late for TV/gaming/ digital devices!

Students Wellbeing - Positive Mind MYP Service as Action Stay Well, Stay Positive! Keep an open mind for acceptance to new ideas. For example, discussing and sharing your views with others, and reconsidering an issue by analysing and reviewing it again. Think about the things you feel grateful for. For example, recalling a happy holiday during a busy working day to refresh your mind. Think positively while handling stressful situations. For example, thinking about the sense of achievement and skills learnt after completing a difficult project. Keep track of your mood changes. For example, taking a rest and talking to someone early if you find yourself anxious. Relax by setting aside your troubles and be optimistic. For example, holding the belief that good events will happen and that bad events will not always happen.

Students Wellbeing - Sharing MYP Service as Action Sharing is Caring! Share the bits and pieces in your daily life with others. For example, talking with your friends and family about your work to ease your emotions and gain their support. Establish and maintain relationships with others. Express your appreciation, gratitude or encouragement to others more frequently. For example, say “well-done” to your classmates. Express your empathy. For example, saying “take care” to someone who does not feel well, and "thank you" to someone who has helped you in one way or another. Be kind and supportive to others. Spend time with your family members. Having a better and closer relationship with your family members can make you feel good. Share your bits and pieces in your daily life with your family members and enjoy a meal with them.

Who to Contact All members of staff are available to help and can be contacted via their usual school email address. Please follow the Online Learning Communication Channels and FlowChart. Communicating with parents is an important part of school life, and we strongly encourage positive two-way communication to benefit each student, both academically and socially. The majority of parental questions are easily answered by communicating directly with subject staff or class teachers. If a query is not resolved, please contact the next person indicated by the flowchart on the right.

Online Learning Communication Channels Vice Principals - Junior Secondary Cassy YU

[email protected]

Vice Principals - Senior Secondary Hugh PIZZI

[email protected]

Head of Junior School Tan Tan CHAN

[email protected]

Head of Senior School Ann TSANG

[email protected]

Junior School Curriculum Candice CHAN

[email protected]

Middle Years Programme (MYP) Nazerke MUKAZHANOVA [email protected]

HKDSE Kiara LIU, [email protected]

IB Diploma Maria Cristina GUEVARA

[email protected]

School Social Workers Theresa AU

[email protected]

Ken CHOI

[email protected]

School Counsellors Callas KWOK

[email protected]

Nike KWONG

[email protected]

IT Help Desk Our IT Help Desk is available to provide you with guidance and support with the school systems as well as means of communication if and when you have questions and need support from us. Please email [email protected] if you need IT support Level 1 Subject Teacher

Level 2 Class Teacher

Level 3

Level 4

Head of Department

Vice Principal

Level 5 Principal

CSS

[email protected]

2336 0233

3 Pung Loi Road, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong