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HOOK ME IN!
In Year 3/4 we have been focussing on opening sentences for each paragraph in a piece of text to engage the reader. Students have explored their creativity to “hook” their readers in any paragraph within their text. Enjoy some samples from 3/4P.
Dear Parents,
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) brings with it feelings like anxiety, stress and uncertainty — and they are felt especially strongly by children of all ages. Though all children deal with such emotions in different ways, if your child has been faced with school closures, cancelled events or separation from friends, they are going to need to feel loved and supported now more than ever.
Expert adolescent psychologist, Dr. Lisa Damour shared some ways that you can help create a sense of normalcy at home while navigating “the new (temporary) normal. I am sharing part of this with you as I found it very positive and enlightening.
How parents can support their kids through the pandemic
- Be calm and proactive
“Parents should have a calm, proactive conversation with their children about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the important role children can play in keeping themselves healthy. “Parents should encourage their kids to let them know if they're not feeling well, or if they are feeling worried about the virus so that the parents can be of help.”
- Stick to a routine
“Children need structure. Full stop. And what we’re all having to do, very quickly, is invent entirely new structures to get every one of us through our days,” says Dr. Damour. “I would strongly recommend that parents make sure that there’s a schedule for the day — that can include playtime where a kid can get on their phone and connect with their friends, but it also should have technology-free time and time set aside to help around the house. We need to think about what we value and we need to build a structure that reflects that. It will be a great relief to our kids to have a sense of a predictable day and a sense of when they’re supposed to be working and when they get to play.”
She suggests getting your children involved too. “For children 10 and 11 or older, I would ask the child to design it. Give them a sense of the kinds of things that should be included in their day, and then work with what they create.” When it comes to younger children, “depending on who is supervising them (I realize that not every parent is going to be home to do this) structure their day so that all of the things that need to get done before anything else happen: all of their schoolwork and all of their chores. For some families, doing that at the start of the day will work best for kids. Other families may find it may work okay to start the day a little bit later after sleeping in and enjoying breakfast together as a family.” For parents who are not able to supervise their children during the day, explore with your caretaker ways to create a structure that works best.
“Support, expect and normalize that they are very sad and very frustrated about the losses they are mourning.”
- Let your child feel their emotions
With school closures come cancelled school plays, concerts, sports matches and activities that children are deeply disappointed about missing out on because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Dr. Damour’s number one piece of advice is to let them be sad. “In the scope of an adolescent’s life these are major losses. This is bigger for them than it is for us because we’re measuring it against our lifetime and experience. Support, expect and normalize that they are very sad and very frustrated about the losses they are mourning.” When in doubt, empathy and support are the way to go.
- Check in with them about what they’re hearing
There is a lot of misinformation circulating about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “Find out what your child is hearing or what they think is true. It’s not enough to just tell your child accurate facts, because if they have picked up something that is inaccurate, if you don’t find out what they are thinking and directly address the misunderstanding, they may combine the new information you give them with the old information they have. Find out what your child already knows and start from there in terms of getting them on the right track.”
If they have questions you can’t answer, instead of guessing, use it as an opportunity to explore the answers together. Use websites of trusted organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization for sources of information.
- Create welcome distractions
When it comes to processing difficult emotions, “take your cues from your child, and really think a lot about balancing talking about feelings with finding distractions, and allow distractions when kids need relief from feeling very upset.” Have a family game night every few days or cook meals together.
- Monitor your own behaviour
“Parents of course are anxious too and our kids will take emotional cues from us,” explains Dr. Damour. “I would ask parents to do what they can to manage their anxiety in their own time and to not overshare their fears with their children. That may mean containing emotions, which may be hard at times, especially if they’re feeling those emotions pretty intensely.”
Children rely on their parents to provide a sense of safety and security. “[It’s important that] we remember that they are the passengers in this and we are driving the car. And so even if we’re feeling anxious, we can’t let that get in the way of them feeling like safe passengers.”
Thank you for reading this. I hope you find something in here that supports you and this challenging journey we are on. Please remember that we are all in this together and we are here as a community to support you in any way we can.
Have a wonderful weekend with your family.
Kind regards
Lisa
Some of our talented students submitted art work for a recent art competition at the 'Show Me Some Art Festival' at the Moe Botanical Gardens in March.
Below are the winners (from our school) being presented with their Certificates. Well done Erica, Rheanna, Stella, Emma and Evie.
You can view their art work and that of our other students who also entered the competion on the dispaly boards near the staffroom.
NCCD
Today we submitted our NCCD funding request. This is a very involved process that we are required to undertake each year. Through this submission, we are able to provide the wonderful ESO support staff who do an amazing job of supporting our students and the whole school community. If you are unsure as to what the NCCD involves, please read the following article as it is very informative.
NCCD_Information_Sheet_parents.pdf
St Mary's Craft Group
We are currently preparing for our Father’s Day Stall. We would appreciate anything that would be a suitable gift for a child to buy at the Stall. As we can’t sell baked goods at the stall wrapped lollies and/or chocolates would be a great alternative.
We also need donations for the Father’s Day Raffle – perhaps a Gift Voucher for petrol, hardware store, etc or anything that your family would like to win!
Thank you, St Mary’s Craft Group
CSEF (Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund)
The Victorian State Government provides financial assistance to parents who hold a valid means-tested concession card so that students do not miss out on Camps, Sports & Excursions. If you think you may qualify please see the link below for more information and an application form or contact the office.
Families who hold a valid means-tested Centrelink Concession Card may be eligible for Fee Concession and are urged to contact the office for more information or see the link below.
2021_Eligible_CCC_Holders_Concession_Application_printable_.pdf
Get Active Victoria
The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and recreation activities by reimbursing the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms and equipment. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.
https://www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers/
Enrolments
If you have a child due to start school next year, please contact the office for an Enrolment Application, so we can reserve a place for your child in Foundation 2022.
We will be conducting Enrolment Interviews in the coming weeks, so please make sure you have got your Application in.
Application_for_Enrolment_Form.pdf
Uniform Shop
To place orders online please click the link below.
Parish Newsletter
Parish_Bulletin_17th_Sunday_in_Ordinary_Time.pdf
Anglicare - Parentzone
2021_PZ_Gipps_Parenting_anxious_kids_T3.pdf
2021_PZ_Gipps_Making_Time_for_Self_Care_T3.pdf
Latrobe City
Latrobe City Youth Council are excited to share the new additions to the Fab Food Marvellous Mood Project. The characters aim to create visual cues linking healthy eating and positive mental health
Healthy_food_keeps_on_benefiting_young_peoples_mood.pdf
Kids Help Line Ph; 1800 55 1800
August
- Monday 9th to 12th - Remote Learning
- Friday 13th - District Basketball (year 5/6) To be confirmed
- Monday 16th - School Closure, Staff Professional Development
- Tuesday 17th - District Athletics & Bocce (year 5/6)
- Tuesday 24th - Bocce (year 5/6)
- Wednesday 25th - Lightning Premiership Regional (year 5/6)
- Tuesday 30th - Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod Choir & F to 2
- Tuesday 31st - Division Athletics & Bocce (year 5/6)
September
- Friday 3rd - Father's Day Prayer Gathering 9.00am
- Tuesday 7th - Bocce (year 5/6)
- Wednesday 8th - Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod (year 3/4)
- Thursday 9th - Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod (year 5/6)
- Thursday 9th - School Advisory Board Meeting 7.00pm
- Friday 10th - Multicultural Day
- Tuesday 14th - Bocce (year 5/6)
- Friday 17th - Last day Term 3
October
- Monday 4th - First Day Term 4
- Tuesday 12th - Regional Athletics
- Thursday 14th - School Advisory Board Meeting
- Friday 15th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Friday 22nd - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Friday 29th - Swimming Program, F to 2
November
- Monday 1st - School Closure, Staff First Aid Training
- Tuesday 2nd - School Closure, Melbourne Cup Day
- Friday 5th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Friday 12th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Thursday 18th - School Concert (to be confirmed)
- Friday 19th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Wednesday 24th - School Advisory Board Meeting
- Friday 26th Swimming Program, F to 2
- Tuesday 30th - OWELS (Open Water Experience) Inverloch, year 5/6
December
- Friday 10th - Whole School Swimming Carnival
- Monday 13th - End of Year Mass 9.00am
- Tuesday 14th - Year 6 Graduation
- Wednesday 15th - Student's last day