2021 Term 3 Week 7 Newsletter

Prayer Focus

From the Principal

‘May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you.’ (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

The word love features in our school motto, "LOVE, PEACE, KNOWLEDGE". The above scripture passage and our school motto takes on even more meaning, especially in a pandemic world. It is a faith-filled love of self, family, others and God that will prevail in these very challenging times. Make time to generously give and graciously receive whatever loving graces that may present within the busyness of your life. When trying to accommodate working and learning from home it is important to stop, breathe deeply and reflect on what is really important in our lives. Go gently and be kind to yourselves as we enter into another two weeks of Lockdown.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of the entire school community I would like to reinforce a critically important message from our Director, Dr Sally Towns.

‘I understand this is a very difficult time for families. The demands of working from home and students undertaking blended learning can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, the circumstances for which students can attend school remain unchanged. This direction from Catholic Schools NSW to schools is that attendance at school continues to be limited to vulnerable students and those students where all parents/caregivers must attend their place of work and cannot work from home leaving their children unsupervised. Please understand that should students attend school who do not meet this criteria, the school and the student are then in breach of the NSW Health Stay at Home Order. NSW Police have already visited many schools to assess breaches to the NSW Health Stay at Home Order.’

All Things Learning & Teaching

Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week

30 August - 3 September is Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week. We would like to acknowledge the wonderful work our Learning Assistants do for our students, staff and our community. Mrs Stearn, Mrs Benefield, Ms Seymour, Ms Munro, Mrs Livingstone and Miss Smart support teachers in delivering and implementing teaching programs.  They also help provide adjustments and differentiated learning tasks for many students. As a result, this team of Learning Assistants have made a signficiant positive impact on student confidence in engaging with reading, maths tasks, learning and wellbeing. They are each a valued member of our school community and we appreciate all that they do. Thank you!

Week 2 Blended Learning

Faith & Mission

Bishop Greg Homeming’s Sunday Masses are available online at Lismore Diocese YouTube Channel. Please click the link below.

Social Justice Sunday, 29 August

This Sunday is Social Justice Sunday. The Australian Catholic Bishops have published their annual Social Justice Statement, which is this year titled: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor. The focus on the environment this year, highlights the reality that we rely on the earth for so much and it is the most disadvantaged in our human family that feel the effects of climate change the most. 

When one part of the Body of Christ is wounded, the other parts care for the afflicted part so that all can be healed and made whole. What affects one affects all, as everything and everyone is connected. It is clear that the signs of our times call for urgent action to defend, protect, and restore the earth and the dignity of the human person, especially those places, creatures, and people who are most vulnerable. People are more important than profits, and the beauty of our natural world is a precious gift to us and to the generations who will follow. In transitioning to sustainable and just economic systems and practices, we commit to partnering with the work of the Spirit in renewing the face of the earth.

Next week we will be responding to this call through prayer and related activities on Wednesday, which is World Day of Prayer for Creation. Keep an eye out for more information about this early next week on Facebook and Google Classroom.

Father's Day Photos

Wellbeing Wednesday for Week 8

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

Family Wellbeing during Blended Learning at Home

Although the Blended Learning at Home model finds us all in diverse situations, remember you are not alone. This is a challenge for families nationwide and we are united through this challenge. Every child will react and engage with Blended Learning at Home differently. There is not one way of doing things so try not to put too much pressure on your child or yourself to get it all right. 

Here are some handy tips to help make Blended Learning at Home a success:

• Routine: Create a routine that works for you. School timetables offer suggested time frames but they are in no way set in stone. You may find it suits your child to get an early start, a later start, or space work time throughout the day, ensuring several brain breaks. See below for fun break ideas. 
• Be flexible: Do what you can do with what you have. You may have to improvise with materials or modify tasks to suit your child’s needs. Don’t be afraid to trust your instinct.
• Get creative: explore, experiment and enjoy having this unprecedented time to be curious together. Baking, building, gardening, exploring, making art work... the possibilities are endless! Feel free to take your child’s learning down their own unique path of curiosity. 
• Stop: If things become overwhelming for anyone in the household, stop, take a break, breathe and remember to put things into perspective. Many families find peace in prayer and meditation. Keep in mind that some things can wait or fall to the wayside. Striving for resilience and self efficacy over perfectionism will be beneficial for you and your child.

A few fun brain breaks:

• Ball skills: Handball, basketball, ball against a wall- the possibilities are endless! You can dribble, bounce, juggle,  pass with a partner or toss it through a hoop.
• Master chef: Set a challenge to make a healthy snack in the kitchen. 
• Relay races: Race a sibling or time yourself running laps around the house (preferably outdoors!)
• Meditation and yoga: Take 5 minutes to breathe, be still and listen to the sounds around you. Or add some stretches and soothing music to give you an energy boost.
• Dance: Now is your chance to dance like no one is watching! Put on your favourite song, play a ‘Just Dance’ video or make up your own groovy routine. 
• Pack a picnic: You don’t have to leave home to eat out. Park a blanket in your backyard and enjoy the last of the winter sunshine.