Term 1 Week 4, 2021
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Thank you to all our families for coping with the snap Lock-Down over the last 5 days. The staff and I are particularly relieved that students are allowed back on-site, with minimal interruption to their learning. We all prefer to have students on site and in front of us.
Communication with parents, especially during these times, is even more important and we do rely on a number of electronic media platforms. Currently, Skoolbag is are main communication platform but I have been made aware that some families have had ongoing connection issues. Alternatives have been investigated and changes will be made in the near future.
Seesaw & Google Classroom are our main platforms for communicating learning but they take time to set up each year as classes are rolled over, codes are circulated and new email accounts are created. The snap Lock-Down took us all by surprise. Thank you to families for your patience and understanding.
As we return to ‘COVID normal’ I would remind all families of a few procedures we have in place and some adjustments to procedures from the start of the year.
All procedures are based on minimising risk by maintaining safe distances, recording when visitors come on-site for more than 15 minutes, and wearing masks when inside or social distancing is not possible.
With this in mind, as from next week, parents may enter the school grounds to drop-off or pick-up children from their classrooms. Parents are asked to limit their time to 15 minutes on school grounds and not to enter classrooms, unless a pre-arranged meeting has been organised.
Junior & Foundation students may be picked-up from 3:15, whilst the Middle & Senior students will be dismissed at 3:20.
I would continue to encourage Foundation & Junior students to use the church carpark and gate, were possible, Middle students to use the front gate and Senior students to use the side gate. These arrangements are working very effectively at Pick-up time.
The Pick-Up Zone for cars will start at 3:20, normal finish time for students. Parents using the Pick-Up Zone are reminded not to park in the Pick-up Zone before 3:20 as this can cause traffic congestion on the Highway.
Displaying a large name tag on their left-hand sun visor for the staff to read enables the Pick-Up Zone to work efficiently for everyone.
PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Parent / Teacher interviews have now been moved to Tuesday 23th February. Interview time slots that parents have already booked will still be applicable. If you are unable to attend at the time you have booked please contact the Office so that alternative arrangements can be organised.
As Interviews are only for 10 minutes, parents are able to attend the school and visit the classroom, entering via the external door. Face-masks and social distancing requirements will be in place during the meeting.
Staff are eager to make connections with all families and it provides a great opportunity to confirm contact details and relevant medical & education information.
I would encourage all families to attend these meetings.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Lisa Piasente: Religious Education Leader
Sacramental Program
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
A message from the Parish Sacramental Coordinator
As the snap lockdown has been eased, the parish would like to invite all families enrolling for the Sacrament of Reconciliation to attend one of the Masses on the below dates to make the commitment and submit the enrolment form if you have not already done so.
Saturday 20th Feb 2021 at 9:15am, 6pm
Sunday 21st Feb 2021 at 7:30am 9am, 11am and 6pm
Tuesday 23rd Feb 2021 at 7:00pm.
Please contact the sacrament coordinator on 9704 7935 for any questions or concerns.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
A message from the Parish Sacramental Coordinator
For the children who were unable to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on 13th and 14th of February, the parish has decided to celebrate Confirmation on 20th and 21st of March 2021 at 3pm.
You are not required to book these sessions. Children booked for Saturday 13th Feb will now celebrate on 20th March at 3pm and those booked on Sunday 14th Feb will now celebrate on 21st March at 3pm.
For any queries, please contact the sacrament coordinator on 9704 7935.
The Season of Lent
On Wednesday the Church commenced the season of Lent. Traditionally, many Christians receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads, a sign that has been used by God’s people for many hundreds of years, to show that we are sorry and we wish to be better.
This year we were unable to have our Ash Wednesday Mass due to the circuit breaker lockdown, however, teachers provided a prayer service for the children focussing on Ash Wednesday.
During the season of Lent Catholics are encouraged to do three things:
- give to the poor,
- pray to God and
- fast
One of the ways the Church promotes giving to the poor is through the Project Compassion Appeal.
Each classroom has a Project Compassion box on their prayer table and we ask that parents remind their children about donating to the poor by dropping a coin or two into the box.
The money is sent to Caritas Australia who works to provide better levels of education, health care, and housing to people who live in countries that do not enjoy the same high levels of living as we do in Australia.
STUDENT WELLBEING NEWS
Lisa Piasente – Student Wellbeing Leader
An interesting article from Australian Psychologist and teacher, Michael Hawton. It gives tips to parents about helping their child overcome anxiety.
Being the coach – Tips for setting yourself aside to help your child in distressing situations
by Michael Hawton | Feb 17, 2021 | Blog, Children, School
One of the greatest challenges we face as parents, is learning to temporarily set aside our own needs and emotions to help our child when they might face a problem. In doing so, we are better able to take in and analyse the situation, and to make measured decisions about how to incisively intervene. I call this stopping the bus. To stop the bus, the bus driver needs to remain calm, and think logically about what to do next.
A good way to think your way through a distressing episode is to think to yourself “My parenting philosophy is to help you (my child) to achieve self-control. So, that’s my aim.”
I realise this is easier said than done – to set your own feelings aside – but I’m here to show you some important tips for knowing how to stay calm in these distressing situations, and then making the right call when it comes to stopping the bus.
As a parent, your goal is not to eliminate your child’s anxiety altogether, it is to help your child manage their anxiety. To do this, as a parent you need to learn to manage your own anxiety and the emotions associated with seeing your child in a distressing situation. After you’ve done that it’s about you giving them skills to develop their emotional skillset.
Another way to look at it, is to see yourself as your child’s coach. The coach is emotionally detached, not cold, but is focussed on coaching the player to implement new skills and to learn new ways of coping. As your child’s coach, it is important not to get caught up in their emotional whirlwind, and to calmly direct and instruct them on how to manage their feelings of anxiety. It might sound like ‘Well I know it may seem that way to you, but are there other ways we can look at this?’
My top tips for keeping calm and setting yourself aside.
- Take deep breaths – and breathe ‘out’ more than you breathe in.
When you feel yourself rising to an emotional bait, your heart rate elevates, and your skin tingles, remember, you have other options. Try taking 3 deep breaths, counting to 3 on the way in, and 3 and a bit on the way out. This will help your heart rate slow. Set your own emotions aside, and assume your posture as the coach of your child.
- Practise putting yourself in their shoes.
Your child is getting distressed. Seeing their parent upset is probably not going to help. Try taking a moment to consider how your child is experiencing the situation. You might try acknowledging their feelings ‘It sounds like you’re pretty upset about this…’ which will help them to feel like you’re ‘on-their-side’.
- Check in with yourself.
We all make mistakes, and no one is perfect the first time around. Remember that just as your child is learning, you are too. Take the time to look at what went well, and what could have gone better, after the distressing situation has passed. Revisit your parent philosophy, and remember not to be too hard on yourself – you’re doing the best job you know how to.
School Photos 2021 – Don Bosco Primary School
Annual school photos will be taken at Don Bosco Primary School by Arthur Reed Photos on Friday 26th February, 2021.
There is no need to return any forms or money to school.
Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop.
Registration is simple, just follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it, and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school.
Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do again this year using your child’s 2021 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.
When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.
Once registered, please wait for notification that 2021 images are online to view before making your purchase.
