Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope families were able to share some fun for Father’s Day and enjoy simply being together, however this may have looked for you. We would love to see any family photos, feel free to send them to your child’s teacher. If you have other remote learning photos for our digital yearbook, please send these through before the end of term. I hope everyone is taking advantage of Wellbeing Wednesday today and enjoying a break from routine.

Every day at school we talk about ‘brain breaks’ with the children. We recognise that we need to take a break, re-focus, bounce, expend some energy, laugh, relax and re-set.

I recently read about 7 Healthy Brain Breaks. If you need a break helping children with home-learning or if everyone needs a break, here are some tips.

Move: physical movement releases built up excess energy and stress, put on some music and dance, walk, run, stretch

Breathe: slowing your breathing rate lessens anxiety, take 3 deep breaths

Ground: connect to the current moment, consciously engage your senses, splash water on your face, smell some oils, enjoy a cup of tea, pat your pet

Sleep: night time routines, turn off news or screens an hour before bed, try a meditation app

Connect: physical distancing doesn’t mean social distancing- stay connected virtually with friends, family, and colleagues

Contribute: Helping others is good for us, it shifts our attention from ourselves, can you call an elderly relative, support a local business?

Create Healthy Habits: Being mindful about healthy habits like handwashing and mask wearing

Adapted from:

https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/how-mindfulness-can-help-during-coronavirus

The CE has also produced a guide for Parents and Caregivers: Screen Time During Remote Learning. There are some tips for maximising screen learning time, tips for screen free time and how to set up parental controls, the PDF is attached.

Just to let you know, next week we will be celebrating St Michael’s Feast Day on the last Friday of the school term 17 September, teachers have been working on some great plans for the day.

Thank you for all you are doing to support your children, working with our staff and maintaining your sense of optimism and hope,

Many Blessings

Judy Egan

COMPASS REMINDERS

Thank you to parents who are keeping up to date on Compass with recording student absences. If your child is unable to make check-ins and is completing activities at different times, please let your teacher know as teachers use check-in times to record attendance. The Parent Portal is where any important school information or important messages will be posted.

SCHOOL FEES

Information went home in last week’s newsletter regarding school fees. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns by emailing Judy or Lisa at office.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au