Dear Parents and Carers,

It was great to see so many parents come along to hear Ian Luscombe last week. Some of the takeaway strategies when your child is “pushing your buttons!” 

• Make sure you are calm when you speak to your child- walk away if you are upset, have a moment, drop your pen, and take time to pick it up, take a breath.
• Ensure your child is looking at you, make sure you have their full attention.
• Keep your instructions short, clear, and simple.
• Every instruction must be fair and reasonable.
• Walk away after you have given the instruction, give your child take up time.
• Remember to phrase your instructions carefully- eg. “turn the television off thanks” rather than “can you please turn the television off?” some children interpret this as ‘pleading’ or a question that they can choose to answer with “No”.
• Children operate better with boundaries, think about what is important to your family and what is necessary for your child’s health and wellbeing e.g. a routine for bedtimes.
• The greatest impact on changing behaviour is ‘positive reinforcement’. This is what we are practising on a daily level at school. Catch you child making great choices and give praise!

At school

• We are assembling after each break to ensure everyone is calm entering classrooms.
• Teachers on duty choose some examples of positive behaviours to share.
• Classroom expectations are the same and teacher language is the same with the expectation as always from our 4Bs that behaviours are safe, respectful and responsible so everyone can learn.

A wonderful opportunity

Would you like to spend some relaxed time at school with your child sharing their learning? Here is your opportunity. Come along on the afternoon of Wednesday 21^st September between 3:15pm- 5:30pm. Visit your child’s classroom, say ‘hello’ and share some of the great learning your child has been completing.  This is an informal opportunity for parents/carers to offer praise, support and encouragement to your children. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to celebrating great learning and our educational partnership.

Hats

Our sun smart UV Policy says we need to start wearing hats again, as the weather is warming up. We are giving the community a phase in period to remind everyone to ensure hats are available for wearing. By Week 8, Monday 5 September, we will remind students that the “no hat-no play” sun protection protocols will come into place.  Hats are available to buy at the Front Office for $12.

Keeping safe and well

A reminder to notify us if your child tests positive for COVID-19. This is to ensure if we notice a cluster of students in a particular grade, we can inform parents. There are a few illnesses circulating at present and we have had some cases of RSV at St Michael’s. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that causes respiratory infections.

RSV symptoms are usually mild and, in most cases, you can safely look after your child at home. I have included an information sheet in the newsletter. I sincerely thank all families who support the safety and wellbeing of our community by comforting and supporting children at home when they are sick.

School Fees

Thank you to Lynda Logan our Office Manager for ensuring that fees are now emailed to families. We hope this is much more convenient for assisting in the process. Fees are now due to be paid. Thank you to our families who honour their commitment to pay school fees. We rely on fees and levies to deliver a quality education for your child. If you are experiencing issues paying fees, please make an appointment to chat to me.

Book Fair

The Book Fair started this morning! Looking forward to catching up with a few parents at this afternoon Book Fair session. Thank you to Erin Hardwicke for her organisation and to staff for supporting and assisting.

Stay Safe and well.

Many Blessings,

Judy Egan

Principal

 

 

Religious Education

Religious Education & Religious Life of the School

Across the Canberra/Goulburn Archdiocese we use the Brisbane Diocese Curriculum to teach Religious Education.  It comes from an understanding that we need to teach people religious concepts but also how to be religious people. The fullness of our Religious Education comes where these two dimensions intersect. For example it is when children live out their service to others, like from our participation in Winter Woolies Day, with a deeper understanding of the Catholic Social Teachings that compel us to do these acts of service, that we see engagement in both dimensions. Throughout the liturgical year of the Catholic Church we seek to teach children about the events of the Church calendar as well as experience them.

Religious Life of St Michael’s

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Thank you to Miss Frogley and Miss Lewis and 3/4 for their beautiful Whole School Prayer Time on Monday, celebrating our Mother, Mary.

Year 6 Retreat & Letters of Affirmation

Students in Year 6 will be taking part in a very special Retreat day on Thursday 1^st September. An element of the day is reading and responding to letters of affirmation from a parent or Sponsor. These letters need to be sent in to Ms Younger in an envelope addressed to the student for whom they are intended. If we could have those letters in the next week it will help with smooth preparation of our Retreat Day.

Yesterday we welcomed author Anna Battese to our school. Anna worked with students from K-2, sharing her infectious passion for writing and inspiring our students to see themselves as authors and to dive into their imagination through the books they enjoy reading. We thank Anna for generously sharing her time and energy with us.  

Anna is the author of the PD McPem series.

 

All completed forms must be returned to school by no later than Friday 19th August.

We are looking forward to our prize draw next week!

Children's Book Council of Australia Book Week

Belconnen Region Athletics Competition - Tomorrow 

We wish our team all the best for their individual events tomorrow!

Please meet Mr Webb at the AIS prior to your event. 

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival  

Thank you to the parents who have kindly volunteered to assist on the day. We will finalise teams this week and confirm which teams we are able to enter in the carnival this year.

ACT School Sport Trials

Please keep an eye on the ACT School Sport website for a number of trials coming up.

Erin Hardwicke

erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au