Raising the ‘care factor’

Today I spoke to the students about raising the care factor in our school. It has been challenging throughout remote learning, and upon our return, to promote and strengthen our expectations for taking responsibility and pride in our school, as well as ensuring we finish the year positively. Not being able to come together as a school to share our successes and efforts, as well as reinforce our expectations, means we are a little ‘off’ at the moment.

Therefore, can I also please ask for your assistance. Raising the care factor over the final four weeks of Term 4 means that all students take responsibility for their own belongings. As part of this, all jumpers, hats and lunch boxes need to have names on them – please check. The lost property bins were over-flowing earlier this week. Likewise, taking care of our beautiful classroom spaces means that we have students who keep their classrooms tidy, put iPads and Chromebooks away at the end of the day, and put rubbish in the bins provided. Lastly, something at home – there have been quite a few decodable readers that were sent home earlier in the year, that have not returned. These new resources are only able to be purchased in sets, meaning individual books are unable to be replaced. Please have a look at home for any readers or library books that may need to be returned.

It is clear from our prayer, and the points raised here, that I feel we can improve what is happening in our school. If we can all remind the children to raise the care factor, then we can continue to have a wonderful school that we can be proud of and finish the year well.

Enrolments

As we start to turn our attention to 2022, it was wonderful to be able to welcome our new Foundation students, and their parents, into the school last Wednesday evening for the Foundation Orientation evening. We are excited to be planning for a new year, hopefully with less drama that in 2021!

We currently have enrolment places across the school and in the Early Learning Centre. Thank you for the wonderful support you all obviously give to the school, as almost all families that join our school mention hearing great things about St Joseph’s. Please, if you know anyone looking to enrol in 2022, encourage them to make contact with the school or ELC as soon as possible.

Big Night In

What a fun night last Friday was. Thank you to the 36 families who joined the Big Night In for trivia questions about St Joseph’s, who the Yellow Wiggle is, and even about celebrity baby names – would you believe that Bear Blaze Rock n Roll is actually a child’s name! There were quick scavenger hunts for wooden spoons, and I imagine, some very startled family pets as they were quickly whisked in front of computer screens. I hope that everyone enjoyed the night.

An enormous thank you to the P&F, and to Nicole Mahar in particular. It was a great success, bringing our community together ‘virtually’, but also raising over $2000. Well done everyone involved.

COVID Protocols

While there has been further easing of restrictions in the ACT, these do not directly relate to the school setting at this time. Please be aware that all adult visitors to the school must check in using the Check In CBR app, wear a mask and are not to enter the school unless there is a valid reason. These are all measures to continue keeping our school community safe.

Wizard of Oz

We are excitedly preparing for the performances of the Wizard of Oz, in Week 10. Further details will be sent out before the end of this week regarding the purchasing of tickets and the necessary COVID safe planning that will need to be in place. Please be aware that families will be limited in the number of tickets they will be able to purchase, in an effort to allow as many families as possible to attend.

Parent / Teacher Interviews

Today an alert was sent to all parents via Compass with details for the Semester 2 Parents / Teacher Interviews. As communicated earlier in the term, there will be no written comments on the Semester 2 reports, so there is great value in taking the opportunity to meet virtually with the classroom teachers to discuss how your child’s progress in 2021.

Helping children to identify and express their feelings – From Kerry Marshall, School and Family Counsellor

It can be stressful adjusting to being back at school after lockdown. Sometimes our children have big feelings and it is difficult to know how to respond as parents. Big feelings are often expressed as behaviour that can be best described as challenging!

As a parent you have an important role to play in developing your child’s emotional skills and helping them to learn healthy ways to express their feelings. We know that children who learn to cope with and express their feelings are more likely to have good mental health and wellbeing, can be more resilient and able to cope with change and setbacks, display less behavioural problems and are more confident, with a positive sense of self. So the earlier we can build a child’s ability to identify their feelings and implement healthy coping strategies the better!

Here are some great tips from Kids Helpline that can help you and your child:

• Tune into cues- Sometimes feelings can be hard to identify. Tune into your child’s feelings by looking at their body language, listening to what they’re saying and observing their behaviour. Figuring out what they feel and why means you can help them identify, express and manage those feelings better.
• Behind every behaviour is a feeling - Try to understand the meaning and feeling behind your child’s behaviour. You can help your child find other ways to express that feeling once you know what is driving the behaviour.
• Name the feeling - Help your child name their feelings by giving them a label. Naming feelings is the first step in helping kids learn to identify them. It allows your child to develop an emotional vocabulary so they can talk about their feelings.
• Identify feelings in others– Provide lots of opportunities to identify feelings in others. You might ask your child to reflect on what someone else may be feeling. Cartoons or picture books are a great way discuss feelings and helps kids learn how to recognise other people’s feelings through facial expressions.
• Be a role model - Kids learn about feelings and how to express them appropriately by watching others. Show your child how you’re feeling about different situations and how you deal with those feelings.
• Encourage with praise - Praise your child when they talk about their feelings or express them in an appropriate way. Not only does it show that feelings are normal and it’s ok to talk about them, it reinforces the behaviour so they are likely to repeat it.
• Listen to your child’s feelings - Stay present and resist the urge to make your child’s bad feelings go away. Support your child to identify and express their feelings so they are heard. When feelings are minimised or dismissed, they will often be expressed in unhealthy ways.

Finally though, try to be patient with yourselves and your child. If it all feels a bit overwhelming right now, take it day by day, knowing it takes time to readjust when circumstances change. If you have concerns about your child’s ability to express their emotions or you need support to develop healthy coping strategies, contact me at Kerry.marshall@catholiccare.cg.org.au or visit the Kids Helpline website for additional resources https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/helping-kids-identify-and-express-feelings

2022 Classes   

A reminder to please discuss with your child the Sociogram that was sent home last week. This green form is an opportunity for your child to select three friends whom they would like to be in a class with in 2022. From this they are assured of being in class with at least one of their nominated friends. Please return this completed form by Friday 26 November.

School Board Nominations – CLOSING MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER

The School Board plays a vital role in the functioning of the school and is an extremely worthwhile avenue for parents to assist with the success of the school. The Board’s work is dedicated to enhancing all that happens for your children at our school and we endeavour to work towards our vision of St Joseph’s being an excellent school within a Christ-centred community. 

The School Board is comprised of elected members, voted in if necessary, who take on a two-year position on the Board. Members can only serve three consecutive terms. Please consider if you have particular skills and capabilities that may build on the excellent work of the current and past Boards.

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact me or refer to the linked information and nomination form below. Nominations close Monday 22 November, in time for consideration at the next Board meeting on Wednesday 24 November.

St Joseph's School Board Nomination Form

Have a great end to the week.

Yours in Christ,

Cameron Tarrant

Cameron.tarrant@cg.catholic.edu.au