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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Although we have been unable to come together as a school community for quite some time we have continued to take the opportunity to present student awards each Monday via Google Classroom. Recently we have begun to alternate between Merit and Values Awards. This has provided a wonderful opportunity to review our school values and to look more intentionally for examples of all these values in action within the student community.
Values can also be like the lens we look through to see the world. When we look for opportunities to do our best, to celebrate the gifts we and others have been given, to be fair and act with justice, to be a good steward of ourselves, others and God’s creation, when we treat others with compassion – the way we would like to be treated, we are living our faith and showing leadership. We can all bring these values to life whether we are a staff member, parent or a student in any class from Kindergarten to Year 6.
If we help our values to take root in our lives our community will be strong and healthy and the values we say are important to us, will be visible in our daily words and actions.
If we operationalise these values they can help to shape us to be the very best person we can be and in the process, each of us can contribute to making our school the very best community it can be.
We continue to be very grateful to all those members of our community who strive to proclaim by word and example the vision of a fully human life that is inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus. As followers we acknowledge that as Christians we are often a sign of contradiction as our vision of life guided by gospel values often calls into question many of the prevailing values of our society.
Our lives individually and together need to witness visibly to justice, equal dignity for all, honesty, a spirit of service, the sharing of resources and standing up for the weak. In this way we truly make Christ our way and life.
Wishing you a week ahead filled with many opportunities to witness and live our school values.
Tina Murray
Principal
VISIT BY CAMPBELLTOWN POLICE
Last week we were fortunate to host a visit by the Campbelltown Police Liaison Officer Senior Constable Louise Michell. Louise spoke to Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students and the information presented included a variety of topics such as cyber safety, bullying and the long-term possible consequences associated with inappropriate choices both in the school and community setting. It was wonderful that Louise was able to reinforce the same messages we have been communicating to the students within the school context.
To assist parents to reinforce similar messages at home I have summarised some of the content covered during Louise’s presentation. Additional information can be found in the app fact flyers from the Carly Ryan Foundation https://www.carlyryanfoundation.com/resources/fact-sheets
Password Security – It is vitally important that usernames and passwords do not contain personal information that may allow personal identity to be violated. This information should be treated with the utmost security. Students were advised to share this information with a parent or trusted adult only.
You-tube – Students were advised to access the kids’ version of you-tube, which supports appropriate content.
Inappropriate Content – Students were encouraged to report exposure to inappropriate content immediately to their parents or a trusted adult. The use of devices should take place in public areas of the home. Devices in bedrooms are discouraged. Parents should conduct regular checks of their child’s search history and app activity.
It is important to note that there may be age restrictions that apply to joining a social network. Many popular social apps are restricted to users above 13 years of age. This includes the following popular apps that are frequently being accessed at home by our students.
- Snapchat
- Fortnite
- YouTube
- Tik Tok
The following apps have a rating far beyond the age of any of our students for example
- Call of Duty is rated MA 15+
Interactions – Students were encouraged to be careful about engaging in online interactions with anyone they do not know personally. Personal information and details about location, family school etc. should never be shared. Requests for photos, videos or any other inappropriate contact should be immediately blocked and reported. Students were surprised to learn how easy it is to inadvertently share this information through posted photos.
Expectations – The rule of thumb for online interactions is that if you wouldn’t do something face to face then it shouldn’t be done via online interactions.
Bullying Behaviour – Is always unacceptable whether it is engaged in personally or via online interactions. Students were encouraged to be helpful bystanders by standing up for others, offering support, reporting to a trusted adult and providing evidence to support investigations.
LATE ARRIVALS
- Thursday - 38 Children Late
- Friday - 57 Children Late
- Monday - 29 Children
- Tuesday - 36 Children Late
- Wednesday - 44 Children Late
Happy Birthday to the following children who will be celebrating their birthday this week:Last week you would have received your child’s Semester 1 Report and this week speaking to their class teacher during parent teacher interviews. The report and interviews provide a great opportunity to discuss your child’s learning with them. Please find below some ideas taken from ‘Big Life Journal’, for talking to children about their work.
How can you help your child understand that what THEY think of themselves and their work is WAY more important than what others think of them?
You can do so by helping them develop internal validation so they stop seeking validation from other people. Easier said than done, right?
Our human's primitive brain is wired to seek validation from others. We want to be accepted by the "tribe" so that we're safe and protected from external threats. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nevertheless, you can make a big difference on how much your child values their own opinion of themselves and their work.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Begin by paying attention to how you give them feedback.
Next time, instead of immediately jumping to praise or offer criticism about something your child has done, ASK them questions instead:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“What do YOU think you did well?”
“What do you think you could have done better?”
“How did you feel when you were making this?”
“How does your work make you feel?”
And if your child answers with "I don't' know", it's a great reason to continue to encourage them to self-reflect.
When we ask our children for their own assessment instead of immediately jumping in with our opinion, we’re giving them a chance to self-reflect and self-evaluate.
This helps them develop internal validation, which is the most important voice to be listening to.
Mrs Lillian Del Giudice
Assistant Principal
Pentecost People
Our Year 6 Mini Vinnies team is leading the way with our Acts of Kindness!
Last term, due to COVID-19, we were not able to complete our Acts of Kindness chain that was to spread across the school.
Mrs Biviano and the team felt it was important to complete this challenge and to reach their goal of one paper chain that could reach from one end of the school to the other. What a perfect example of the fruits of the Holy Spirit alive in us and present throughout our school!
Thanks Year 6 for leading the way with our Acts of Kindness and showing that we are a Community of Pentecost people...
Pentecost People
When we ask for the Holy spirit we receive the gifts of the spirit - Wisdom; Understanding; Right Judgement; Courage; Knowledge: Reverence and Fear of the Lord which work in us to produce the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Mrs Kirsty Simpson
Religious Education Co-Ordinator
Congratulations again to all those who have returned their books, we are down to 124 overdues, a wonderful effort! However, still too many, we need the rest of the books in before the end of Term please. Look under beds, behind desks and shelves, in secret spaces…. It would be good to have them all back and ready for borrowing next Term. Library bags can be washed and ready to start again.
Premier’s Reading Challenge: We now have a few students who have already completed the challenge, and a few more who have logged in and registered their books read so far. We still have until the end of August to complete the challenge, so see how much you can read during the holidays so we can register them when we return in Term 3. Holidays are a great time to catch up with some extra reading, especially at this time of the year when it’s cold outside.
https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/booklist/home.html
Remember Kinder – Year 2 must read 30 books, and Years 3 - 6 must read 20, with only 5 Personal Choice books allowed. If you are reading books from a series you can only count two towards your Challenge, any extra will be counted as Choice books, even if they are on the PRC list.
"If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books."
Happy reading!
Mrs Sue Bryant
Teacher-Librarian