2024 St Mary's Primary School Fortnightly Newsletter Term 3 Week 5

Acknowledgement of Country

St Mary’s Primary School respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the
Wimmera Mallee area, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk
peoples, and pays respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples.

As partners in Catholic Education and open to God’s presence, we pursue the fullness of life for all.  St Mary's Catholic Primary School  is committed to the safety and well-being of all students.

Key Dates

Principal's Report

Welcome to Term 3 Week 5

2025 planning

It is exciting to see St Mary's as a school of choice in our community and with our projected enrolments for 2025, we are now working towards returning to four classrooms next year.  Whilst still to be confirmed, I hope to soon advertise for another full time teacher for next year. Returning to St Mary's next year part-time is Jess Lang. Jess will share the Foundation/Grade 1 class with Louise Kemp. Welcome back Jess! Other classes will be made up of our current part-time teacher combinations - Claire Shulz with Victoria McPhee and also Clare Letts with Meg Werner. Jess Boyd and Fiona Holland will continue as our specialist teachers.  The year level combinations and the teachers taking these classes will be announced later in the year on the transition days.

DOBCEL Strategic Direction

DOBCEL has engaged Pasi Sahlberg, the renowned Finnish education leader, to develop a ten-year strategic plan. At the recent  diocesan principals' meeting, key issues were discussed.  These included the decline in Australian school performance over the last 20 years and how our Diocesan schools are performing, the significant equity challenges in providing quality education for all students, especially those from low socio-economic backgrounds and rural areas. Concerns about teacher expertise and the need for ongoing professional development were also highlighted, along with the importance of improving student and family engagement. These discussions will shape DOBCEL’s strategic plan to address these challenges over the next decade.

VRQA review

St Mary's has recently underwent the review for our compliance with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, where all our St Mary's and related DOBCEL documentation was reviewed and evidence provided for both Child Safe Standards and Record of Review documentation. 

The school was praised for our comprehensive and thorough documentation. Not only did we meet minimum requirements to be compliant, but recommended as a school of best practice.  I am very grateful to Bridie, our compliance officer, for the tremendous amount of work completed in gathering the evidence provided to her over the past few months in preparation for the auditor. Bridie's work made the process very streamlined and efficient for our school. Thank you also Paula, for her work throughout this year providing the necessary evidence required from the administration side of things for the review.

NAPLAN in the media

You may have heard recently that nationwide "NAPLAN results reveal one in three students are not meeting basic literacy and numeracy expectations" (ABC news, 14 Aug). At St Mary's our students performed very well, with the school average achieving "strong" across the board throughout Grade 3 and 5. Media comments continue to frustrate educators when an assessment held on one day is used to make assumptions of school performance and students' learning. As mentioned in the last newsletter, our students are not just dots on page, and behind any assessment is a story that goes with each of our students. Academic performance is measured across a range of assessments over continual learning. St Mary's teachers use data from these assessments to inform and improve their teaching practices, and this is shown clearly, not only in our NAPLAN data, but the growth shown in student learning using other assessment tools. Our school prides itself on the individualised learning and differentiation provided for our students, to allow our students to thrive. I encourage all parents and carers to please continue to have conversations with your child's teacher in regards to the growth in their learning.

Travel safely with God's blessings,

Nerrida

2025 Foundation information evening and enrolments - change of date

The 2025 Foundation information evening will now be held at school in the Chickpeas room on Monday 2 September at 5:30 pm. All current and new families are warmly invited. 

Learning Walk

Another Learning Walk will be held at the end of the term on Wednesday 18 September at 9:00am.  A Learning Walk is not just for prospective families, it allows another opportunity for our current families to engage and witness the learning that is happpening in your child's classroom. All current and prospective families are invited.  Please RSVP to Nerrida if you would like to join us. 

Wheat Assembly

Thank you Wheat students, Mrs. McPhee, Mrs Schulz and Cath for your work in presenting the assembly this week.  Below are our assembly award winners.  The video is uploaded in our family facebook page.

Bullying No Way National Week of Action

Well done Canola and thank you Mrs. Letts for organising awareness and activities for the Bullying No Way National Week of Action. The week started with students wearing a pop of purple on Monday to signify awareness and that everyone belongs at St Mary's. During the week Canola students ran a variety of organised activities.  These included a variety of different ball challenges planned and run by the students, and also games where students were purposely invited to join and share with others they perhaps don't usually play with. With the lovely sunny weather we had this week, it was lovely to see all the students playing and joining in with each other and being included. 

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Book Week Parade Mon August 19 at 9:15 am

WWSSA Sports- helpers needed.

The WWSSA interschool sports will be held at ANZAC Park on Wednesday 21 August. Information has been emailed to familes for the students involved. 

We still need adult helpers shot put and long jump events. Your help is incredibly important for this day to go ahead.  There will be a shuttle bus to bring the children from school to ANZAC Park closer to their event time. 

Please check your emails and if you can assist on the day please contact Nerrida.  

Class Assemblies

The next assembly and last for the term is Chickpeas Assembly Thursday Aug 29  after the Father's Day Breakfast.  

Father's Day Breakfast Thursday 29 August

All dads, grandads and special male family members are welcome to attend our Father's Day breakfast of ham and cheese croissants on Thursday 29 August from 8:15 am.  Please bring a travel mug for a cuppa.  Please note the Chickpea's assembly will follow the Father's Day breakfast at 9am.

SAC meeting held this week.

Our School Advisory Council meeting was held this week on Wednesday 14 August.  Discussion included our proposed enrolments and staffing for 2024, recent audits and reviews, camp costs and the fantastic fundraising by Parents' Club. Janet Claassen, Educational Consultant, was also present, and updated the process of the forthcoming Principal appointment and panel formation preparing for interviews. If you have any questions regarding SAC, please speak to James Gregson our SAC chair, or any of our SAC members.

Camps

Camp costs have now been finalised. 

Year 3/4 Halls Gap, one night, two days, 16-17 September  $282.65  school subsidised to $200 per student         

Year 5/6   Melbourne, two night, three days, Wednesday 11-Friday 13 September $265 per student    

Our Grade 5/6 Melbourne camp will travel by bus to Melbourne, leaving St Mary's at 7:45 am.  From there we will be met by the Camp coordinators to stay the heart of Melbourne and use public transport to reach our destinations. It will be a true Melbourne experience for our students! DOXA staff will be with us at all times, including travelling on public transport. Returning home we will catch the train to Ararat, be met by the bus and have tea at the Ararat RSL and be back at St Mary's by approximately 7:30 pm.

If you would like to know more about the Melbourne camp we are attending go to  https://doxa.org.au/city-camp/.

The Grade 3/4 students Halls Gap overnight camp at the Halls Gap Baptist Centre is Monday 16 September to Tuesday 17 September. Students will leave St Mary's at 9:15 am Monday and will be back at St Mary's at approximately 5:30 pm on Tuesday.

The F-2 students will have a day trip to the Halls Gap zoo on Friday 18 October.

Further details with itinerary etc  will be sent home next week.  

New Fee Statements now sent.

All families have received new fee statements, with the camp costs included. Now we are well into Term 3, please be aware all fees need to be finalised by November 8.  If you are experiencing difficulties paying your fees please contact Nerrida.  For direct debit and payment plan availability, please contact Paula at the office. 

School TV - School Transitions

In this edition of SchoolTV - School Transitions

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!

However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the School Transitions edition of SchoolTV
https://smwarracknabeal.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

Managing Children's anxiety

Help kids manage their anxiety and other emotions with these ten easy-to-use mental health tools. They're fast-acting, healthy and super-effective.  Michael Grose  

If you are a twenty-first-century parent, you need a big mental health toolbox to help your kids manage anxiety and other difficult emotions.

When life throws curve balls, some kids take things in their stride, while others go straight to anxiety, anger or fear.

Feeling emotional extremes is part of life, but that doesn’t mean they must stay in those states.  Kids don’t have to stay hostage to their moods. With the right tools, they can quickly shift from a sour mood to a more pleasant and productive space

These ten practical tools help kids have agency over their emotions, allowing them to shift to more pleasant feelings when they feel low.

1. “Take a breathe….take a few actually”

The simplest way for a child to feel better, whether it’s to calm nerves before a talk or reduce anxiety before meeting new friends, is to take three or four deep breaths.

• Deep breathing triggers dopamine release, initiating the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes physical calm and contentment.

2. “Picture yourself….”

Anyone who carries a picture of a loved one with them will know how powerful a visual reminder can be.

• Encourage your children to carry a picture of their favorite person, pet, or holiday to help them feel better when needed.

• Pictures and photos have a deep emotional impact as the visual mode is powerful.

3. “Let me entertain you….”

Watching a movie, reading a book and playing a favourite game are great ways to move moods to more desirable places.

These distractions are great for kids’ mental health and super mood shifters as well.

Entertainment conquers the scourge of anxiety-inducing rumination by fast-tracking kids out of their heads and into the present moment.

4. “DO something….”

Boys are action-oriented, acting out their feelings more than girls. When they are happy, they dance and gig around; when they are mad, many become aggressive or more active.

• Help boys use their preference for action to dissipate emotion or shift their moods to better places.

• If they are angry, insist they play an active game or sport to get the energy out.

• Lethargy, boredom and other passive emotional states too can be shifted through physical activity.

PLEASE NOTE: This movement strategy works well for action-oriented girls too.

5. “Listen to the music…”

Have you ever experienced that sudden change in background music from happy to suspenseful in a movie scene?

Music will shift an emotional state quicker than anything else, which makes it a brilliant mental health tool.

Encourage kids to change their moods by listening to music that will help them feel better, more relaxed, or even inspired.

Playing music and singing can have the same effect.

6. “They get by with a little help from their friends….”

It’s natural for kids to seek solitude when they feel down or have experienced less than pleasant events. They need time to process events internally.

Some kids prefer to visit their caves (aka bedrooms) to process their emotions, while others use a keyboard (formerly it was a diary) to help them work through difficult feelings and events.

• At some point, they need to emerge and seek the company of others, whether for distraction or to share their worries.

• Seeking the support of family and friends is a fabulous long-term mood changer and a valuable life skill.

7. “Think yourself to a different mood…”

I remember my mother saying to me as a child, “For goodness’ sake, stop moping about. Stop that ridiculous brooding!”

“Ouch!”

While her take-no-prisoners approach may not be everyone’s cup of tea, her message resonates with every parent.

My mother believed that if I could think myself into a negative mood, then I could also think my way to a better mood.

She was right.

• Kids can cultivate positive thoughts by reminiscing about happy times, delightful places, and cheerful occasions.

• Their thoughts impact their feelings, so they should use them to their advantage.

8. “Talk yourself into a better frame of mind…..”

Sustained positive self-talk is one of the best ways to move from a place of anxiety to a place of optimism and hope.

The trick is for kids to catch their negative self-talk and replace it with a mantra such as “I can do this. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again.”

Change your self-talk, change your moods!

The hard part is remembering to do it.

9. “Mind the meditation….”

Seeing many schools now add mindfulness and meditation to their well-being programs is fabulous.

• Both are terrific strategies to help kids relax and ease the tensions and stresses of life.

• Both involve managing the mental clutter that can overwhelm individuals, impacting how they feel.

• Mindfulness and meditation can easily be incorporated into everyday family life, and they don't have to be lengthy to be effective.

10. “Get a good night’s sleep…”

Parents of past generations told children and young people, “Remember to get a good night's sleep, and things will be better in the morning.”

There’s loads of evidence that links sufficient sleep to good emotional and mental health outcomes.

With the high number of children currently experiencing anxiety and depression, a great place to start is – to get a good night’s sleep.

If your child appears to be consistently unhappy or out of sorts, a visit to the doctor may be a good starting point.

If that doesn't help, prioritize sleep as the number one factor in maintaining long-term mental health.

Finally…..

Yes, this post is about building your toolbox, so take action.

Whatever you choose, involve your child - invite rather than impose. Start using new tools in low or no-stress situations until they become automatic.

• When a tool or strategy is effective, practice it repeatedly until it becomes automatic.

• Be ready to experiment.

• Know when to persist and make sure you have some fun when using.

The Resilient Kids conference (Melbourne)

The Resilient Kids Conference is a one-day event for parents and professionals who live and work with kids and teens. It’s a place where Australia’s leading parenting educators join forces to support you with practical tools and strategies, so we can better show up for this generation of kids.

Since 2016, our live events have attracted hundreds of parents and educators in a single event, so the vibe is marvellous. Our last recent conference in July in Perth was a full house with 750 delegates. It is beyond beautiful to see parents, educators, and many other professionals stream through the doors in anticipation of a soul fulfilling experience. By the end of the day their faces are beaming, and so is our teams.

If you haven’t been to a Resilient Kids Conference you simply must! It’s much more than a conference. It’s a community of people, redefining resilience together. In person, online and group licence tickets are available for most events. 

We are bringing you three new presentations - all ready to support you as a parent or professional. Each presentation will include an extra Q and A segment. Let's dig in and answer some of those nitty gritty questions that you have. It's going to be a very full, action-packed day offering you loads of takeaways for your home, profession or community. 

 Date and Time: Sat 7th Sept

Time: 9.30am – 3:30pm (Doors open at 8.45 am for a 9.30am start)

Location: Main Auditorium, New Hope Church Building, 3-7 Springfield Road, Blackburn North VIC 

Cost: $99.00 AUD

GET TICKETS HERE

Warracknabeal Show Day Thursday Oct 10

The 136^th Warracknabeal Show is being held on Thursday 10^th October 2024 at the Warracknabeal Showgrounds Reserve. There are several competitions which students are encouraged to compete in. The theme being everyone is good at something, so the organisers are particularly interested in encouraging first time participants.

The competitions include:

• Cooking
• Craft Work
• Lego Construction
• Photography
• Art
• Other
• The Warracknabeal Community Garden Scarecrow Competition

At the end of the newsletter are attachments which outline the details of the competitions. The organisers expect to have the Show Schedule printed for circulation early during the week beginning Monday August 5.

All students are encouraged to participate in the Show and enter some of the competitions.

Child Safe Standards - What are they?

Diocesan Newsletter

Please click on the link below for the July edition of the Diocesan newsletter

Community News