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Community Council 2023
Following our first meeting for 2023, we are pleased to announce the members of our Community Council:
Narelle Luchetti - Council Chair
Simon Needham - Deputy Chair
Ben Lentini - Treasurer
Michael Kelly - Secretary
Simon Benson, Skye Keatinge and Leah Hanley - Parent Representatives
Christine Washington - Staff Representative
Fr Emil Milat - Parish Priest
Luke Donnelly - Principal
Samantha Mance (Semester One) and Nicole Mikkonen (Semester Two) - Assistant Principals
The council meeting focussed heavily on our strategic plan goal of establishing engaged partnerships within our community, particularly as we move beyond the past 3 years of restrictions. With this in mind, we would love you all to save the date for 'Cuppa at the Gate'.
Cuppa at the Gate is an initiative previously implemented for our families to get to know each other over tea or coffee, to speak with council members present, and to make purchases from our clothing pool. Our first Cuppa at the Gate will be held on Monday 6 March from 7:30 - 9:30 am.
Clothing Pool Donations
In preparation for Cuppa at the Gate, we are calling for donations of good quality used school uniforms that can be purchased for a second life by one of our families. Donations for the clothing pool can be dropped into the front office and any family wishing to access the clothing pool simply needs to contact Angela in the office.
Medication Dispensing Form
We would like to remind parents that a form needs to be completed and signed in order for the school to dispense medication. This includes long-term and short-term medications. The medication also needs to be given to the school in its original packaging from the pharmacy with patient and dosage information. If you have a child who takes long-term medication, or your child develops a need to take short-term medication, please organise with Angela at the front office to complete the form at school or have a copy sent home to return.
Parent Teacher Interviews
This year, as a result of the 2022 surveys, we will be offering 3 opportunities for parent teacher interviews. Our first interviews are scheduled for Week 6 commencing 6 March. To ensure that our staff are given adequate planning time for these interviews we have made the decision to cease the production of the Interim Report previously sent home in Term 1. The Interim Report was focused on the work habits of the student from the commencement of the year. Teachers will ensure that parents are informed of their child's work habits during the interview and will also be able to discuss their academic and social progress and any other concerns parents may have. Bookings for the interviews will be made available via Compass early next week.
Compass Notifications
We are currently working with the Compass team to ensure that the platform is working sufficiently. One concern we have is that the notifications and emails from teachers are being sent well after the staff sends them, sometimes in the middle of the night. To determine if this is occurring for a specific group we would request any parent who receives a notification at an unusual time to forward the email to me.
Luke Donnelly
Principal
School Counsellor
From the School Counsellor
Parents often ask for support around how to help their children manage strong emotions. The self-regulation systems in the brain, develop across childhood and are complete by about 23-25 years of age. You can promote this development by regularly connecting with your kids, providing routines and modelling your own self-regulation (or recovery -if you get flustered). It starts with parents as supportive coaches/modellers as the following article discusses….
How to model healthy coping skills
Helping kids learn strategies for handling big emotions
Painful feelings are unavoidable, but how we respond to them is a choice. And showing children how to cope effectively with uncomfortable emotions is one of the most important ways we can support their wellbeing and development.
Healthy coping skills take many forms, including mindfulness, self-compassion, exercise, deep breathing, and positive self-talk. They help us manage our most intense emotions, and they’re also linked to lower levels of impulsivity.
Children pick up behaviour patterns from adults, so one of the best ways to teach your kids good coping skills is to practice them yourself. This can mean taking space after a tense interaction, practicing paced breathing when the train is running late, or having a daily yoga practice. It can be helpful to narrate your behaviour to your kids as you model (“Okay, that phone call made me feel anxious, so I’m going to do some belly breathing and walk around the block to help calm myself down”). Leading by example is also usually more effective than trying to tell kids what to do.
If you struggle with regulating your emotions (like we all do from time to time), you may worry about your ability to model effectively. Remember that you’re only human, and that all parents make mistakes. Start with practicing one or two skills that feel manageable and add on from there. Taking it slow will help you build confidence and internalize the habits you are working on.
Many parents find it hard to prioritize working on their own coping skills. When you’re balancing competing responsibilities, it can feel like there’s just not enough time in the day. You might even feel like setting aside time for your personal development is selfish. But kids pick up on how we treat ourselves, and they are likely to copy our habits, positive or negative. Sometimes, the best way to care for your child is to show up for yourself, too.
You can read the full article here; How to Model Healthy Coping Skills - Child Mind Institute
You can contact the School Counsellor by calling St Thomas on Thursdays, or through the Principal Luke Donnelly. Alternately, you can make contact via email Sarah.foley@catholiccare.cg.org.au
Writer: Rosa Klein-Baer Clinical Expert: Grace Berman, LCSW