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Dear Families
A SCHOOL REFLECTION DURING COVID - 19
In the name of the Father, the Son,and the Holy Spirit Amen
Father, during these times of uncertainty may we remember that You are with us always.
Hold us in our grief.
Walk with us during the challenges of social distancing and online learning.
Thank you for the moments of thoughtfulness, love and generosity shown to us during COVID - 19.
Open our eyes to the beauty of nature as we slow down and to the sanctity of Your planet so that we do not carry the mistakes of yesterday into our tomorrows.
You are the light leading us out of darkness. Strengthen our faith, transform us.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Welcome back to Remote Learning
This time around all classes are using Google Classroom as the platform for Remote Learning. After a few teething problems, I am sure you will see that it is easier to use. The weekly plan will be uploaded on Google Classroom. This is a guide to help you at home. You don’t have to do all of it, but of course, you can if you want to. I believe your mental health and the mental health of your family is of paramount importance. Let’s look out for each other and encourage each other where we can.
Some of the classes are conducting Google Meetings with small groups of students. For safety reasons students are not allowed to participate in a Google Meeting unless there is a parent or responsible person with them. Teachers have been instructed to ask if there is a parent or responsible person present and if there isn’t the student will need to leave the meeting. I trust that you understand that this is all about safety.
As Victoria is experiencing significant community transmission of COVID-19, all parents, guardians, carers and students who are feeling unwell and displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should be encouraged to get tested. Children of parents, guardians or carers undergoing testing for COVID-19, should remain absent from school until the parent, guardian or carer receives a negative test result. Students who are unwell must not attend school. If your child is showing even mild symptoms of COVID-19 they must stay at home. The symptoms to watch out for are: fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or loss of sense of smell.
Please be reassured that SAFETY remains of paramount importance in our school. Personal hygiene processes are practised and reinforced continually.
PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEWS
On Thursday August 20th we are conducting reporting interviews. Teachers will not be participating in Remote Learning activities all day, rather they will be conducting interviews. Please find attached to this newsletter the information required to book your interview on line. The meetings will be video conferences as remember schools are only open for students and staff.
Some families have had interviews this week, if you have already had an interview with your child’s class teacher then there is no need for you to book an online meeting for next week. We look forward to talking about your child’s learning with you.
PROMOTION & ENROLMENTS FOR 2021
Remember we are on Facebook, search St Joseph’s Primary School Trafalgar. We also have a new look website www.trafalgar.catholic.edu.au Our Information Video and our Virtual Tour are on there. Please share this with your friends and recommend it to other people. During this panademic, this is the best way to promote our school.
If you have a child in 4 year old kinder we ask you to collect an Enrolment Pack from the office and complete the Enrolment Form at your earliest convenience. If you have any friends with a 4 year old, please invite them to have a look at our school. I really appreciate your help in this space.
WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT (WSAPBS)
This is an evidence-based framework that outlines our school wide system of social and behavioural expectations as well as providing explicit teaching to support the development of key relationship skills.
During Term 3, we will continue to work through our School Wide Expectations (SWE). This will involve revising Respect and Resilience and then learning more about what it means to be Inclusive and then being a Team Worker.
In class lessons, students will be encouraged to be problem solvers and practise implementing 'keeping calm' strategies when they are trying to learn something new or when they are trying to master a skill that is tricky for them.
At St Joseph's School we will try to remember that anything worth learning takes time. So keep at it and don't give up!
Attend a webinar recording ‘Managing your child’s anxiety' for parents at no charge
Our school has a membership with Parenting Ideas. As part of this membership, you can access the below webinar recording ‘Managing your child’s anxiety' at no cost.
Join Michael Grose in this webinar recording where he helps parents better understand the nature of anxiety, equips them to recognise it in children, and provides practical tools to help children and young people manage and minimise their anxious states.
To redeem please follow the below steps.
- Click this link: https://www.parentingideas.com.au/parent-resources/parent-webinars/webinar-managing-your-childs-anxiety
- Click ‘Add to cart’
- Click ‘View cart’
- Enter the coupon code ANXIETY and click ‘Apply.’ The $37 discount will then be applied
- Click ‘Proceed to checkout’
- Fill in your account details including our school’s name to verify your eligibility. These are the details you will use to login to your account and access your webinar and resources
- Click ‘Place Order’
This voucher is valid until 17 September 2020.
The webinar will then be available in your Parenting Ideas dashboard so you can refer to it at any time. To view the webinar visit the website www.parentingideas.com.au and login using your email and password. You will be directed to a blue welcome page where you select ‘my webinars’ and all of your webinars will be displayed.
As we gather on this sacred land, let us acknowledge that we are standing on Country for which the members and Elders of the local Aboriginal community and their ancestors have been custodians for thousands of years; land on which they have performed age-old ceremonies, celebrations initiations and renewals. We acknowledge their living culture and their unique role in the life of this area today.
TERM 3
AUGUST
Mon 17th School Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting
Thurs 20th Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
SEPTEMBER
7th to 11th National Child Protection Week
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO FIND ON OUR WEBSITE
- Parenting Ideas Article ‘Standing Behind Difficult Decisions’. This is a must read. Michael Grose (one of Australia’s leading parenting educators) states very clearly that we parents need to trust the processes that teachers put in place at school, even when we don’t always agree with them. Family-school partnerships are strongest when we stand behind the difficult decisions that teachers make. Working together, great things happen.
- Parenting Ideas Article ‘Help Kids to Beat COVID Induced Anxiety’ by Michael Grose. While our current situation is difficult Michael talks about it being an opportunity to develop sustained growth and vitality in anxious children and young people. We can help our kids to move from anxiety to real resilience.
May God continue to bless and guide us in our learning.
Trish Mulqueen
Principal