Filter Content
Dear Friends,
Yesterday a special Retreat Day was shared with the students from Holy Trinity who are celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation over the coming weeks. We pray for these children and their families as the complete this important step in their Faith Journey.
Next week, our teachers for the first time this year, will meet with parents (ELC-Year 6) and students (Years 3-6) for learning conferences. For Kindergarten to Year 6 these conferences will be held via Microsoft Teams, our ELC will be meeting in person with their teachers. Thank you to families who have already booked in for these conferences through our Szapp communication stream. Please ensure you have logged on to your child's Microsoft Team channel prior to your scheduled learning conference. This will ensure any technical issues can be sorted prior to your scheduled day and time. If you have missed this opportunity, please contact your child's class teacher as soon as possible.
Remote learning has given many parents the opportunity to see their child closely as a learner. Next week's learning conferences with your child's teacher gives you a valuable opportunity to reflect on observations of your child as a learner - not only the knowledge they acquired, but more importantly the skills they developed as a remote learner. Let us use this time to address the development of a broad range of skills and dispositions including social, self-management, communication, thinking and research skills. These ‘AtL’, as we call them in the PYP, are the building blocks that support our learners in all areas of learning and of life.
A written report will follow these in depth conversations between students, parents and teachers in Week 10. The report will address students' engagement with learning skills - thinking, communication, responsibility and collaboration - and have grades for Religion, English and Maths. More preparation and value will be given to the learning conferences next week, reflecting on growth, acquired skills and areas of development needing focus for the remainder of 2020 and beyond.
Congratulations to the Hinchcliff family (Zac and Lexie) who welcome the wonderful arrival of a baby brother, Nathaniel.
With every best wish for a holy and peace-filled week ahead with your beautiful families,
Philippa
Philippa Brearley
Email: philippa.brearley@cg.catholic.edu.au
Roll Marking
We have recently moved to the Student Management System, Compass. From now on, I ask that all absences are submitted via the Szapp and that this is done first thing in the morning. Our lovely front office staff will be adding all absentees to the class rolls, so please avoid sending email notes to teachers regarding absences as this creates double handling of information.
Sacrament of First Reconciliation
A reminder to all candidates for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please make sure that you have signed your child up to receive the sacrament on the Google Doc. Registrations for the Sacrament will close on Friday 12 June. If you require any changes after Friday 12th of June, please email emily.capper@cg.catholic.edu.au
Reconciliation Retreat Day
On Wednesday, 10th June, Year 3 students participated in a Reconciliation Retreat Day. It was a wonderful day where the children were able to participate in a variety of activities designed to support the learning happening in the classroom in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Thank you to Mrs B-W, Mr Sloane, Miss Joy and Miss Leach for supporting the year 3 students in their sacramental journey!
Emily Capper
Religious Education Coordinator
Dear families,
The preschoolers had a great morning today learning about and planting bush tucker. We hope that we can grow and use this food for cooking and eating in the coming months. (photos in the gallery below) The establishment of a bush tucker garden in part of the Holy Trinity Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and we are grateful fro Adam Shipp visiting the ELC and teaching us about edible bush food.
The booking link is now available for the July School Holiday Program. If you require care for your preschooler, Kindergarten or Year One children please click here. Places are limited and priority is giving to preschoolers and children already enrolled at the ELC.
The Australian Government has announced its extension of the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package (Relief Package) and the plan to return to Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The Relief Package will be extended until 12 July 2020. From 13 July 2020, CCS will re-commence.
Families will need to update their activity levels and/or income through myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app if their circumstances have changed.
This week's copy of the Catholic Voice can be viewed by clicking here.
I Recognise
I recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples continue to suffer from colonization, exclusion and disempowerment.
I recognize that it takes effort and will from everybody - from governments to individuals, from Indigenous and non – Indigenous alike, to change the situation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
I recognize that unless we unite, with a common will, a poverty of spirit will trouble the entire nation.
I reflect
How do I describe my identity and belonging in this land?
What are the ripples I create through my words, thoughts and actions?
I Rectify
I commit to taking action to address the disadvantage and exclusion suffered by so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. I take personal responsibility to understand the causes and effects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ disadvantage and also to inform people when I encounter ignorance or lack of compassion. I commit to justice for all.
I reflect
How do I describe my identity and belonging in this land?
What are the ripples I create through my words, thoughts and actions?
Last week the students of Holy Trinity learnt the importance of Reconciliation Week.
Each morning students of 5/6 Red shared a beautiful reflection and prayer over the PA system.
Thank you to each teacher for sharing their knowledge and creating beautiful art works and reflections with their students.
Our 5/6 students were fortunate enough to have Tyronne Bell come in and share his knowledge of the land, language and culture. Students ask interesting questions and wrote in-depth reflections.
God of all people of the earth, your Son, Jesus cared for all.
May we always have the greatest respect
for all people and be willing to care for our earth.
May we work to be reconciling people and to make
our country a place where all are welcome and at home.
We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord.
Amen
Mel Punyer
Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Contact Teacher
Collaborative parenting style wins the day during
COVID-19
The close quarter living that most of us have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic has tested the patience and communications skills of even the most assured parent. The constancy of members living together is a test of family management skills, revealing any flaws or limitations that exist.
Those that rely on a coercive (“do as I say”) approach probably discovered that dominance works well in small doses, but fails miserably over the long-term, with family harmony severely impacted.
Parents who use a laissez-faire (“she’ll be right”) approach may have found that one or more children struggled with a lack of structure. In the absence of positive leadership, a child more than likely stepped up to fill the void, rendering parents with limited influence.
Those who used a parallel (“you go your way, I’ll go mine”) approach may have experienced a relatively quiet parental existence, but this will more than likely come at the expense of group cohesion and children’s mental health.
Collaborative family leadership
Life in the family cocoon has suited parents that use a more inclusive, collaborative parenting style. This is a style that gives children a voice, commensurate with their developmental stages, in how the family conducts itself.
Features of a collaborative family
Parents who adopt a collaborative approach impact family culture in positive ways, so that their family becomes a collaborative unit. Here are some features shared by collaborative families:
Respect is a key value
This style of leadership treats kids with respect but importantly, expects respectful, considerate behaviour from children in return. When kids fail or forget to practise respectful treatment of others they are respectfully brought into line and reminded of their responsibility to others.
Kids contribute
Kids in collaborative families generally help out without being paid. A jobs’ roster is the preferred method for ensuring kids contribute as authority is diverted from parent and rests with the group instead.
Language is cooperative
Parents who adopt a collaborative approach generally use language that invites children to cooperate. They also use the word “We” a great deal. “We’re relying on you to set the table before dinner” reminds a child or teenager of their contribution to the family good.
Rituals are strong
Collaborative families also use rituals such as mealtimes, special days and the like to build strong family bonds. These structured get-togethers are balanced with plenty of informal, fun activities where members can enjoy each other’s company.
Decision-making is shared
Most parents who successfully adopt a collaborative leadership style have a process that engages kids in family decision-making and resolution of conflict between siblings. A regular family meeting or council is a common forum used by collaborative family leaders. These meetings may take time to get right and some effort to convince all family members of their benefits, however once they’re embedded they become an invaluable part of a family’s culture.
There are many ways and methods you can use to successfully raise a family, however not every method stands up to the scrutiny close of quarter living we’ve been encountering. With more time at our disposal, a wonderful opportunity exists to implement a collaborative leadership style, that will bring benefits well after the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Source: Parentingideas.com.au)
Heidi White
Email: Heidi.white@cg.catholic.edu.au
The local Archdiocese has organised a series interactive live-streamed presentations for Marriage & Family Month immediately after the 11am Online Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral for the next three Sundays (14th, 21st, 28th June).
Listeners will be able to interact online and ask questions of our impressive line-up of international, interstate and local Catholic couples speaking at 11.45am each Sunday from mid-June. See full program at https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/marriage-family-month-june-2020/
NOTICEBOARD