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Dear Families, welcome to Term 3 Week 4!
We can’t always choose the music life plays for us,
But we can choose how we dance to it.
(Author unknown)
Well, haven’t I missed the social school interaction! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying Term 3. It has certainly been a trying year so far for so many families. You are not alone and you are thought of often. Please reach out to one of the many wonderful people in our Holy Trinity community if you need to. This is also a good opportunity for all of us to check in on that family we haven’t seen in a while, just to make sure they’re OK.
I feel like the P&F haven’t really done much this year as we keep cancelling our activities. I’m pleased to say we are able to organise a few fun things that I’ve detailed below.
Primary Principal’s Day
Last Friday was Principal’s Day. A big thank you to Mrs Brearley for all you bring to Holy Trinity! We are very lucky to have you, thank you.
Ms Smith organised a group of children to write their own messages and read them out to Mrs Brearley at a special assembly. It was really lovely.
Colour Run – Friday 21 August
Instead of a Walkathon and Sports Carnival this year, we’re having a little Colour Run next week!
The Year 6 Sport Leadership Group and Mrs Punyer are organising a running sheet for the day. It will be held between 12.00 – 3.00pm on our oval, and there will be games and music when children are not colour running.
Sponsorship - So normally for a Walkathon or last year’s Obstacool, we send home sponsorship forms and ask families to collect sponsorship monies as a major fundraiser for the year. In keeping with our commitment during these uncertain times, the P&F won’t be asking for sponsorship. If you do however wish to make any sponsorship/donation, we will of course gratefully accept them via Qkr! There is a new tab under the P&F area where you can nominate an amount to donate. We will also have a donation bucket on the day.
If you are a business owner and normally sponsor a chunk of money for the Walkathon/Obstacool, you may want to wait for the Kids Fete Day in December as there will be some special advertising for business sponsorship. Entirely up to you.
Safety - The colour powder is naturally biodegradable. It is non-toxic, non-flammable, environmentally friendly and skin safe.
Sunglasses will be given to each child to keep, to look cool but also to offer some eye protection.
What to wear - It would be great if the children can wear a white t-shirt if possible. Not mandatory, but the colour shows up better on white, and will therefore be more fun! The colour will come out of clothing after a wash or two, although I wouldn’t wear any good clothing. Children are to wear to school on the day, the clothes they will wear for the Colour Run. It might be a good idea to pack a change of clothes to save the powder mess getting everywhere at pick up time! (Perrhaps a towel for the car too!)
We unfortunately can’t have spectators this year, but there will be plenty of photos class teachers will share.
Father’s Day stall – Friday 4 September
Unfortunately we can’t hold our normal stall this year. Similar to the Mother’s Day stall, gifts have been bought by the P&F and will be delivered to classes by the Year 6 Leadership Group during the week beginning Monday 31 August. Families are welcome to donate money for the gifts via Qkr, but it is not essential. A new tab can be found under the P&F area on Qkr. The children can donate a gold coin on the day as well. Devastatingly, there will be no Mum cooked gourmet breakfast!
Revue – Friday 13 November
The P&F are still keen to have a Revue later this year. We will of course have to play it by ear, but pencil the date in.
Kids Fete Day – Friday 11 December
Our Fete Coordinator Jenny has got things well underway! The kids will have a ball, there will be rides, games, food, music and treats. More details to come soon.
School Directory and Business Directory
Thanks so much to Jenny V for our online Directory!
Casserole Bank
Please don’t forget we have a Casserole Bank for families in our community in need. Lisa Bauer leads a group of over 20 parents who have cooked meals and treats to share. Please reach out if you are in need of some meals to take a little pressure off, or reach out if you know a family that we could assist.
Thanks so much everyone for reading! As always, if there’s something you wish to raise please get in touch. My email is below. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon, hopefully. Take care.
Cath
Cath Day - P&F President
Email: htpspfpresident@gmail.com
Global School Partners
Don't forget TOMORROW we are having a crazy hair day! Bring a gold coin donation and get ready for a fabulous day raising money for Eveland Heikima
Confirmation
Many of our Year 6 students and their families have begun the journey towards Confirmation. We all join in praying for them as they prepare for the Sacrament to be held at the end of this term.
Attending Mass on the weekend?
Don't forget to book in! There is a limit of 100 people that can attend each Mass, and the Parish will accept booking online (Trybooking.com, search Transfiguration Parish), or click here or via a phone call to the office.
Also check out the wonderful art work that was completed by the students at Holy Trinity and Saints Peter and Paul to celebrate the Feast of Transfiguration!
Emily Capper
Religious Education Coordinator
Encourage kids to occupy themselves
A child’s ability to fill in their own time and cope with moments of boredom are important independence skills to develop. Children have less practise at keeping themselves occupied than those of past generations. You have many jobs as a parent, but constantly entertaining your child, should not be one of them. These ideas will help:
Invite them to keep themselves busy
When your child tells you that he or she is bored they are bringing you a problem to solve. Boredom is your child’s problem, not yours. If this happens, encourage your child to keep themselves busy by asking questions such as “How can you keep yourself amused?”
Make a list
If your child is stuck for ideas make a list of activities that they can refer to when they’re bored. Include a variety of activities such as creative tasks, performance tasks, crafts, sports, indoor and outdoor games, music activities, reading and helping. Place the list in a convenient place with easy access and visibility.
Make a boredom buster jar
Cut up a list of boredom busting activities and place them in a jar. When your child is stuck for an idea to keep him or herself amused invite them to select an activity from the boredom buster jar. Ask your child to add enjoyable activities to the jar over time.
Encourage plenty of green-time
Today’s children spend more time in front of screens, and less time outdoors than those of previous generations. Not only is time spent in natural environments refreshing, relaxing and rejuvenating, but It’s also a wonderful way for kids to relieve boredom. Encourage your child to spend some of their free time outside in natural environments to promote good mental health and develop their confidence.
Help find their interests
If your child struggles to keep him or herself occupied, consider helping them identify a hobby or interest that they enjoy. Often finding that one activity a child loves or excels in makes a huge difference to their self-esteem and wellbeing, and can become the driver for future career choice.
Build in downtime
A trait common among healthy families is the propensity for everyone to enjoy spending downtime or unstructured time together. It’s during downtime that parents and children share activities together, which promotes better relationships and helps children’s informal learning.
Most children when given unstructured time will rise to the occasion (even after some complaining) and will find interesting things to do. By encouraging them to find something “to do”, other than filling their time with screen-based activities, you are promoting a fabulous life-skill in your kids.
(Source: ParentingIdeas.com.au)
Heidi White
Email: Heidi.white@cg.catholic.edu.au
Dear Parents,
We are participating in the Redgum Book Club virtual catalogue this term. Every order will earn resources and books for our school. To view the current catalogue open link Redgum Term 3 Catalogue
New release titles in the current catalogue include:
- Peter Rabbit I Love You Daddy – This heart-warming book is the perfect way to tell Daddy “I love you” on Father’s Day, or any other day of the year. Peter Rabbit I Love You Daddy
- Lego Batman Sticker Super Heroes and Super Villains - Who is the coolest Super hero? Who is the craziest Super Villain? With this book you decide! Lego Batman
- Edge: I HERO: Monster Hunter: Yeti – Exciting, monster based, choose your own destiny adventure story, in which you are the hero! Monster Hunter: Yeti
- Number Puzzles & Games - Test your number skills with this fun-filled book. Contains counting challenges, sudoku, number mazes and so much more! Number Puzzles & Games
- Ronaldo Rules – This book is full of everything a young fan wants to know about Cristiano Ronaldo. Includes lots of quizzes and facts. Ronaldo Rules
- The World’s Worst Parents – These tales of the most spectacularly silly mums and deliriously daft dads will leave you rocking with laughter. The World's Worst Parents
- The Schoolmaster’s Daughter – A story from Jackie French about education in colonial Australia and how women once had to fight for their right to it. The Schoolmaster's Daughter
- The Impossible Boy – Believe in the impossible…A magical adventure that celebrates friendship, the power of imagination and ice cream! The Impossible Boy
- IQ XOXO Smart Games – Award winning Smart Games is the leader in multi-level games. Featuring 120 challenges for endless, brain-teasing fun! IQ XOXO Smart Games.
Free shipping on all orders over $40. A small delivery fee applies for orders under $40.
All books in the current catalogue will arrive in the Redgum warehouse the week commencing Monday 10th August.
If you have any questions, email Lesley on schools@redgumbookclub.com.au
There are 8 weeks until the ACT Election and am sure you are seeing candidates from all parties at shopping centres (or even receiving phone calls from them). I encourage you to approach candidates at the shopping centres and mention or discuss the value of ACT Catholic Schools and quiz them on their party’s support for ACT Catholic Schools.
In the ACT, there are 29 systemic Catholic Schools who educate 15 000 students. In Canberra, Catholic schools are very similar to public schools, with our schools having almost exactly the same average ICSEA score (1077-1076). Our schools are inclusive, support families from all backgrounds, and operate on a modest budget.
Did you know that when you compare the total funding that Catholic schools in each state/territory receive, the ACT are the second lowest funded Catholic schools in the country? This is particularly impacted by the ACT Government’s low funding of Catholic schools.
Have a chat to the candidates and mention that you are a parent in an ACT Catholic School and funding of Catholic Schools is an important issue for you.
Philippa Brearley
Email: philippa.brearley@cg.catholic.edu.au
This Term the school is fundraising for Eveland Hekima our GSP School. The Year 1 and 2 classes are hosting our second fundraiser for the term, 'CRAZY HAIR DAY' tomorrow, Friday 14th August. Everyone is encouraged to participate. Please bring along a gold coin to make a donation to our friends in Kenya.
Thank you for your support.
Media, misinformation and scams
The global impact of COVID-19 means young people, like many of us, are spending more time at home — and more time online. There are lots of great ways children can use connected devices to learn and play, but there are also risks.
At present, it is difficult to visit a website, turn on a television, listen to a radio or open a newspaper without being confronted by coronavirus. Even social media apps have introduced links and pop ups for information about it.
While it is important to stay informed, it is just as important to be mindful of the fake news and misinformation that is being spread across the internet – and to help your children make sense of it.
How can I protect my child?
- Select one or two trustworthy and reputable information sources for your news, to avoid false reports and unscientific claims. The major national, state and territory news services provide regular online, television and radio bulletins.
- For the latest COVID-19 essential information from government agencies across Australia, visit australia.gov.au.
- Encourage your child to check how reliable and credible the sources are -- eSafety has tips for primary school children in our Kids page How do I know if something is fake and for older children in our Young People page Fake news.
- Teach them skills like respect, responsibility, resilience and critical reasoning — it is never too early to instil good habits and these skills will help them make sense of the information they are consuming.
- Set safety, security and privacy settings on devices, games and apps at an age-appropriate level.
- Be aware of scams and teach your child how to spot and avoid online scams.
- Don’t click on text message links about COVID-19, even if they look like they are from the government — scammers are exploiting the hunger for information to spread phishing, malware and fake business scams. Australian Government agencies will never send a text containing weblinks.
- You can report scams to Scamwatch.
- Set boundaries around your own screen use and stick to them — this can help maintain balance and provide a positive example for your child. You could even fill in an Early Years Family Tech Agreement.
- Be an upstander by calling out bad behaviour and ensuring that the content you share online is respectful and honest.
- Ensure they know where they can turn to for help — you can have more conversations about online safety at home, tell them about Kids Helpline or support networks, or provide them with the tips listed in this advice.
What can I do if my child is feeling scared or anxious?
- Turn off notifications and use apps or built-in features to monitor or limit how much time you and your child spend online.
- Try other activities like reading something you enjoy or playing games.
- Look for positive stories of people who are working to minimise COVID-19, caring for sick people, showing acts of kindness or collaborating in community efforts.
- Reach out to people in your child's support network to see if they can provide online or telephone support.
- Regularly check in to see if your child is okay. Let them know that you are there for them and that they can talk to you anytime. Then do something fun together!
- Contact a free parent helpline or one of the other many great online counselling and support services for advice. Kids, teens and young adults can contact Kids Helpline online or by phone on 1800 551 800 and the service also provides guidance for parents.
Remember: Build an open trusting relationship around technology — keep communication open and supportive so your child knows they can come to you if something goes wrong or does not feel right online.
Regards,
Rebecca Casey
rebecca.casey@cg.catholic.edu.au
ICT Coordinator
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Students celebrating their birthdays this week: Seren Rose G, Sierra J, Olivia M, Isaac A, Jonah P, Ruby T-L, Emily H, Christian N, Marcus J |
For those who have been experiencing issues logging into Qkr! due to forgotten passwords, we have been advised that there is a quick fix rather than me having to contact Qkr! and have them reset your password for you.
If you have been locked out due to a forgotten password;
- Log of your Qkr! account
- Enter you email address
- Select the "Forgotten Password"
This should now reset your password for you. (This option did not work previously)
If you continue to experience issues, please contact the Qkr! team direct at
Team Leader: Matt Colbert, Lisa Capezio, Carmen Hockey, Justine Webb, David Sabin
Reminder: Could team leaders please ensure the ELC is vacuumed, as well as the main building and annexe. Just the carpeted areas, as the bathrooms are done by the cleaners.
Paul Osborne
Email: osbornep@aap.com.au