Welcome to the end of Week 8, and our first week of Well being Wednesday!  I hope yesterday gave families opportunity to enjoy a day away from screens and promote learning in a more informal setting.  This initiative also aligns with our IB philosophy of developing creativity, independence and balanced students. An IB learner is encouraged to balance different aspects of their lives-intellectual,  physical and emotional- to achieve well-being for themselves and others. 

Let us pray for all those who need love and comfort throughout the world, especially in Afghanistan and other countries who live in constant fear and without freedom.  Amen.

Dear Friends,

I hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and well during this lockdown period.

Thank you

On behalf of the School Board, I would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to all the Holy Trinity staff, for a seamless transition (back to) virtual learning. The efforts you have made to continue our children’s learning and connectedness with the School and their friends has been terrific and very much appreciated. Being an educator, I appreciate how difficult it is to plan, teach and provide feedback remotely, and I commend you on how well you are doing this during challenging times.

Our thanks also to all the parents who have been supporting their children’s learning during lockdown. It isn’t easy balancing other commitments with the homeschooling of your children and I know, having spoken to many of you, the commitments and changes you have made to ensure that your children are as supported as possible with their learning from home.

We would also like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to all those in our community who are going above and beyond to care for others during this lockdown. Thank you to all our frontline and essential worker parents, and all those who are caring for others (whether in a professional or personal capacity). Know that we are grateful for your service, kindness and commitment to others.

Parent Survey

During the Board meeting last week, the Board reviewed and discussed the feedback from the recent ‘Tell them from Me Survey’ parents survey.

This survey was completed by 60 respondents (just over 10% of parents). My sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to complete this survey. Your feedback this year is greatly valued.

Looking to 2022, I encourage everyone to take the time to complete this survey next year. Your feedback is vital in providing feedback to the School and the Board and your feedback is taken seriously and shapes the actions and direction of the School. The more feedback, the better informed the School and Board will be with as to broadest possible views of parents in our community.

The results from this year’s survey include many achievements of which the school can be very proud. In particular, survey feedback indicated that the communication from the school to parents was very strong; the school supports high quality learning; sets appropriate student behavior standards; is a safe, inclusive and caring community; and is committed to religious education and identity. The survey also indicated a few areas for improvement. These areas included providing greater opportunities for parent communication; ensuring involvement in some activities; providing appropriate learning support and extension activities. There were also a small number of comments in relation to responses to student conduct. 

Whilst a preliminary review has been undertaken, the survey results will be further examined by staff and the Board to ensure that all survey data and comments have been understood and responded to, as appropriate. 

Whilst the survey provides a useful point in time assessment of the School and School community, please know that parent feedback can be provided at any time to the school, or to members of the Board. 

Board membership on 2022

Due to students graduating from Holy Trinity at the end of this year, there may be a vacancy on the Holy Trinity School Board in 2022. Should a vacancy become available next year, we will advertise it in the School Bulletin towards the end of this year. So, if you are interested, please keep an eye out! We would welcome interested parents to join us.

For those of you who don’t know much about the School Board, we are a board of 12 members, made up of senior school staff, parents and Holy Trinity Parish Priest, Father John Wood.

The School Board operates in an advisory capacity, providing advice to the School on a range of strategic matters including finance, enrolments, the curriculum, building and maintenance, and school policies.

Staying connected and looking after each other

During these challenging times, please remember to make efforts to keep yourself and your children connected with your loved ones. Reaching out to others not only is good for your family members, it is also beneficial for those you are connecting with.

Please also reach out if you need any assistance or help. These are very difficult times for many in our school community, and help is available if you ask. Should you need any assistance, please let the school know, or feel free to email me on the address listed below.

If you would like to contact me at any point or would like to raise any matters with the Board, please feel free to email me at sbpearsall@gmail.com.

Stay safe and well.

Scott

Dear Friends,

I am very proud of how well staff, students and families are adjusting to remote learning and am very impressed with the posts I am reading on Seesaw. Below are some examples of this great learning across our school: 

This weekend we also celebrate the gift of our Fathers. Tomorrow we will be sharing  a video clip on Compass dedicated to all our Dads in our community, both here in Canberra in other places and in our hearts.  Thank you to all our fathers and significant father figures in our lives who nurture, care, generously give of themselves and love us unconditionally every day. 

In praise of fathers: the place of the modern dad

by Michael Grose

Fatherhood has been transformed from the breadwinner and disciplinarian role of the past to a far more complex framework. Here’s how:

Diversity rules

A look at different cultures even within our shores shows there’s no one ‘right way’ to be a dad. Fathers have a strong biological urge to ensure their children’s survival, which drives dads to be protective, some to have high expectations and others to promote self-sufficiency. Fathers may differ in how they parent, but ultimately, we all belong to the same valued club. Fathers almost universally want what’s best for their child.

Recognising Dads

Being a dad is not given the same attention as motherhood. The parenting advice industry is often skewed toward mothers as the direct or primary carers. The lack of recognition can also at times be seen in the mental health field. It’s now recognised that men experience heightened anxiety at all stages of fatherhood, however, most simply suffer in silence because ‘that’s what men do.’ The recent advances in mental health promotion still have some way to go when it comes to fathers.

Playtime is crucial

Fathers have long been seen as the kings of play. Science now shows that play is a critical part of the fathering toolkit. Whether it’s engaging in rough and tumble play with toddlers, sharing pizza night with primary-school kids or laughing with teens over the latest cat video, dads bond best with their children through play. Oxytocin, the bonding chemical that promotes strong relationships is released most intensely for men when playing with kids. On the other hand, oxytocin spikes for women are prompted by affectionate activities such as stroking, cuddling and talking softly to kids. Activity is at the heart of effective fathering as it’s through play that many men do their best fathering work.

Part of team parent

‘I wish my partner raised children like me’ is a common parent comment. While usually uttered out of sheer frustration this comment misses the point that evolution dislikes duplication. Put simply, if one parent is the disciplinarian the family doesn’t need another. Better for the other parent to focus on nurturing, teaching or arranging daily timetables. In busy families it’s better to ensure all the parenting bases are covered rather than duplicating roles and leaving out important functions. Working together as one part of team will ensure that most of the needs of a child are met. Alternatively, if you are parenting a child on your own stay connected with other families and reach out for assistance when required.

The school of dad

Traditionally, fathers have been heavily linked with children’s learning, but not necessarily of an academic kind. The reinforcement of values, real-world problem-solving and teaching for self-sufficiency have been the usual domain of dads. Recent studies show that dads can also positively impact their children’s academic achievement, but in different ways to mothers. While mothers are more likely to be involved in at home learning activities such as hearing children read and supervising homework, fathers are more likely to positively impact their children’s attitude to learning. According to American educational researcher William Jeynes, dads focus more (than mothers) on moulding and modelling correct mindsets and behaviours, which provide the foundation upon which children and teens can build their academic journeys. It’s this bigger picture focus where fathers can do their best work, particularly changing boys’ attitudes to women and giving their daughters the confidence to stand up and be heard.

Dads and kids’ development

If a father wants to positively influence children and teenagers, it’s important to ensure that their relationship is warm and supportive. While this may be at odds with men’s natural tendency to push children’s developmental boundaries, fathers should lean on their well defined ability to relate to their kids through play. As Australian educational leader Dr. Tim Hawkes noted in his book “Ten conversations you should have with your son” dads who engage in banter and fun are better placed to discuss issues of real substance with their children.

Dads and resilience

Fathers who promote children’s self-sufficiency are well placed to develop resilience in their children. In fact, a key role for modern fathers is to ensure, as part of team parent, that their children can confront and overcome the hardships, frustrations, and difficulties that life throws at them. This is done less by adopting tough, hard-nosed tactics, and instead allowing kids to take physical and emotional risks in the knowledge that they can return to a warm and secure base.

Dad is a social role

With children growing up in step, adaptive, and single parent families, fatherhood has become less a biological and more a social role. As society changes and assisted parenting techniques continue to advance, whoever answers to father takes on importance in a child’s life. This is not denying the rights of a biological father, but rather acknowledges that for many children the person who shows up whether stepfather, relative or family friend, or even a single parent doing both roles, is the social father for a child.

In closing

As society changes the role of fathers is also shifting as well. While the place of a father in a child’s life has always been important, there’s never been a greater need for fathers to be supported in their role and to widen our view of what it is to be a dad.

 Supervision at School For Children of Essential Workers

Following on from the Minster's announcement to extend the ACT Lockdown until the 17th of September, the last day of Term 3, we will be extending our supervision roster for children needing to be at school.  Below is the link to enrol your child/ren for days in the remaining two weeks of the term's lockdown. 

https://holytrinitypscurtin.schoolzineplus.com/form/293

Please remember that supervision at school is only for families where all carers  in the household are essential workers.  Please contact me via email first if you are a new family considering supervision at school on any of these days for the remainder of this term. 

I hope you are able to enjoy this beautiful spring weather this weekend with your families.  Have a wonderful Father's Day also on Sunday and continue to stay safe. Please do not hesitate to reach out for anything at all.

Warmest wishes,

Philippa 

Hello All,
Thank you all for the wonderful responses we got to Book Week in Lockdown, 2021. I loved looking at all the posts on Seesaw, from Kindergarten to Year 6. It was great to see every grade doing something.

Many class teachers also requested their classes to dress up and send a photo. Pictures of favourite books, pets and younger siblings were posted. All library lessons were embraced with some fabulous work and amazing costumes.

Below is a selection of photos to share with you that I have taken from Seesaw. There are many that I have missed but I will have some to display when we get back to school.

Take care, keep smiling and keep reading.

ICAS sitting window extended until 26 November 2021

In response to New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria schools not being able to sit ICAS in the original sitting window of 9 Aug – 3 Sep, we are extending your ICAS sitting window to Friday 26 Nov 2021 for the following subjects:

• Mathematics
• English
• Science
• Digital Technologies
• Spelling Bee

 Our Writing subject, however, will retain its current sitting window of 5 Oct – 15 Oct. This is due to ICAS Writing being marked by leading expert markers in a professionally supervised marking centre with fixed dates.

Specific dates for each test will be communicated once we have returned to school. 

Any questions, please contact Ms Smith.