Week 6 Term 3

Dear Families,

Another week over, I can't believe how fast this term is flying. 

I'm not sure how many of you had the opportunity to join the Linda Stade webinar last night on 'Navigating Kids Friendships' but I've only heard good reviews. It may form part of our new normal for the future with webinars rather than nights being held at schools. I think in one way the webinars make it easier for parents to be a part of the presentation. Sometimes there is more opportunity to find time at home to join in.

Mrs Jocelyn Reese (as the Parent Assembly Representative for our school) shared the following thoughts with us:

During last night’s webinar, Linda Stade shared her wisdom on how we as parents can support our children in navigating their friendships.  Some key takeaways from Linda were:

• Children are beginning learners and process relationships differently.
• Parents can act as coaches to support their children and in this role, we can, 
• Share our logic.    
• Teach our children Empathy.
• Ensure our children have Connections. 
• Teach our children  Resilience.
• Seek to ensure our children have Education around key topics. (Schools such as St Joseph's assist parents by providing education in the area of Social-Emotional Learning and Mrs Piccinic works with staff and students to ensure our knowledge is targeted and up to date).

Linda also shared the 6 Friendship Lessons to teach our kids, these are:

• #1: FRIENDS SERVE A PURPOSE.

• #2: HAVING FRIENDS IS DIFFERENT TO BEING POPULAR.

• #3: FRIENDSHIPS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR BOUNDARIES.

• #4: CONFLICT IN FRIENDSHIPS IS NORMAL.

• #5: MOST FRIENDSHIPS DON’T LAST FOREVER.

• #6: FRIENDS AREN’T PERFECT.

Linda then discussed the topics of Bullying and Frenemies and how parents can respond to these situations.  Several questions from the participants were then discussed, with Linda giving detailed insights on how to best support children navigate their relationships.  

A link to the recording of last night’s webinar by Linda Stade will be emailed shortly.  

The Parent Assembly is hosting future webinars from quality presenters on a variety of topics.  Keep an eye out in the newsletter, on Facebook and via email for these upcoming events. 

It just doesn't quite feel the same this year- not being able to organise our Fathers Day breakfast barbeque, games and Mass to celebrate our dads. Unfortunately, this is our current normal, one of the things that we have to adjust to. 

We will still have Mass next Friday, (Stage 1 and some Stage 3 students- without any dads) and I know that there is something being prepared in each of the classes to say thank you and acknowledge our dads. Most importantly our students and staff will have the opportunity to spend a wonderful day with their dads.

However, we do miss coming together as a community and celebrating all that we normally do. Thank you so much for your patience and continued support. 

Our wonderful students are coping extremely well considering. There are many changes here at school. Apart from all the cleaning and constant hand washing and sanitising the children are staying mainly within their own cohort. There are no whole school assemblies longer than 15 minutes, the bubblers are off-limits and many of the groups that we took for granted have had to stop- BFF groups, choir, whole school discos, canteen for lunch and recess breaks, excursions, incursions and the list goes on. But regardless of all of these changes, our students continue to adapt and carry on. For the main, our wonderful students are resilient, positive and grateful for what we do have. There are very few complaints.

At this time we keep the people of Victoria, who are really doing it tough,  in our thoughts and prayers. 

COVID 19 Practices Term 3 

• Staff and students exhibiting even mild COVID-19 symptoms are to be sent home and required to produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to school. 
• Non-essential adults are not be permitted to enter the school grounds. We ask that no parents enter the school past the front office. All inquiries to the front office, please. 
• Pick up and drop off will continue out the front of the school. 
• We have resumed our Canteen and will continue to offer this if we are able to get parent volunteers to assist.  The Parent helpers will be advised of the mandatory hygiene practices at the front office. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE ON 66822468 IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GO ON TO THE CANTEEN ROSTER FOR TERM 3.  
• It is paramount in these times, in particular,  that any child who is unwell is kept at home. We appreciate your understanding and consideration for the safety of the other students and the staff.
• Our bubblers will still not to be used and therefore the children require a water bottle.
• Our stringent hygiene practices for our new normal continue with: the washing of hands regularly; sanitiser after eating, no food or drinks to be shared; coughing and sneezing into elbows, tissues discarded immediately, cleaning of the desks between lunch and recess breaks and extra cleaning of the school by our cleaners.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sunday Gospel Reading: 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus speaks of his Passion
In this Sunday's Gospel, we read about Jesus telling his disciples what kind of messiah he was going to be. Peter and the other disciples may have thought or hoped that Jesus would be a victorious king. Jesus, however, said that he was going to be a suffering servant of humanity. He told his disciples that they would need to be like him by offering their lives in service to others. Christians today are called to follow Jesus example and offer our lives in service to others.

PRAYERS FROM OUR STUDENTS
Year Three have been learning about how the lives of the Saints can be an example to us today. They have been working towards understanding that saints are people who lived their lives sharing with others their gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

They were invited to write a prayer to God and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop asking them to help them live spirit-filled lives of love. Their prayers and illustrations were most commendable and the following are examples of their effort.

Prayer to Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop composed by Charlotte Robinson and drawing by Sylvie Davis

Loving God, 

Help me to listen to my parents and help me do well in school.

Keep me, safe O God, when I am riding my bike and keep me true.

Help me appreciate the sky and the air.

God your love for me is bigger than my smile and bigger than my heart.

Pray for me Saint Mary McKillop so like you, I can stand up for what is right.

Amen

A Prayer and drawing by Cherish Cook

A Prayer composed by Johanna

Heavenly Father,

Father Michael has updated the St Joseph's Coraki Parish Website and Parish Bulletin. You are now able to access this and other important Parish information by clicking on the link below.

Congratulations

CANTEEN ROSTER

Could you please give Gayl a call on 66822468 if you

are able to help out in the canteen during Term 3.

THANK YOU LADIES!