You may have noticed over the last few weeks that we are facing some challenges with continued Covid cases amongst our staff, along with other illnesses and needs for leave. There is a nationwide shortage of teachers and it is no different here in Townsville. While our teachers and staff are doing a great job trying to avoid days off, often, the best thing they can do is take the time off when unwell. Replacing staff has been the biggest challenge this year and the pressure has not eased at all this term (even our leadership team have taken classes this week). I am so grateful to our staff who are helping each other out during this time and equally grateful to our community for your patience and flexibility during this time. A little bit of kindness and care go a long way during times like this. 

Fortunately we have concluded our very tricky week with a great Friday, full of fabulous fun. We started off with National Walk Safely to School Day, a lovely Assembly lead by Year 3 Galahs (all about kindness and accountability and included a demonstration of Square dancing from our Year 5 /6 students), World Bee Day activities for Preps, Under 8’s Day for Prep- Year 2 students and many of our new 2023 Preps and our Kindy friends. It is so great to see that even with all the staffing challenges we are experiencing, we can still manage to host great events and see our students learning new skills. 

Next week we have Book Fair in our Library. All students will get a chance to visit with their classmates and create a wishlist of books they would like to buy, but students can also go to the Library before and after school with parents to check out what’s on offer. The library will be closed for general use before school next week so only students with parents with them can peruse what is on offer.

Don’t forget to vote tomorrow. Have a fabulous week

Cheers

Penny

Welcome to the end of Week 4! Our Year 3 Galahs lead us beautifully in assembly today on the theme of Laudato Si week. This week in Australia, we celebrated Laudato Si week, which is a calling for all of us to care for our common home - the earth.  This week we united with Catholics across the globe, uniting communities in action and learning more about how Laudato Si’ offers a blueprint on how to tackle the climate crisis. Globally, Catholics will come together as one family in prayer and action.  At St Benedict’s, all of our classes will have looked at this throughout the week, however, it is something we access and talk about very regularly through our eProjects that each year level carries out.  The Galahs also spoke on assembly about their eProject, the Gardens, and how our community needs to work together by caring for these areas as well.

I’ve just come back to my desk after a wonderful celebration of Under 8’s Day.  Despite all the craziness that is happening around the world currently, and even within our own lives, it’s wonderful to join together as a community and celebrate, personally I found it very life-giving!  I think events like today remind us that there is always plenty of things to be grateful for, and plenty of things worth celebrating!

Pax

Nick

P&F news

Tuesday 31st May at 7.30pm is the next meeting.  This will be offered in a face to face format at the school, along with an online option for those that cannot make the session but would like to tune in to hear what is discussed.  The P&F is made up of families from our community.  Without those who offer their time and input, the amazing events and opportunities we have would not be possible.  All are welcome to attend and share their ideas.  It is not about being “stuck with a job” or having to take on duties.  We would love to welcome as many members of our community as possible.

Eco Fest

Volunteers for Sausage Sizzle Wanted

Our Seniors are again planning and hosting our annual Eco Fest.  This is a great day to showcase our school value of Stewardship and the wonderful environmental practices we are engaging in at school and the organisations that help to support this.  As part of a wonderful couple of hours, we are planning to put on a Sausage Sizzle.  With over 500 hungry mouths to feed, we are looking for some eager volunteers to support our community and help cook some snags.  If you think you could offer some time or assistance, please contact either the Year 5/6 teachers or myself to indicate your interest.  Even just 30 minutes would be amazing and greatly appreciated!

Give a little kindness

Our year 3 Galah’s did a great job today reminding us about kindness and care for creation.  They got us all up and moving today on assembly with this wonderful song.  They did a great job and the message was very well received.  (Link here)

Go to the crying child [Parenting Tip]

I came across this great article from Perth Children’s Occupational Therapy service.  I have included an extract here.  It can be helpful to remember that what seems small to us, can be big to a little person.  Sometimes an extra hug is all it takes.

Go to the crying child. Especially the child under 7. The wrong coloured pencil, the sand in their shoe, the book that they didn’t want to read - it is all a big deal to them.

Think about the life experiences they have had. They haven’t experienced what we have and therefore have no frame of reference for how big their problem objectively is.

Their brain is also still in the egocentric stage of development, where everything is all about them.

Plus, their prefrontal cortex isn’t anywhere near as developed as an adult’s, meaning they do not have the ability to regulate themselves, or are only just beginning to learn this.

Meeting a child’s feelings with shame, ridicule or punishment also puts their nervous system under stress and their brain in a more reactive state, meaning they will remain in a heightened state and be more likely to become upset or triggered again.

If a child is upset, go to them.

And as always - parents, teachers, anyone caring for children - you won’t get it right 100% of the time. We are all still learning and doing the best we can with the resources we have.

Have a great weekend

Ros

This week our Year 5 and 6 students participated in ‘Let’s Talk About It - Puberty’ sessions delivered through Life Education. The Australian Curriculum Health Learning Area explores content to promote health, safety, and wellbeing - all of which are associated with puberty. Government Health Agencies are recommending parents/carers to talk to their children about our bodies from birth, puberty, and respectful relationships (in an age appropriate way). “Gone are the days of the one-off ‘birds and the bees’ lecture. Good communication is lots of conversations, sharing ideas, experiences and questions.” (WA Health). 

Raising Children (the Australian Parenting Website) has information about ‘Sex Education and Talking with Children about Sex: 0-8 Years’ 

Another helpful document is the ‘Top Tips for Talking about Sex from Talk soon: Talk often: A guide for Parents Talking to their kids about Sex.’ Furthermore, the Department of Health, in partnership with an Aboriginal Advisory Group, has made Yarning Quiet Ways for all Aboriginal mums, dads and carers who want to help their kids have strong, safe and healthy relationships. 

At school some of the ways we address relationships, sexuality, and other health concepts include: 

• Prep students name parts of the body and describe how their body is growing and changing
• Year 1 and 2 students practise strategies they can use when they feel uncomfortable, unsafe or need help with a task, problem or situation
• Year 3 and 4 students explore how success, challenge, and failure strengthen identities. They also explore strategies to manage physical, social and emotional changes. 
• Year 5 and 6 investigate resources and strategies to manage changes and transitions associated with puberty 

We are proud of Year 5 and 6 students for having a mature conversation about puberty and the changes in their bodies, and we thank parents for your support in having continuing conversations at home. 

Yours in Learning, 

Aleesha Rockemer

(Learning and Teaching Adviser)