Newsletter 57 - June 3rd 2022
Prayer of the Week:
Come Holy Spirit.
Fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.
This Sunday marks 50 days after Easter, the feast of Pentecost in the Catholic church.
Pentecost is where Christians are reminded they are not alone but guided by the Holy Spirit.
It's an opportunity this week to reflect on our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Principal's Report:
Welcome,
Last week marked the Feast of the Ascension which is a special celebration in the Church year. Coming 40 days after Easter this feast day commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven.
The Ascension is normally celebrated on a Thursday but in Stawell this year it was celebrated during Sunday’s mass. Father Andrew’s homily on the Gospel reading from Luke offered a great insight into this story and how we can reflect on it.
Father Andrew told the story that on the previous day he was in Ballarat and the Heritage Weekend was happening. This annual event celebrates all things from the past and this year included Stream Train rides from Ballarat to Lal Lal.
Father Andrew said he was keen to make the trip but the price of $80 was a little too steep for him. Instead, he decided to drive to Lal Lal and watch the train at the various level crossings along the way. One thing that struck him was how slow the train was, he had more than enough time to catch it at each point along the journey.
As the trip continued he went past his grandmother’s old farm and fondly remembered having horse and cart rides there when he was a child. It then struck him that when the steam train was first seen in the area the people at the time must have marvelled at their pace. Yet, now in 2022 he was struck by how slow the same train moved.
The takeaway message was that one’s perception of anything is based on their current reality. We as people subconsciously judge a situation based on our current understanding and reality. This makes reading the Gospel’s challenging at times as they were written at a different time for a different audience.
In Luke’s Gospel story of the Ascension, it states that Jesus was carried up into heaven. Father Andrew pointed out that the scientific understanding of people in the time that Luke wrote his Gospel was a lot different to our understanding now.
However, Father Andrew stated that it is the symbolism of Jesus going to be with God that we should take away from the story. This idea that Jesus is going to be with God gives us all hope that we too may be able to be with God when we die.
At school we are doing lots of work on improving how we teach Religious Education in an ever changing context. Last year staff, students and families completed the Enhancing Catholic School’s Identity surveys. As a staff we have been unpacking the results of these surveys with Gina Berlasconi from Catholic Education Ballarat.
It is clear that our community, attitudes and context in 2022 is very different from that of years gone by. I however see this as both a challenge and an opportunity to reframe how we are a Catholic school. I think that we as a school and parish are blessed to have a Parish Priest such as Father Andrew who also understands the need to move with the times to remain relevant in today’s society.
With Faith in our Future
Chris McAloon
A Word from the Office:
Wellbeing:
Welcome back to another week of wellbeing. Below are ideas with helpful web links to support your child’s wellbeing.
What is Mental Health?
We all have mental health. Mental health is about our feelings, our thinking, our emotions and our moods. Looking after our mental health is important. We all have small feelings every day; these can sometimes feel strong and overwhelming, whether happy or sad, but they go away before too long. Sometimes we experience big feelings; these feel strong and overwhelming for a long time. They stop us doing what we want to in our lives.
Tips for talking to your child about their Mental Health
- Make conversations about mental health a normal part of life: Anywhere is a good place to talk; in the car, walking the dog or cooking together. Model everyday talk about feelings such as by talking about a TV character’s feelings.
- Give Full Attention:We all know it’s horrible behalf listened to. Keep eye contact, focus on the child and ignore distractions.
- Check your body language: Try to keep it open and relaxed and make sure you come down to the child’s level.
- Take it seriously: Don’t downplay what the child is saying or tell them they’re “just being silly”. Resist the urge to reassure them that everything is fine.
- Ask open questions: Such as “How did your day go today?” This will help to extend the conversation.
- Calmly stay with the feelings that arise: It can be our automatic reaction to steer away from difficult emotions.
- Offer empathy rather than solutions: Show that you accept what they are telling you but don’t try to solve the problem.
- Remember we are all different: Respect and value the child’s feelings, even though they may be different to yours.
- Look for clues about feelings: Listen to the child’s words, tone of voice and body language.
- Some ways to start a conversation about feelings might be: “How are you feeling at the moment?” “You don’t seem your usual self. Do you want to talk about it?” “Do you fancy a chat?” “I’m happy to listen if you need a chat.
Activities promoting connectedness and resilience
During disasters and emergencies, alongside the stories of loss and grief, we also hear extraordinary stories of how different individuals, families and communities come together and act with kindness, courage and initiative.
We can encourage children and young people to share their stories about ways in which their community helped each other. For example, neighbourhood delivery networks springing up to provide medicines or shopping to people who couldn’t get out.
We can reflect on what might have changed possibly for the better or what has been brought into sharper focus for us. For example, stories about the impact on the climate such as reduced industrial activity, road traffic and expanded bike lanes leading to air pollution plummeting and birdsong returning to neighbourhoods.
Carrying a positive sense of calm in the palm of your hand
- First ask your child to trace their hand on a sheet of paper.
- The child then thinks of a positive memory that would help them feel safe and calm to remember even in the midst of stressful and triggering situations.
- Write Each Of The Five Senses(seeing,hearing,tasting,touching,smelling)on
each of the five fingers.
- The child (or adult can write it down for the child) will draw and / or write about the memory in the palm of the hand.
- Encourage Yourchildtoidentify How The memory is experienced using each of the five senses on each finger and write or draw a picture for each.
- Last but not least, talk about how thinking of this memory can help your child feel a sense of safety and inner calmness despite outer life circumstances.
Communicate any concerns with school
If you have any worries or concerns about your child’s emotional behaviour or wellbeing, then please let the school know. There will be things that we can do to help and support you. We can offer chats with Miss Comitti or even some sessions with Jodi.
Keep safe and well,
Lillie Comitti - Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator.
Teaching and Learning:
Assembly:
It is fantastic to once again have our Friday school assemblies happening. Our assemblies happen each Friday afternoon starting at 2:50pm in the school hall. Students are dismissed from the hall on this day. We invite all our community to come along.
Assembly roster for term 2:
Week 6 Middle B 3/4
Week 7 No Assembly
Week 8 Senior M 5/6
Week 9 Foundation
Professional Development:
At St Patrick’s Primary School we are committed to Professional Development of our team. At various times staff members will be working off site which may result in classroom teachers being out of the classroom.
Week 7
Friday 10/6/2022 Professional Learning - Religious Education Whole staff
Please note this is a school closure day for all students.
Thankyou
Maryanne Comitti Teaching & Learning Leader
Middle 3/4 B News:
3/4B have been very busy this term learning new concepts and consolidating others.
In Reading, we have been learning about different comprehension strategies, using the Cars and Stars Program, and how they can help us understand the texts we are reading. This term so far we have looked at Cause & Effect and Compare and Contrast. Next week, we will be learning about Making Predictions. We have also been enjoying reading our class novel ‘Rowan of Rin’ by Emily Rodda.
We have also been focussed on improving our spelling and handwriting. We are currently working our way through plural rules, suffixes and prefixes and learning to use dictionaries and thesaurus to aid in our writing. Our main focus in handwriting has been to make sure our letters are placed and formed correctly to ensure neat handwriting.
During Writing, we have been learning how to write information reports. We have become experts at writing catchy opening statements, creating glossaries and have also been developing our research and note taking skills. All the students have really enjoyed researching information about Early Explorers and have learnt many interesting facts about their chosen explorer.
In Maths, the Grade 3s and 4s have been developing their understanding of fractions, equivalent fractions and measurement.
In Science, we have been exploring different states of matter and how a liquid can change to a solid. We did a fun experiment called ‘Ice cream in a Bag’. According to the class it was the best science experiment ever!
In our Religion lessons we have been exploring the concepts of ‘Identity’ and ‘Role Models’. The students wrote ‘I am’ Poems as part of their Identity work and also created a Google Slide about someone they believe is a Role Model.
Miss Bonney
On Monday Archie and Jackson represented St Patrick's Stawell at the Regional Cross Country Championships in Warrnambool. The two boys did an exceptional job in chilly conditions, both managing to run personal best times.
Archie completed the 2km course in 8 minutes and 35 seconds to finish 24th out of 65 students.
Jackson posted a time of 8 minutes to finish 10th overall and earning him a place in the State Championships to be held in Melbourne next term.
Well done boys - a great effort!
* Family photo forms are available from the front office.
Living in Faith:
Please keep our children who are preparing for their Sacrament of Reconciliation which will take place in early Term 3 in your prayers.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation in the past has also previously been called Confession. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of two sacraments of healing in the Catholic tradition (the other being the Anointing of the Sick). Reconciliation celebrates God’s love and mercy towards us. It is about acknowledging and naming those times when we know we have done wrong, and then making peace and restoring the relationships with those who have been affected by our poor choices.
Parish Bulletin:
Students of the Week:
Mason Scott - For the fantastic work you’re doing with your reading. Keep up the great work.
Alfie Freeland - For the resilience you are displaying when taking on challenging tasks. Keep up the great job.
Lucas Papadopoulos - For correctly reading and drawing on the hour times on a digital and analogue clocks. You are a maths super star!
Jack Driscoll - For the wonderful reading you have been doing and for being able to discuss what you have read in detail. Keep working hard!
Lilly Hine - For displaying amazing determination when working on her counting at school and at home. Well done Lilly!
Lily Sanderson - For displaying a great imagination during narrative writing. Well done Lily!
Jack Sullivan - For the fantastic efforts you have been putting into improving your reading comprehension skills. Keep it up!
Maddox Austin - For the wonderful efforts you have been putting into improving your handwriting when using a pen. Keep it up!
Eshaan Komerelly - For demonstrating the school value: Be a Learner by completing your work to a high standard as well as supporting other students in the class to become better learners. Keep up the great work!
Chloe Pearce - For your hard work during Literacy lessons which have resulted in excellent results with both your Explorer's report and your Cars and Stars results. You continuously demonstrate the school values: Be a Learner and Be Respectful. Keep up the wonderful work!
Akuol Kur - For the fantastic growth you have shown in your learning and the positive and upbeat feel you bring to our classroom.
Teepika Jones - For always displaying the qualities of being a learner and for your achievements with your reading and maths PATs.
Tyler Jantzen - For moving four Reading levels in your Fountas and Pinnell assessment.
Grace Monaghan - For your amazing results in your mid-year PAT Reading assessments.
Birthdays:
Congratulations to these students having a birthday this week:
Jobe Allen
Eedie Hanns
Around Our Community:
Marian College Year 7 2023 – Enrolment Interviews
Please note that the College will be conducting Enrolment Interviews for students and their families for Year 7, 2023 on Wednesday 8th June, 2022 3.30pm – 6pm. To secure an Enrolment Interview time, applications must be returned to Marian College before this date.
To obtain an Enrolment Pack please contact Meagan Bowen
on 5352 3861 or email mbowen@mcararat.catholic.edu.au
Please follow us on instagram @stpatsstawell
Upcoming Events:
Friday 3rd June - Senior 5/6 Winter Sports Day
Tuesday 7th June - Wellbeing Day - Rotation through 3 activities
Friday 10th June - School Closure Day for students - RE PD for staff
Monday 13th June - School closure Day for staff and students - Queens Birthday public holiday
Tuesday 21st June - Discovery Day at the SSC
Wednesday 22nd June - School Photos 😁
- Reports to go home
Friday 24th June - Last day of term 2 early dismissal - 2:15pm
Monday 11th July - First day Term 3
Acknowledgement of Country:
We acknowledge the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We thank them for sharing their cultures, spiritualities and ways of living with the land in this place we all now call home.