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DADS CELEBRATED
We wish all our fathers, grandfathers, and all those wonderful people who assume the role of fatherhood a very special day, this Sunday.
During the week we have invited families at home and children and staff attending school to share some of their reflections about ‘dadhood.’ We hope you enjoy the chance to view how some within our community have reflected on their personal relationships with their dads (see further on in newsletter).
We hope and pray families find a unique way to celebrate the great gift of fatherhood and the unconditional two way love that characterises this most privileged relationship.
Please enjoy the following "Father's Day Videos"
LOCKDOWN UPLOOK - HEADLINES AND ANTHEMS - DANCE, DANCE, ????
A recent decision will now see Headlines and Anthems – Dance, Dance, ???? unfold under an alternative and action packed format…….with a few surprises.
Every child from each class is invited to send in a 10–15 second video of them dancing to their class selected music (will be shared over the coming week). If children would prefer to do something other than dance, (a trick on the trampoline, ‘pulling a really good face,’ a trick they have taught the dog, something clever on the skateboard - no sound as the music will be the only audio) you are very welcome to contribute whatever you think will be entertaining. You are very welcome to include the family.
KEEP IN MIND
- This is an optional exercise – there is no expectation that children will contribute
- If you feel comfortable doing the dance – please do – otherwise – your choice
- Keep the video to 10–15 seconds (only a 4-5 second cut will make the final film for the class production)
- Must be on landscape format (not portrait) - otherwise, may not suit the production format
- Video needs to be taken on a portable device (phone, iPad, etc)
- Video must be in by 5:00pm Friday, September 17.
- EMAIL YOUR VIDEO TO pmacp-schoolzine@lism.catholic.edu.au. Please include child’s full name and class eg. Iva Quickstep Yr 3 Green
Over the holidays our technician, Mr Joel Walker, will then cut 5 second pieces from each class members’ contribution, ‘string them together’ and add the class selected song to back the final presentation.
We will present two videos each week through Term 4. We hope this will provide families with an ongoing ‘lockdown uplook.’
Following is a little sneak peek sample from the Walker family and how the end product may look once all perfomances are compiled!
Remember : Please send through your performances to
pmacp-schoolzine@lism.catholic.edu.au
in video format only, taken on a portable device!
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
PBS -’Being Like Jesus’ Photo Challenge
Hi Families!
Just because we are experiencing ‘Lockdown’ at the moment in our region, it doesn’t mean that we stop thinking about our PBS Model at home, when undertaking ‘Blended Learning’.
Last fortnight (Weeks 7 and 8) our PBS focus was on Being Respectful, with a particular emphasis on ‘Zoom Etiquette’. Teachers from Grades 3-6 shared their expectations with students about the types of behaviours and good practices they expected during zoom sessions.
Some of the points shared with the students included were:
- A ‘Zoom’ lesson is just like being in a classroom. Remember to be polite and considerate of other students.
- Raise your hand if you have a question.
- Microphone - Unmute and mute as directed by your teachers
- Camera - Always have your camera turned on so that you can be seen
- Name - Log on through your school account and please use your real name
- Be on time and ready to listen
- Find a quiet space to minimise distractions from pets, siblings and other household noises
- Stick to using the chat function for tech help only
This coming fortnight (Weeks 9 and 10), our focus will change to ‘Being like Jesus during Blended Learning.'
Please open the presentation link below, which hopefully helps to inspire students to act as Jesus would, during what is, a challenging time for many of our students and families.
Please send in photos of students ‘Being Like Jesus during Blended Learning’ to pmacp@lism.catholic.edu.au and we will share them with you in our final newsletter for the term in Week 10.
ZOOM FOR INFANTS
There has been a recent easing on Diocesan School guidelines to run zoom sessions with Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2.
An invitation has been extended to all families in the infant classes to engage with zoom sessions for the remaining 2 weeks of this term.
Zoom for Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 - an invitation for parents
We understand that each family has their own set of pressures and routines and we do not wish to add anything else that will complicate this further.
It is very important that families understand:
- This is optional – it is not an expectation
- There will be no learning
- It is a forum for social connection and social interaction only
- There are tight protocols for parents and students to ensure the safety and integrity of our little people and their families
I would like to thank staff for continually looking at ways to support our children and families, without creating an additional burden or complication.
STAFFING UPDATE
I would like to congratulate both Michael Gallery and Leisa Nardella on their recent acceptance of leadership and student support positions.
Michael has accepted the LOP (Leader Of Pedagogy) role for 2022–2024.
Michael has held this position for the last three years and done an outstanding job supporting teachers in reviewing best practice in assisting students to achieve their learning goals and build their learning capital.
Michael works within our Leaders of Learning team, which is constantly looking at research and current data to help drive the best educational outcomes for each student and for the broader school context.
Leisa is one of our valued Learning Assistants, who has now accepted the recently vacated position of Student Support Worker.
Leisa will work within the Pastoral Care Team, who are building a great repertoire of expertise and services to assist our children, particularly in the areas of emotional and social need.
CONTINUATION OF BLENDED LEARNING
Blended Learning Resources for Week 9 starting Monday 6 September
- Kinder, Years 1 and 2 - Hard copies (Year 1 and 2 only) for next week's work will be available again for collection on Monday from 10am to 11am via 'contactless' pickup as advised in our previous communication. A digital copy is also available HERE and on the St Peter's Website..
- Years 3 to 6 - Blended Learning is available HERE and on the St Peter's Website. Hard copies are available upon request.
- Zoom meetings will continue next week on Monday and Wednesday and for some classes Friday. Times available HERE and on St Peter's Website.
Father's Day
The celebration of Father’s Day this weekend provides us with the opportunity to remember and honour the men who gave us life. Through whatever means of connection available to us this Sunday, let’s remember to acknowledge our fathers in a prayer of gratitude.
Creation
Like mismatched socks on the clothesline they swung to and fro not seeming to notice the noise they created nor the deposits they left on the footpath below. They did what God made them to do. To be birds. They chattered and chirped amongst themselves all the while intermittently filling the early morning with song, for those who cared to listen.
In Laudato Si’ Pope Francis reflects on the life of St Francis of Assisi and how for him, each and every creature was like a sister or a brother. We are a part of creation not separate from it. In Genesis 2:15, we are instructed to ‘till and keep’ the garden. Over time we’ve been pretty good at tilling but not so great at keeping.
This year’s Social Justice Statement, written by the Australian Catholic Bishops ‘Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor’ reflects on creation in and through the Trinity; the sacramentality of all created things; the wonder and beauty available to the contemplative eye; and the need for conversion and change of life. This statement coupled with Laudato Si’ challenges us to reflect on all of creation and the part we all play in keeping it.
Today is an opportunity for us to stop what we are doing, to step outside or to gaze outside the window and look, really look at the beauty that surrounds us - in plants, animals and in each other.
Let us celebrate creation, thanking God for this beautiful gift. Let us also listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor and let us ask God to guide our thoughts and actions as we move through the rest of our day. Let us be ready to follow that guidance
Crazy Hair Day
Today the St Peter’s community wore some weird and wacky hairstyles to inject a bit of fun in our lockdown lives! Enjoy these images:
LEARNING
Kinder is sharing all the creative ways they read by completing the Book Week Reading Challenge during Blended Learning. They loved reading with pets, outside, with toys, while dressed up and even with the cows!!!
Screentime Should Be Limited To One Hour Per Week
By Grace Campbell- Year 4 Red
"But I don't want to hop off Mum, can I please just have 10 more Minutes?" Are you tired of your kid asking for more minutes on their device?
Staying on a device can have many issues, but one of the major reasons is it takes away family time. Many kids forget about family when lost in a game. In addition, kids think it is reality and lose track of time. Family is the most important thing in our lives, and we usually don't have much time to spend with them. Yes, you're probably thinking, but we have heaps of years to spend with them. Well, you never know what happens to your family, your life can just flash right before your eyes. Family always comes first, no matter what!
Have you played on a screen for more than 1-2 hours non stop? Most kids I know who are out and active look one way, but kids who sit on devices look another way. Yes, I’m talking about obesity. When kids stare at a screen all day, they will not want to go outside and then they will become unfit. Kids need to be active and not stare at a screen all day. Sientese Gemma Feed states, that if you stay in one position or if you are unfit, you will start to grow up and do everything in that position. So get outside and be active.
Staying on a device leads to a lot of negative things. Cyberbullying is an absolutely horrendous problem for many kids. Cyberbullying can happen at any time and the longer you stay on a device the higher the chance of being bullied. Cyberbullying does not only hurt the person, for young kids they think that it is ok and copy them, they think the bully is a role model. According to Cyberbullying research, 21 per cent of kids between the age of 10 to 18, have been cyberbullied. Cyberbullying leads to many things like depression and social anxiety. Lives have been changed due to being on a device for long periods of time and I’m sure you don’t want that for your child.
Staying on a screen for too long can completely change our lives! But we can reduce that by making kids and parents have limited screen time. Imagine what the world would be like if we got off the screens, have family time and got out and active… what a wonderful world that would be!
Screentime Should Be Limited To One Hour Per Week
By Bethany Martin- Year 4 Red
Do you want to play on screens all day long? If you do then you’re wrong. Excessive screen time leads to being less happier and having bad health, while limited screen time leads to a way happier and healthier life.
You must have limited screen time. When you get too much of it it makes you less happy. If you are less happy, you are more grumpy and easily upset. Therefore, you will actually have a shorter lifetime. Being less happier isn’t a thing you want to go through. Very unhappy is meaning a different thing for all people, but I can tell you one thing that connects them all, a very unpleasant feeling. You definitely need a limited amount of screen time for your happiness.
Screen time, what is it doing to you? If you have more screen time you are way less healthy. Such ways of being unhealthy include lower test results. Just think of all the poor little kids having more than 2 hours of screen time a day and only getting 10 out of 50 in a test. You don’t want that to happen, do you? Other ways of being unhealthy include obesity, sleep problems, depression, e.t.c. e.t.c, the list goes on and on. That’s a good reason for not having screen time.
With limited screen time, you become so much happier and healthier without it. Just think, would you want to be the kid jumping up and down doing hopscotch, or someone being really happy and smiling, or the one sitting inside all day frowning and really unhealthy? Happy and healthy makes you live a happier and healthier, longer life. Unhappy and unhealthy makes you live an unhappier and unhealthier with a shorter life. For these reasons, it's pretty obvious that you need to have limited screen time.
Don’t you want to be happy and healthy? Then screen time must be limited for children. Like, what is screen time anyway?
Students Should Go To Bed When They Want
By Zachary Thomas- Year 4 Red
Do you want angry children to wake up to? Well if your child was to stay up all night, that’s exactly what would happen! Worst of all, kids also wouldn’t want to go to school, they just want to sleep in, and they also wouldn’t learn because they are sleepy! That’s why I strongly believe that children shouldn’t stay up all night long.
Has the thought of waking up to grumpy children ever made you cringe? Well, more than 30% of the world’s citizens are staying up to twelve or even one o’clock, and half of that 30% is children from all around the world! Children would be extremely grumpy if they stayed up as late as they want every night. This not only makes children tired but makes adults tired too! Now you wouldn’t want Mum and Dad tired and angry would you, just because you wanted to stay up all night long!
Do you want a horrible sleep? Well if you got to stay up all night, that’s exactly what will happen. Kids 6-12 need an average of 9-11 hours of sleep a day, and if you stay up all night that would not be 11 hours of sleep! Children should have a set bedtime and a set limit of device time. Scientists state, 40% of the world’s population still have devices on at night! This world phenomenon is making children lower than 9 years of age become very tired, and if we don’t stop, our happy lifestyle will perish. That’s why I believe that children should not be able to stay up as late as they want.
Everyone wants their kid to be a great learner right? Well, if they got to stay up all night they wouldn’t get any sleep, and they would definitely not be learning at 100% when their extremely tired! Children need sleep and it won’t just create a couple of problems but 10's of thousands of problems! We need to act now! We can all start with just doing one little thing which can make a big difference! If every essential worker stayed up to twelve every night and went to work tired they might make a mistake. We won’t just have the motivation or power to do things. That’s why we all need sleep!
Sleep is a major part of our life. If we didn’t have sleep, the world would die! Nearly 55% of our life, we need sleep. Sleep is important and we need to be serious about it! 0% learning, bad behaviour and bad sleep, we all need the opposite of them and we need to act now! That’s why we strongly believe that we need sleep and you can’t go to sleep when you want it!
A Sad Week For Sport
A very difficult week for all students this week as we were given notification on a large number of NSWPSSA, Polding and Lismore Diocese events being cancelled due to government restrictions. Sport is a wonderful outlet for so many students, and there are a huge amount of benefits to being active. Although there are so many unknowns at the moment, we will continue to plan for events until we are told otherwise.
Students Continue Getting Active!
This week, Years 3, 5 and 6 were again involved in the Sporting Schools Blended Learning program. Students have been watching a number of videos about a particular skill in that sport, and then going into the backyard and trying to emulate that skill. I hope this is another way to help your kids get out and active during these difficult times.
- Year 3- Basketball- learning how to pass, shoot, dribble and layups, plus a Aussie Hoops @ Home and Community Hustle Program.
- Year 5- Golf- learning how to chip, putt, stroke techniques and long game.
- Year 6- Ultimate Frisbee- learning how to use their forehand, backhand and catching.
CSNSW Update: Cancelled All Schools Events In Term 4
In line with the Premier’s announcement regarding COVID-19 restrictions and back to school roll out we wish to advise the following events have been cancelled:
- NSWPSSA Primary Boys Football (Soccer) Championship on Wednesday 6 October to Friday 8 October at Griffith
- NSWPSSA Primary Netball Championship on Monday 11 October to Wednesday 13 October at Menai
- NSWPSSA Primary Rugby Union Championship on Tuesday 12 October to Thursday 14 October at Mudgee
- NSW All Schools Cross Country Championship (primary and secondary) on Monday 18 October at Eastern Creek
- NSWPSSA Primary Girls Rugby Union 7s on Thursday 21 October and Friday 22 October at Gateshead
- NSWPSSA Primary Athletics Championship on Thursday 2 December and Friday 3 December at Sydney Olympic Park.
We understand the disappointment that may follow this announcement, however, as always, the health, safety and wellbeing of all members of the school community was at the heart of this decision.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this challenging time.
Other Cancellations
Further sporting event cancellations are the Polding Athletics Carnival and the Lismore Diocese Athletics Carnival.
Staff Getting Ready for Spring Into Summer
Each year, staff at St Peter’s participate in “Spring into Summer”. This Parish initiative supports families in our Parish Schools with financial assistance. Staff are asked to get out and active daily and at the same donate money to this very worthy cause. Our school goal this year is to raise $1000.00 for families.
The Road Ahead
As I have said above, although there are many unknowns, we will keep planning for events until we are told otherwise.
The following events are scheduled for Terms 3 and 4:
Coming Up
MNC Rugby Union | Wednesday August 25 - Postponed and awaiting a new date |
Touch Gala Day (Years 3 and 4) | Thursday September 9 - Cancelled |
Zone Athletics Carnival | Term 4- Week 1 TBC |
School Swimming Carnival | Friday October 8 TBC |
Kindy Intensive Swimming | commencing Monday October 11 and concluding Friday October 22 |
Hastings Zone Summer Sport Trials | Monday October 25 (Years 4 and 5) |
MNC Northern Qualifier Rugby League (Years 5-6) | Wednesday October 27 |
MNC State Final- Rugby League (Years 5-6) | Wednesday November 3 (If we make it) |
MNC Basketball Gala Day (Years 5-6) | Thursday November 4 |
Jeff Arkinstall - Leader of Sport
Term 3 Calendar
See the weekly calendar for updates !
Monday 6th September |
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Tuesday 7th September |
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Wednesday 8th September |
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Thursday 9th September |
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Friday 10th September |
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Online Borrowing -'Click and Collect'
Orders will be available for collection on Tuesday afternoon from 12.00 - 2.00pm.
Please limit requests to 2 items per child.
Week 9 is the final week for click and collect orders from the Library.
Please follow the link below for instructions.
St Peter's Library Click and Collect Instructions
Reminders :
- Not all titles under the 'new items' banner will be available, please submit a 3rd choice, just in case.
- Overdrive read eBooks and audio books may be borrowed directly from Oliver (Please don't add these books to your basket as I cannot check them out to individuals)
- Updated instructions for SORA are attached below
Any enquiries please contact Fran Cullen email: fran.cullen@lism.catholic.edu.au
MS Readathon
She finished the challenge with 57 books read and $320.44 raised in total !!!!
She’s always loved reading and is happy she’s been able to help sick children.
Well done Brooklyn - what an amazing achievement !!!
Premier's Reading Challenge
Due to so many students in the Greater Sydney area being impacted by the current lockdown, the Premier’s Reading Challenge finish date has been extended until today Friday September 3rd.
Fran Cullen - Librarian
Catholic Schools Parent Assembly
Webinar Tuesday 14th September 7.00pm to 8.00pm
Butterfly is delighted to announce the launch of Body Kind Families which provides parents with important information and practical tips to support positive body image in teens. It also encourages everyone in a family to be body kind; to their own and to others.
Live webinars (early Sept) | Videos | Tips Sheets | Family Activities | FAQs
Practical help with:
- Building resilience to social media pressures
- Talking to your teen about appearance and weight
- Encouraging healthy eating and exercise behaviours
- Boys' body image
- Being kind and compassionate to your own body
- Responding to body image concerns.
Click on the link .....Butterfly - Let's Talk eating disorders
... a Collection of FREE WEBINARS
courtesy of PARENT ASSEMBLY
Parent Assembly have put together a collection of helpful parenting webinars on a range of topics for more information click on the link HERE ....
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Support Healthy Body Image in Your Child 9th September - 7pm - Zoom - 'Let's Talk Body Image in Boys' TO REGISTER - please click on the Link |
Variety’s We Learn Grant is now open for applications
The Variety We Learn Grant helps families living with financial hardship to purchase educational technology and supplies.
A computer and internet access at home is an essential part of school life (especially when school and home collide – hello, lockdown!). Not to mention all the extra exercise books, paper, pens and colouring pencils that are now taking up residence on those dining tables being used as school desks!
Of course, we know not every child is fortunate enough to have all of these resources. And without them, kids are faced not only with significant academic challenges but also with issues such as social isolation that can prevent them from reaching their full potential. Unfortunately, these challenges and risks are often increased in remote and rural areas where kids may not have access to everything they need for online learning.
The Variety We Learn Grant is here to help bridge the gap.
Open to families with children aged 4 years – 18 years throughout NSW and the ACT, We Learn comprises two grants – Educational Technology and Educational Supplies.
Applications for the We Learn Grant are open from Monday 26 July 2021 and closes at 5pm AEST Friday 3 September 2021 without exception.
Link: Variety We Learn Grant
Drawing Competition
The HEM - SOLD Sticker Competition 2021 has been extended for a further 2 weeks.
If you would like to enter please click on the link, print off, create your design and email back to pmacp@lism.catholic.edu.au