St Patrick's Newsletter

News

COMPASS

Starting on the 5th May our school started using Compass as our Parent Portal. You will have access to up-to-date and meaningful information about our school and your child. Please note not all features will be available when you first access Compass. Modules will be released gradually to our parent portals.  As modules become enabled parents will be notified.

It is most important that you keep your Username and Password secure, just like your bank account details.  They should not be shared with anyone, including your children. 

You are now able to login to Compass using your unique Username and Password which was sent to you via email. Please take the opportunity to login. If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact our School Office on 6777 2328 during school hours or email spwadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au

 

COMPASS - Parent Portal 

1. Search for “Compass School Manager”

itunes Apps Store - Android App Store - Google Play. 

2. Search for Walcha (search for the town, St Patrick's will bring up too many school results)

3. You will be asked to put in your individual login details.  

4. You will then be taken to the homepage of the APP  

5. If you haven't already logged into the parent portal on the internet, you will be prompted to update your email and mobile number. 

6. Once you have completed all these steps school notifications will be sent straight to your phone. 

* If you have lost your Compass Login Username and Password, please contact our office so we can supply you with your login details. 

 

Compass Kiosk

Overview

The Compass Kiosk is a touch-screen unit designed for use within the school's administration office.The Kiosk provides an integrated online terminal for student late arrivals and early departures, visitors to the school  and various other functions.The Kiosk integrates with Compass, including updates to attendance information, emergency management data and the registration of visitors and contractors; this integration greatly reduces the administrative time required and alleviates the use of manual processes (i.e. sign-in/out books etc). 

 

 

Centacare

 

 

 

UNESAP - Let's Hang It! Changes to the Art Show for 2020

The current restrictions relating to COVID-19 have impacted on this year’s University of New England School Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP) Let’s Hang It! exhibition. We have made the difficult decision to cancel the physical presentation of awards and display of the students’ works and pivot to an online exhibition.

 

We thank all the schools and students who have contributed so enthusiastically in the past and we hope teachers will encourage their students to participate again this year despite the changed circumstances.

 

The submission period for entry opens Monday 18 May and closes Friday 15 June 2020.

 

The new method for delivery of entries will be as follows:

  1. Artwork to be photographed by student/family member
    • Landscape or portrait orientation to match work, jpeg
    • Jpeg files to be named using the following protocol:
      • Year of School_Surname_First Initial
      • e.g. Yr8_Hungerford_B
  2. Teacher to collate all entries and completed entry forms
    • Entry forms to be titled the same as the jpegs (Word or PDF)
    • e.g. Yr8_Hungerford_B
  3. Teacher to send entries (including entry form) digitally to exhibitions@neram.com.au using the free (up to 2GB) ftp site We Transfer https://wetransfer.com/

 

The selection process will take place remotely and schools will be notified of any finalists. Finalists’ works will then need to be posted or delivered to NERAM to be professionally photographed for the online exhibition.

 

Details regarding the publishing of the online exhibition and announcement of the award-winners will be confirmed shortly. 

 

Yours sincerely,

Belinda Hungerford

Manager Exhibitions & Curatorial

School Photo Day - POSTPONED

 

Good For Kids Good for Life

 

 

 

2 June 2020

CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT

by Michael Grose

 

Going back to school after the enforced COVID-19 break is a source of mixed emotions for many children and young people. Some students, who revel in face-to-face interactions, just can’t wait to reconnect with friends and teachers. Others who have appreciated the break from constantly being emotionally switched on when at school may be reticent to return.

Regardless of how your child reacts there’s bound to be a level of anxiety attached to returning to school after such a long break. The following strategies sourced from my book, Anxious Kids, will help your child make a smooth transition back to school.

Park your expectations

School undoubtedly will be a different experience for students post COVID-19. It may require you to adjust your expectations, particularly academically, so patience is definitely required. Education is a long game, so if you are worried about your child missing the educational beat, recognise that this experience has been a blip on the educational curve. It’s worth remembering that anxiety loves company. Park your expectations for a time, so your child won’t pick up your anxieties.

Understand that their anxiety is real

An anxious child desperately wants a parent to understand that they feel anxious and apprehensive. Even if, you can’t comprehend the impact that a return to school has on their state of mind and physiology, recognise that their anxiety is real. “Ah, I see you’re worried that you won’t know what to do when you go to school” is the type of response that an anxious child wants from a parent. Validating your child’s feelings will help them feel safe and secure, putting them in a good position to make a return to school. “Mum/dad know that I’m feeling nervous” is very reassuring for a child.

Prepare them

Worriers and anxious types in particular, like to know what’s ahead. Prepare your child for a return by discussing the safety procedures the school will be implementing. Let young children know that an adult won’t be accompanying them past the school gate. Ask your child what they are looking forward to and check in with how they are feeling about a return. Check in regularly with how they are feeling and correct any misconceptions.

Focus on reconnection

Make reconnection the theme for your child’s return to school. He or she will have to reconnect with friends, teachers and learning, which takes time. In all likelihood, your child’s teachers will use many strategies to help your child connect with their friends, reflect on their time at home and move them back into full-time learning mode. Support these activities and reassure your child that they’ll feel comfortable very soon with their school experience.

Stay off the roundabout for a while

This period will mirror the start of the school year when your child had to adjust to new teachers, different classmates and a new year level. Adjusting to change takes a great deal of personal energy, so your child or young person may become tired, grumpy, even moody at home. Make allowances for these personal changes and make sure they have plenty of free time to unwind after school to relax and play.

Take care of yourself

In recent months parents and teachers have been doing significant emotional labour. The learning and adjustment curves have been massive, with little time to relax and take a break. Consider your own emotional resources and make your wellbeing a priority, which will make it easier for you to stay calm if your child experiences difficulties.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown many difficulties, requiring us all to quickly adapt to new situations. Flexibility is a prime characteristic of resilient people, so if nothing else, getting through these times will make us all more resilient.

Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s an award-winning speaker and the author of 12 books for parents including Spoonfed Generation, and the bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It. Michael is a former teacher with 15 years experience, and has 30 years experience in parenting education. He also holds a Master of Educational Studies from Monash University specialising in parenting education. Meet our Experts

 

Council of Catholic SchoolParents -eNewsletter 

http://ccsp.schoolzineplus.com/newsletter/67613