Student 

Wellbeing

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support

This fortnight, we continue to have a focus on the expectations in the yard during break time. In addition to ensuring our equipment is looked after and returned safely, we have included jumpers and rubbish as part of our message.

We are also continuing to monitor our high traffic areas to ensure students are walking safely and being mindful of others.  

Mini Blitz: Be Friendly

It’s up to all of us to take care of our equipment on the yard,  

making sure it’s looked after and returned safely isn’t too hard!

Each week, we count up our pebbles across the whole school. Pebbles are earned by students who are following the school expectations! These pebbles are tallied up into house team and class totals. We announce these results at assembly. 

RUOK? Day

Next Thursday 11th, is RUOK? Day. We will have a busy day at St Monca's next Thursday, having visitors from Classroom Mastery supporting us in implementing our classroom management routines. With a busy schedule on Thursday, we have decided to acknowledge RUOK day on Friday of next week, where we can better recognise this important message. Keep an eye out for what we have planned next Friday!

Attendance

You can view your child's attendance on the SimonEverywhere App. Attendance percentage appears just below the students profile when you click on the home icon. 

Each edition of the newsletter we share the attendance percentage from the previous two weeks. Below is a break down of the most recent fortnight. The aim is 95% attendance. While it's wonderful to be aiming for 95-100% we know that this is not always possible with illness, fatigue and family days all factors across the duration of a term.

Shout out to our Year 1s who this fortnight have joined our Years 2, 3 and 4 in getting above 90%!

Cyber Safety/Online Gaming/Social Media

As mentioned in previous newsletters as a school we are fortunate to have partnered with a well renowned cyber safety organisation Safe on Social (Ctrl+Shft). Recently this organisation released a parent and carer guide on the impending 16+ age restriction on social media accounts. 

"From December 10, 2025, social media platforms in Australia will be legally required to prevent under-16s from creating or maintaining accounts.This isn’t about punishment—it’s about protection. 

A national shift designed to give young people more time to grow, connect, and build resilience before being handed over to systems designed for profit, not their wellbeing.At CTRL+SHFT, we know change like this brings both relief and resistance. That’s why everything in this guide is designed to support parents, carers, educators, and youth advocates as they navigate this digital transition with confidence and care.Whether you're starting tough conversations, looking for safer alternatives, or helping your child build what comes next, you're in the right place."

Please click the link below for this highly helpful guide:

As part of our partnership with Safe on Social, we have a library of resources, cheat sheets and supports regarding any aspect of Cyber Safety/Online Gaming/Social Media. If you are finding any of these a challenge with your child, please feel free to reach out and we can provide some specific information and support in this space. 

For more information email: dboulton@smkangarooflat.catholic.edu.au

Parent Workshop Opportunity - Lael Stone

CatholicCare are excited to be hosting Lael Stone, parenting speaker, educator, and author for an upcoming parenting workshop ‘Creating Cooperation and Connection’ at The Capital Theatre on Tuesday 28th October at 7pm. Tickets are $10 including booking fee. Lael is a renowned presenter in the parenting space and we are lucky to have this opportunity within our community. Lael is a popular guest on many well known podcasts and I have no doubt this will be an engaging experience. 

See the flyer below for further information and booking link.

Fresh Fruit Friday 

This is a great initiative but please make sure children are still bringing a piece of fruit in their lunchbox for fruit break as fruit is not available all week. 

Season’s for Growth

 A grief and loss program

Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Monica’s we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances, children and young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. We are therefore offering a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth. This program is facilitated in small groups and is based on research that highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and support networks. Seasons for Growth runs for eight weeks and each weekly session is 40-50 minutes during school hours. The program concludes with a 'Celebration' session. Later in the year each group will have the opportunity to meet for a re-connector session to build on their earlier learning and to follow up how each child is going. 

Seasons for Growth will commence in term 2 and will be facilitated by Carina Johns(5/6 Teacher) and Bronwyn Fieldew ( Family Liaison Officer) who has received special training in the use of this program. 

For more information please contact Bronwyn at the school and/or express your interest in this program by filling out the email form below  which will be sent to Bronwyn Fieldew. St Monica’s is pleased to be able to offer this important program and we are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those who request to be involved.

Please send an email below letting us know if your child would like your child/children to participate in this program. Please include the following information: 

Student name, class and whether they have experienced separation or loss. 

Helpful Parent resources:

• rch.org.au
• earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au
• parentingideas.com.au
• australia.gov.au
• kidsafe.com.au
• betterhealth.vic.gov.au
• kidsmatter.edu.au
• youtube.com - Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University