Around the school

ABCDs of Parenting Workshop

Book Week

GGLPS Book Week 2021 - Week 6, Monday 23rd August – Friday 27th August

Book week is an opportunity for students and schools to celebrate books, authors, illustrators, characters, reading and the places a book can take us to.

This year the theme is ‘Old Worlds New Worlds Other Worlds’. This theme certainly resonates with us in this time of change.

What a great way to venture into a different world through books and reading. Where can we go? To faraway lands, tropical islands, a world in the past, a world in the future, the list is endless. What world would you like to visit?

During Book Week students will

engage with the winning books during their library times
on Friday 27 Aug
- participate in a Read-a-round of the Children’s Book Council of Australia winning books (Check out the shortlisted books at https://www.cbca.org.au/shortlist-2021 )
- can dress up as a favourite character, a book, someone from an old world, new world or another world.
- participate in a whole school parade (COVID safely)

We urge you to take some time to talk to your children about what they might like to dress up as for Book Week. They can let their imagination go beyond this world! We encourage you to have a look around home and modify, reuse, create costumes with materials that you can find at home.

We have included a few sources where you can find ideas. (These were just from a google search).

We look forward to celebrating reading and stories with you all in week 6.

Deirdre and Ruth

Library Ladies of GGLPS

Endeavour College

A friendly reminder to our Connected Schools Communities to please submit an Enrolment Application if you're considering Endeavour College for your son/daughter for Year 7 2023. With spaces filling fast, we anticipate a waitlist will form shortly. You can submit an application for enrolment electronically via our College Website, or in person at our General Reception. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Registrar, Carolyn Wachtel Ph: 8368 3311 or email admin@endeavour.sa.edu.au

Endeavour College Open Days

Endeavour College has Open Days coming up later this year for families who are interested in this excellent school for secondary education. As one of our Connected Schools Partners, Endeavour College can usually offer priority entry for GGLPS students.

The open days will be held on:

Thursday 17 June from 4.00-6.00 pm
Thursday 28 October from 9.00-11.00 am

Save the Date - Snuggies and Uggies Bingo Night 28 August

School Disco

Support for Those Struggling During the Pandemic

Lock down is tough for families, and fortunately here in South Australia, we appear to be in the home straight toward some sort of normality. However if any parents and children out there are struggling, here is some advice from one of our Lutheran Care counsellors about strategies for coping during the current pandemic.

COPING STRATEGIES FOR FAMILIES DURING COVID - FAQ From Mary Raschella, Lutheran Care Family and Schools Counselor.

What are some ways can parents can approach Covid-19 lockdowns?

Parents and families are no strangers to a lockdown. We have been here before and can draw upon our experiences and strengths: what worked and what didn’t work. Decide what works for your family and discuss what the day will look like. This will involve home-schooling times, physical activity, play, work, and chores. Coming together as a family at mealtimes is a good place to connect, discuss and review how the day is taking shape. Keep to some sort of routine and maintain rituals as this provides a sense of safety and belonging for children; this may include bedtime routines, play, household chores, or rituals that you can carry on with like a games night or morning pancakes. A visual calendar of the day’s activities can create predictability which provides the safety our children need in changing times. Along with finding a framework, rhythm, and balance for the day, patience, grace, and accepting this is temporary can all be very helpful.

What is the best way to talk about the current Covid-19 situation in SA and Australia?

Meet your children where they are at, explore what is going on in their world, and find out what they know about the current situation. Asking some open-ended questions about what they know can be helpful such as “Do you have any questions about this lockdown?" Follow their lead, focus on helping your child feel safe, give them honest answers to their questions but don’t overwhelm them with more information than they are asking for.

We are role models for our children so it is important that we keep calm and keep the message positive. We can explain that in Australia we are doing some positive things to minimise the virus such as being part of this lockdown, undertaking vaccinations, social distancing, and wearing masks.

How do you explain Covid19 in an age-appropriate way?

For younger children, keep it positive and reassure them of what is going on by giving them simple facts. Talk to younger children about hygiene and talk to them about specific things they can do to feel in control like wash their hands or get enough sleep and exercise to stay healthy.

Older children still need reassurance but provide more detailed factual information. With older children, be aware of how your kids get news and information, especially online and point them to age-appropriate content so they don't end up finding news shows or outlets that scare them or have incorrect information.

Kids and teens often worry more about family and friends than themselves. For example, if kids hear that older people are more likely to be seriously ill, they might worry about their grandparents. Let them telephone, or video chat with older relatives can help them feel reassured about loved ones.

If children are concerned by what they are seeing in the media, what should we do?

When our children are concerned or scared with what they are seeing on the media it is important to empathise and connect with what they are feeling. Give them space to share their fears, stay calm, listen to their heart, and offer reassurance. Don’t try and fix it for them but instead, let them know that it is normal to feel a bit scared and that you get it.

Put news stories in context; if they ask, explain that serious illness and death in kids from the virus is still rare, despite what they might hear. Watch the news with your kids so you can filter what they hear. If they are concerned about the growing number of cases or contact sites, once again acknowledge their fears and reassure them that some positive measures are in place to minimise the virus such as this lockdown, vaccinations, and wearing masks.

Let your kids know that it's normal to feel stressed out at times. Everyone does. Recognising these feelings and knowing that stressful times pass and life gets back to normal can help children build resilience.

Do you have any suggestions of resources or websites that can help?

Parenting SA as a general site with COVID specific resources at https://parenting.sa.gov.au/parent.../covid-19-resources

• Nature Play - Family, nature and COVID https://natureplaysa.org.au/.../Nature-Play-SA-Family... for lots of fun outdoors.

• The resources on the Playgroup SA site at https://playgroupsa.com.au/services-resources.html can provide some good ideas for keeping the children busy during the lockdown.

• Lifeline https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 13 11 14 available at any time if you need support.

• Emerging minds provides fact sheets in English and translations in different languages - https://emergingminds.com.au/.../helping-children-cope.../

• COVID-19 Mental health support line - Call 1800 632 753

What are some last tips you can offer parents and families at this time?

Be compassionate to yourself, give yourself time to adjust, and acknowledge that this is temporary. If you are struggling, put the pause button on yourself, breathe and take the pressure off all the expectations around home-schooling, clean house, work, etc. Create spaces for each member of the family to go to when you need time out including yourself as a parent. Ensure that you and your family are balancing time to include exercise, sleep, nutritious foods, and recreation. By prioritising your own wellbeing, we will be able to respond to children’s questions, concerns, and anxieties. Surrender to the now, take one day at a time and talk with your family about what you are grateful for and what you look forward to once the lockdown is over.

If you recognise that you need more support at this time, Lutheran Care is offering telephone counselling and parenting support. You can book a time with one of our caring and professional counsellors by phoning 08 8269 9300 or by emailing Mhamidi@lutherancare.org.au