Dear parents and carers,

Three things that instantly promote a positive shift in our emotional state: music, exercise, and laughter.― Hugh van Cuylenburg, The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness

Looking back on a busy term I was recently reflecting on how we could slow things down (both for us as parents and for our children) during the holidays. I was reflecting on the learning staff had undertaken some years ago now with Hugh van Cuylenburg who founded the Resilience project. Hugh spoke with our staff about resilience and the connection to happiness (or positive emotion).

Hugh found that the more positive emotion you experience the more resilient you will be. So how do we slow things down and cultivate positive emotion? Hugh suggests we do this through encouraging gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. So, as we head into the holidays, I encourage our school community to take some time each day to look for the positives, to find some mindful minutes (this may be through an app such as Smiling minds – which many of our students would have experience with) or simply taking the time to do something you truly enjoy.

Some highlights (positive experiences) from this term have included:

Year six camp to Canberra

Year 6 Sports Gala Day

Indigenous Literacy Big Book Swap

Music Assembly

Grade 5 Smoothie Bar

Year One excursion to Science works

Foundation dance performance

Wear it Yellow Day supporting Children’s Ground

Chinese Dragon Boat Incursion

Year 3 and 4 Swimming

The introduction of dance club by our sports captains

A huge thank you to all the families that came to school on Sunday for our Grade 3/4 Working Bee - our yards are looking fantastic. Special thanks to Billy Bishop's (1LR) family for donating a great new planter box. We can't wait to grow something lovely in it. The next working bee is on Sunday August 27th (Year 5/6 families).

Have a safe holiday break and I look forward to seeing everyone back at school for a great third term.

Susan Williamson-Petrie

Assistant Principal

Clifton Hill Primary School acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we come together to learn, and we pay our respects to Elders of the Kulin Nation past and present.