Wellbeing

Positive Behaviours for Learning

At SFS, our PBL (Positive behaviours for learning) school wide expectations are:

Respect, 

Responsibility and 

Kindness

The whole school has a PBL lesson on a Monday at 1pm. This week we have focused on RESPONSIBILITY: Think before you act in the Learning space, particularly thinking about the words we use with others.

Here are 2 of our lucky raffle PBL winners from the last week who have been demonstrating our schoolwide expected behaviours.

Some children choose a casual dress day and other children have an alternative reward for winning the raffle. Noah and Tom enjoyed some time shooting hoops in the hall for 10 minutes during the week.

National Reconciliation Week

This week is National Reconciliation week. The following information comes from the Reconciliation Australia website. “National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.  

Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.”

National Reconciliation week leads into NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islanders Observance Committee) week which this year is Sunday 7th July until 14th July. NAIDOC Week is important as it’s an opportunity for learning, connection and community. 

It gives First Nations people and non-Indigenous people the opportunity to celebrate and connect with community and Country. And it’s a chance for everyone, not just First Nations people, to celebrate all aspects of First Nations histories and cultures.

The theme this year is “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud”. 

The fire represents the culture that has been around for so many generations, that has kepot burning like a fire, despite all the challenges First Nations people have faced. 

The deliberate spelling of “blak” has been chosen to empower Aboriginal people to be proud of their heritage and Indigenous identity. The song chosen for choirs to sing this year is called “Black fella, white fella” by Warumpi band.

The choir have begun learning to sing this song at a special assembly early in Term 3. We discussed the message with the children and that it is not being racist to use the words “black fella, white fella”. The message of the song is that we all deserve to be respected regardless of the colour of our skin. Here are some of the lyrics.

We are going to be celebrating Aboriginal culture and history early in Term 3 with a Specialist day on Thursday 25th July. 

We have a special incursion with Digeridoo Australia at 9 am in the hall. The students will have a Didge & Dance Performance. “This assembly concert starts with setting the mood with an acknowledgement of Country, followed by Barama presenting interactive storytelling & dance, accompanied by the mystical sound of the didgeridoo as played by Ganga Giri. Ganga will introduce the didgeridoo and gradually take the students on a musical, tribal didgeridoo and beats dance frenzy. A great concert with plenty of audience participation - the students enjoy learning rhythm and dance and celebrating multi-cultural Australia in the now.”

Parents and Carers are most welcome to come along to this special performance in the hall on Thursday 25th July at 9 am.

The children will be involved in other activities learning about Aboriginal culture and history throughout the day.

Child Safe standards

The Child Safe Standards aim to protect children and young people, by requiring organisations to put policies, procedures and processes in place to prevent and respond to abuse. They aim to make keeping children and young people safe. There are 11 standards.

Standard 9

Organisations make sure children are safe when they use their services, settings, and activities. This includes when children are online.

Your organisation must: 

• make sure that staff and volunteers can find and stop risks. When doing this they must still protect a child’s right to – privacy – information – have friends and not feel alone – learn

 • make sure that staff and volunteers understand online safety. When they are online, they must meet your organisation’s – Code of Conduct – Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

 • write risk management plans. These are plans for how you will deal with risks that may come from your settings, activities, and environment 

• protect the safety of children when your organisation uses the facilities or services of other organisations. 

Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)

As part of my role as Mental Health and Wellbeing leader, I am able to help parents find the right support for their child if they have concerns about their wellbeing and mental health. We have interventions that we can put in place internally at the school level and also many external services that I may be able to help you connect with. Please come and speak to me at school, you can ring the school or email me rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Some local community services that might be able to support families of SFS.

Twilight Market 

Our annual Twilight Market and biannual Art show will be on this year on Thursday 7th November 2024 from 5 to 8pm. The cost of a stall this year is 30 dollars. This is an event we always look forward to each year. 

If anyone has a small business they would like to promote or students and families would like to have their own stall, please speak with me or email me rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au with details of your stall. 

Please let your family and friends know as well. Let’s make this year’s market the best one yet. 

If you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Rachel Lenko

rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Mental Health and Wellbeing leader