Principal's Message
Dear Parents/Carers,
Very soon we will celebrate Father’s Day.
I recently read an article by Michael Grose, a leading Australian parenting educator, who wrote about ways that Dads and father-figures, including those who don’t live with their children, can build even stronger and more positive relationships with their children. It does, however, provide some good suggestions about ways that ALL parents can improve their communication with the children.
I hope you find it interesting!
Steve Darcy (Principal)
P.S. I know that many of our Fathers struggle to find the time to read these sorts of articles……..what my wife used to do if she wanted me to read something was to print TWO copies and put one next to my bed and the other in the bathroom! (Why waste that two minutes it takes to clean our teeth!)
Today, involvement in their kids’ lives is the mantra of most fathers. Most men want to be more than breadwinners, and want to share in as many aspects of parenting as
practical. They want to know what’s going on in their kids’ lives and they want to be hands on. In fact, many dads tell me that they want a better relationship with their children, particularly their sons, than they had with their own fathers. Sadly, many men still don’t enjoy a close a relationship with their fathers, but they are determined to change things with their own kids. Here are seven ideas to help you form close relationships with your kids, and maximise your effectiveness as a parent and a partner:
1. Find something in common with your kids
Dads relate better with their children when they have something in common. Finding that common bond can be tricky though. Many men relate to their kids while being active, and teach many important lessons through games and play. But if sport is not your bag, find something else that you and your kids have in common. A common interest is a great help for fathers who live apart from their kids who are looking to maximise the time they have with them.
2. Tell your sons you’re proud of them
Boys want their dads to be proud of them. They just yearn to hear their dads say, “I’m so proud of you and what you do!” Some dads struggle getting those words out! It’s not so much that they are not proud, it’s just that many dads want their sons to be better. Some dads need to be careful not to push their sons too hard or turn every game into a lesson. That’s when boys turn off their dads.
3. Don’t wimp out on discipline
Dads are traditionally the kings of play, but they can go missing when it comes to discipline. They get their kids excited in a game before going to bed, then they expect their partner to settle them down. Both parents can take their share of managing children’s behaviour.
4. Treat your daughters well
There are strong links between close fathering and the healthy development of girls.
Dads teach their daughters strong lessons about how they should be treated by males. So dads need to treat their daughters respectfully so they learn to expect this treatment in their future relationships with men.
5. Say goodbye Superman, hello Clarke Kent
Adolescent boys are programmed to challenge their fathers. It’s part of growing up. Author John Marsden refers to this phenomenon as the ‘old ram, young ram syndrome’. Verbal jousting matches are a popular father-son game in which boys take great delight in proving their fathers are fallible. A dad at this stage needs a sense of humour as well as a willingness to stand back and allow other mentors into his son’s life.
6. Support your partner
Fathers may play an integral part in the lives of their children but they also have a profound effect on the quality of mothering that children receive. A woman who can share the emotional and financial burdens of child-rearing with a supportive partner is more likely to be a loving, affirming mother.
7. Change as your child changes
They’re children one day and teenagers the next. The most effective dads are those who change their parenting to suit the needs of their kids at each stage of development, rather than stubbornly hold to outmoded ideas of how they think their kids should be. Fathers who are a little apprehensive or lack sufficient confidence should become involved in as many aspects of parenting as they can. The best way to learn about parenting is by doing it. By being alert, watchful and listening to their children, fathers can learn all they need to know about parenting.
DANCING SUPERSTARS
Congratulations to all the students who competed at the Sydney Eisteddfod Primary School Dance competition last Sunday.
They did a wonderful job and were great ambassadors for our School, and for their families.
Special thanks to Miss Amedee and Mr Sedlak for the time and effort they put into preparing the students for this (including many of their lunchbreaks) and to Miss Norris, Mrs Moss and Mr Heelis for giving up their Sunday to support the children. Not every person has the opportunity to compete and experience the thrill of performing at the Sydney Opera House. It is a memory that those students will have forever.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
The School's current contract with our Uniform supplier ceases at the end of the year. I would like to invite all our parents/carers to complete a short 5 -minute survey to help me understand what you like/dislike about the current supply arrangements. This is NOT about changing the uniform design or adding new uniform items.
To complete the survey please click here
This survey will close on Friday.
NAPLAN RESULTS
Year 3 results had St Patrick’s Sutherland above the State, the Sydney Catholic Schools and Statistically Similar School Groups (SSSG) averages in READING, WRITING and NUMERACY.
Year 5 results had St. Patrick’s Sutherland above the State and SSSG average in NUMERACY, and above the state average in READING.
As a school we will be doing further analysis of the results with all staff in regard to the performance of the cohorts and the School’s performance in particular KLA’s.
AMADEUS PERFORMANCES
Our very talented musicians will be showcasing their talents at different times this Term. Have a look below to see when your child may be performing.
Week 7 (Friday 5 September )– Father’s Day Breakfast 8:20
Performance Band & Strings before school performance
Week 8 (Friday 12 September Assembly 2:15)
Year 5 String & Band Ensembles
Week 9 (Friday 19 September 8:20)
Before School Year 4 ensembles perform
CYBER SAFETY FOR PARENTS
In our recent newsletter, we informed you that Y-safe is once again coming to St Patrick's to conduct cybersafety sessions for our students in Years 3-6.
As part of this, they are also providing a webinar to any parents interested in attending. The webinar will be held on Monday 1st September at 6.30pm and will be an online meeting. The session will discuss practical ways that you, as parents and carers, can help protect kids in the digital world. It is open to all parents from Kinder to Year 6.
Please register at the following link in order to secure your place at the meeting.
https://familyzone.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V_mNhdIGREaaGK-DR2qBSQ
TERM 4 DISCO
Our Parent Group would like to organise a disco for our students in Term 4. At this stage the suggested date is Friday 14 November.
If any parent/carer is available to help out (e.g. cooking the BBQ, serving food, selling items, setting up / cleaning up) please email Nikki Blanche at:
An event such as this can only take place with the support of parent volunteers