Chaplain's Spot
Building families with games
One of the few positive aspects of our Covid lockdowns was the games my wife Bonnie and I played. Our regular ones are lately Triominos, Rummy-O, Bananas and Upwords. Family game times can be very special, building memories, strengthening connections.
Recently, I’ve been trying variations on normal games, to change things around. Try these:
1] ‘How many words can I get from my name?’ I am up to 170 words from Alan Silverwood! It is a great challenge. When I was young I remember a group challenge using long words, like encyclopaedia or tyrannosaurus. This could be a competition or a group activity.
2] An animals version of the NATO phonetic alphabet, such as aardvark, baboon, camel, donkey, elephant, frog, goanna, hamster etc. You could try this with types of food, or countries, or names.
3] Come up with words to describe each other [from A-Z]. These can be funny ones, or appropriate ones, but certainly not put-downs.
4] Draw each other’s faces – an accurate version, a funny version. Even try self-portraits.
5] ‘Would you rather … ?’ Players choose between 2 funny or challenging scenarios. You can make up your own questions. Here are examples: Would you rather be forced to sing along or dance to every single song you hear? Would you rather swim in a pool full of Nutella or a pool full of maple syrup?
6] For variety, play board games but make up your own rules, such as up snakes & down ladders in Snakes & Ladders, or play multiple cards of the same number.
How competitive are you and your family? Competition can be healthy, but never forget that the most important aspect of family games is to have fun!
So … try the ones above, and see which ones you enjoy the most. Do you have any favourites that your family loves to play? Let me know.
Toast Tuesday: Our free breakfast program runs weekly on Tuesdays at 8.30am, and is open to all students. We also have emergency food items available if you would like some extra support at any time.
There are two main businesses who support our breakfast program – please support them if that suits your preferences and your budget.
We are thankful to Woolies Eastland, who supports us with gift cards for our spreads.
We are also thankful to Bakers Delight Heathmont, for their provision of loaves for Toast Tuesday, plus other bakery items for our families. If you would appreciate some regular bakery items, such as loaves, rolls, pizza bases etc. please email me, or see me at school.
Second-hand uniforms: Come and check out our second-hand uniform items at Toast Tuesday, or at our fortnightly assemblies. We have several school BAGS in good condition, plus about a dozen school HATS. Come and check them out - to be prepared for the warmer weather.
Just a reminder: Please name your child’s uniform items, so that if they are mislaid, they might find their way home again. Unnamed items usually make their way to the second-hand stock.
Contact: Feel free to contact me about anything that is of concern for you or your family, whether emotional, social, spiritual or practical. I am happy to meet with you on a Wednesday or Thursday, if you would like to chat about any life challenges.
Regarding students, I can meet with them once, and for further contact we ask parents to sign a Consent Form. If you would like a form, I can send one home, give you one on Tuesday mornings, or email one to you.
Alan Silverwood: Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community. [Tuesday & Friday]
[alan.silverwood@education.vic.gov.au]
Supporting the School community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing.
Our Chaplaincy program is funded by the Federal Government’s ‘National Student Wellbeing Program’, the GRPS School Council and donations.
