Student 

Wellbeing

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support

Over the previous month, we have had a focus on the expectations in the yard during break time. We have shared the message of ensuring our equipment is looked after and returned safely, jumpers collected and rubbish away as well as walking safely and being mindful of others in high traffic areas. 

This week we have encouraged students to be punctual when the music begins and make sure they move towards their line at the conclusion of break time safely but efficiently. 

Mini Blitz:  

When you hear the music begin, 

it’s equipment away, drink, toilet and line up, 

before we calmly head back in.

Each week, we count up our pebbles across the whole school. Pebbles are earned by students who are following the school expectations! These pebbles are tallied up into house team and class totals. We announce these results at assembly. 

So far our term winners have been: Term 1- Backhaus & Term 2- Augustine

Our lucky winning house for Term 3 will be announced at our first assembly next term!

Augustine Reward Lunch

This week, Augustine celebrated winning the pebble challenge from all the way back in Term 2! They got to share pizza and hot chips together in the library! This was a reward for all of the effort that each Augustine house member has put in to earning pebbles for their team. 

RUOK? Day

Last Thursday was RUOK Day. Knowing we already had a busy day lined up, we decided to acknowledge this important message the next day on Friday. Students were invited to wear a splash of yellow and there was plenty of excitement for the activities we had planned for later in the day. Classes buddied up with another grade in a different year level for an hour of fun together! The buddy classes begun by watching a short clip about the importance of checking in with your friends before they shared an afternoon of creativity and fun. It was wonderful walking through the school and seeing students enjoying time with each other and participating in anything from chalk drawn obstacle courses outside, origami creations, murals and games just to name a few! 

Attendance

You can view your child's attendance on the SimonEverywhere App. Attendance percentage appears just below the students profile when you click on the home icon. 

Each edition of the newsletter we share the attendance percentage from the previous two weeks. Below is a break down of the most recent fortnight. The aim is 95% attendance. While it's wonderful to be aiming for 95-100% we know that this is not always possible with illness, fatigue and family days all factors across the duration of a term.

Shout out to our Foundation through to Year 4 who all improved their attendance percentage this fortnight!

Congratulations to last weeks GEM award winners at assembly:

Ivy Brennan, Erin Duro, Aniket Mishra & Scarlett Robertson

Over the coming issues of the newsletter, we will share some prompts and activities you can do at home with your families using TRP. This week it's Gratitude. I am lucky to have the opportunity to work with and chat to so many students across all grades each day. Often when some of these students are having "one of those days" or are feeling flat, I use the gratitude GEM chats similar to the one below to help frame their mindset into a more positive space.

Cyber Safety/Online Gaming/Social Media

As mentioned in previous newsletters as a school we are fortunate to have partnered with a well renowned cyber safety organisation Safe on Social (Ctrl+Shft). Recently this organisation released a parent and carer guide on the impending 16+ age restriction on social media accounts. Please click the link below for this highly helpful guide:

As part of our partnership with Safe on Social, we have a library of resources, cheat sheets and supports regarding any aspect of Cyber Safety/Online Gaming/Social Media. If you are finding any of these a challenge with your child, please feel free to reach out and we can provide some specific information and support in this space. 

For more information email: dboulton@smkangarooflat.catholic.edu.au

Parent Workshop Opportunity - Lael Stone

CatholicCare are excited to be hosting Lael Stone, parenting speaker, educator, and author for an upcoming parenting workshop ‘Creating Cooperation and Connection’ at The Capital Theatre on Tuesday 28th October at 7pm. Tickets are $10 including booking fee. Lael is a renowned presenter in the parenting space and we are lucky to have this opportunity within our community. Lael is a popular guest on many well known podcasts and I have no doubt this will be an engaging experience. 

See the flyer below for further information and booking link.

Fresh Fruit Friday 

This is a great initiative but please make sure children are still bringing a piece of fruit in their lunchbox for fruit break as fruit is not available all week. 

Season’s for Growth

 A grief and loss program

Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Monica’s we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances, children and young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. We are therefore offering a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth. This program is facilitated in small groups and is based on research that highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and support networks. Seasons for Growth runs for eight weeks and each weekly session is 40-50 minutes during school hours. The program concludes with a 'Celebration' session. Later in the year each group will have the opportunity to meet for a re-connector session to build on their earlier learning and to follow up how each child is going. 

Seasons for Growth will commence in term 2 and will be facilitated by Carina Johns(5/6 Teacher) and Bronwyn Fieldew ( Family Liaison Officer) who has received special training in the use of this program. 

For more information please contact Bronwyn at the school and/or express your interest in this program by filling out the email form below  which will be sent to Bronwyn Fieldew. St Monica’s is pleased to be able to offer this important program and we are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those who request to be involved.

Please send an email below letting us know if your child would like your child/children to participate in this program. Please include the following information: 

Student name, class and whether they have experienced separation or loss. 

Helpful Parent resources:

• rch.org.au
• earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au
• parentingideas.com.au
• australia.gov.au
• kidsafe.com.au
• betterhealth.vic.gov.au
• kidsmatter.edu.au
• youtube.com - Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University