Principal's News

Dear Parents & Carers

In last week’s newsletter I wrote about conflict at school. Continuing this theme I thought it worth sharing a description of the way we deal with Conflict here at school. 

As a Catholic school our processes call to mind the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which many of our students are now preparing for through the Parish’s Sacramental Program. The Religious Education program in our school will also be focused on this topic to support the Parish program. 

The focus of the Reconciliation is on our flawed humanity and how important it is to learn to admit our failings and experience forgiveness as a way of strengthening our relationship with God and with each other.

As I have written many times before, children will inevitably experience some conflict at school, because children will make mistakes at school. In our overall development as human beings it is important that we do have these experiences. Children learn to negotiate, compromise, listen to the views of others, problem solve and build resilience. Our school is a very safe place for this to happen. Sometimes the grown ups need to stay out of the way to ensure the children get a chance to practise these skills and sometimes the grown ups need to help. It takes WISDOM to know the difference.

I have attached this document on page 3 of the newsletter.

Briefly though, it requires a trusting relationship where the child knows that they are in a safe space to admit what they have done wrong. Naughtiness passes, HONESTY  and COURAGE are character traits that we want to encourage in our kids. And it takes honesty and courage to confess what we have done wrong. 

We try to teach our children EMPATHY - by asking them to tell us how the other person might feel because of our actions or hurtful words...how might their Mum feel?

When the child demonstrates that they understand this they can prepare a sincere apology - one where they name their “sin”, where they explain that they understand the negative impact they have caused, and they ask for forgiveness.

If all of this has taken place sincerely, in my experience FORGIVENESS IS ALWAYS FORTHCOMING.

Penance is part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation - “What will you do to make up for this?” This ALWAYS involves a solemn promise to try not to do whatever caused the hurt again and is followed by a “Sign of Peace” It’s important that this is a physical sign. It may be a handshake, but at school it is more often a hug. 

This is the model we use. We are a Catholic School. Feel free to try it at home.

Details about the Sacramental Program are available via St Mary’s Parish or via our Religious Education Leader, Julie Leonard.

PARENT / TEACHER MEETINGS (Gr 1 - 6) These meetings are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday. The meetings are a great opportunity to meet with your child(ren)’s teacher(s) in order to share any concerns parents may have and establish some common goals for these amazing kids. Parents are asked to book these appointments through PAM.  Bookings are now open.

FOUNDATION (PREP) INTERVIEWS will be held on or about the 20th of March.

SWIMMING SPORTS Last Thursday our Grade 4 to 6 children swam in our Swimming Sports. The timeline is dictated by the Victorian Primary School Sports Association which means it always occurs BEFORE we get a chance to conduct Swimming lessons, which are scheduled for later in the year.

However, the event ran beautifully thanks to Ms Lynch who does such an amazing job as our Physical Education teacher and Sports Leader. Nicole constantly goes above and beyond to give all children the opportunities to compete across an ever growing number of Sports. 

Thanks to the children who competed enthusiastically and showed such great sportsmanship throughout the event and thank you to the many parents who were able to assist us on the day, AND thanks too, to Ms Lynch’s daughter Cody who came along and was a big help too.

Finally congratulations to Arundell (Gold Team) on their overall victory.

ASH WEDNESDAY Fr Michael would like me to pass on his compliments and that of some of his parishioners after our children attended last Wednesday’s Ash Wednesday Mass. As always, the children were attentive, reverent and respectful during Mass. Thanks kids.

Jack Lenaghan - Principal