Newsletter Address ~ Term 4, Week 5/6

*Prayer for leaders responsible for making decisions

Father, we seek Your wisdom daily. Be with people making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, countries, and the wider world. We pray that they communicate clearly, truthfully, and calmly — with each other and with the public — and that their messages are received and heeded. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of people setting policies for our protection.

Amen.

Reflection:

The current conflict in Gaza has been a catalyst of unrest across the globe. A deep-seated dispute and hostility has erupted. Sadly, for many in our learning community, the horrors of war are not unfamiliar.

Dialogue requires a respect and acknowledgement of the other as made in the image and likeness of God. What might this mean for our own views of this current conflict? How is this discussed or made sense of in your life? How are children shielded yet made aware of these hostilities? The current conflict has been the source of discussion in my own family. How do we make sense of this? How is it possible that such evils can occur? How do we navigate or make sense of this as Christians? With so much unrest and hostility in the news it’s important to be aware of what your children are watching and wondering. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you are finding it difficult to discuss current events with your children.

Principal's Message:

Dear Parents and Friends of St Mel’s,

The news of my decision to finish my principalship has been met with a sense of sadness and understanding. I appreciate the support and acceptance from all within our community. Time for farewells and formalities will be shared at the end of the year.

Thank you to all those who were able to attend or help at last Friday night’s School Disco. It was loads of fun, especially for the DJ!! It’s always good to let loose a little and be in the moment with the kids. These are the things the kids will remember the most. The fun nights, discos, camps, excursions, book parades, aths days, and especially when their teachers made them laugh and feel good about themselves. It’s all part of the learning package.

Well done to the 1-2’s who had their sleepover and fun day on Thursday. It was a great experience for the kids, one they will gain confidence, resilience and remember for years to come. Thank you to the 1-2 teachers for all you do and organise for our students. It was an extremely well organised and planned event.

The process for student class placements commences soon. Please be aware that teachers spend a great deal of time considering the many needs of all the children in their class. Teachers are in the best position to decide a child’s placement because they know where the children are at and have a view of the ‘bigger picture’ when it comes to teaching and learning. Many factors come into consideration when placing students in class groups ~ friendships, learning needs, class spaces, past teachers etc. However, as parents if you feel your child has extra needs to be considered please send me an email. Requests will only be taken into consideration on exceptional circumstances. Class structures and teachers are yet to be finalised and I will notify families as soon as these have been decided.

Our school athletics day is scheduled for Friday 10th November. Please come along and support the kids.

Enjoy a wonderful fortnight and long weekend ahead everyone.

Do your best. Respect our school. Help others succeed.

School Closure Day ~ Monday 6th November Staff will be involved in report writing on Monday 6th November. There will be no school for children on this day.

Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday ~ Tuesday 7th November There will be no school for children on Tuesday 7th November. Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday.

School Closure Days Term 4

We have several scheduled school closure days this term. Please make note of the following days when students won't be at school.

Monday 6th November ~ Report Writing Day

Tuesday 7th November ~ Melbourne Cup

Friday 1st December ~ Staff Planning Day 2024

Friday 15th December ~ Last Day for students (3:20pm finish)

Month	Dates / Events
November	2nd November Grade1/2 Sleepover 6th Report Writing Day ~ pupil free day 7st Melbourne Cup Holiday 10th Athletics Day Prep Transition Day 11th Remembrance Day 13th Prep Transition Day 17th Prep Transition Day 20th Prep Transition Day 24th Prep Transition Day 28th School Council Meeting 29th Prep Information Night
December	1st Staff Planning Day ~ pupil free day 4th Year 6 Reflection Day & Year 5 Leadership Day 12th Statewide Transition Day 12th Reports Home 12th End of year Graduation Mass 14th Aquamoves Fun day (TBC) 15th Students last day ~ Updated 3.20pm finish 18th Staff Reflection/PD day/ 2024 preparations
2024	Students commence school ~ Wednesday 31st Jan 2024

Expected Behaviours at School ~ PBIS (Positive Behaviour is Schools) approach

At times we all feel frustrated and find ourselves doing/saying/acting in ways that are unkind and hurtful to others. Unfortunately, our actions or reactions can and do have long-lasting consequences. Children need to be taught from an early age that it’s not ok to name-call, get angry with one another, bully or even body shame others for the way they look. Sadly, we are not immune to these behaviours at school, and we work hard to teach students how to be the best versions of themselves by being respectful, courteous, and kind and how to deal with their emotions, especially anger.

St Mel’s has been working closely with Dan Petro to develop and upskill in evidence-based strategies, when respectfully supporting the behaviour of students. There are often many questions related to the PBIS school-wide approach.

What does PBIS (Positive Behaviour in Schools) approach mean?

PBIS is a well-researched, evidence-based framework that recognises that behaviours change when people are explicitly taught what the expected behaviours should look like. PBIS is a framework that aims to prevent, reduce and replace problem behaviours and build respectful relationships. The main purpose of the PBIS approach is to put time into explicitly teaching positive and appropriate behaviours, opposed to continually punishing misbehaviour. PBIS is a frequently-used framework across many school settings, nationally and globally.

So, does these mean kids don’t have any consequence for bad behaviour?

This is a question that is frequently asked. Many people believe that children "get away with it" or "do whatever they want" with a PBIS school wide approach. The short answer to this question is, “No!” Children do have a consequence for behaviours of concern; however, we do not use punishment that is used to humiliate, embarrass or control the child. Instead, we prioritise teaching how expected behaviours should look. When implementing a consequence, the dignity of the person is our priority. The consequences given are related to the behaviour of concern and the focus of consequences is to enable the student to learn to regulate their behaviour and to educate the child how to behave in socially acceptable ways. We seek to model appropriate conflict resolution when dealing with behaviours of concern, and we use a calm, neutral tone, as this models to our students that when people "misbehave", we still maintain respect and recognise that all people deserve to have their dignity intact. This is critical for our young people as they will soon be in relationships, have jobs, and be actively participating in our community.

Modelling respectful behaviours aims to promote and instil in our young people respectful relationships. Our community seeks to provide an environment that will support students’ efforts to develop self-management skills, promote academic achievement and to develop independent and likeable citizens.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the school or your child’s teacher if you have any concerns regarding student behaviour.

Encouraging Positive Behaviour with Kids ~ Try these tips to encourage the behaviour you want in your child.

Children do as you do. Your child watches you to get clues on how to behave in the world. You’re her role model, so use your own behaviour to guide her. What you do is often much more important than what you say. If you want your child to say ‘please’, say it yourself. If you don’t want your child to raise her voice, speak quietly and gently yourself.
Show your child how you feel. Tell him honestly how his behaviour affects you. This will help him see his / her own feelings in yours, like a mirror. This is called empathy. By the age of three, children can show real empathy. So you might say, ‘I’m getting upset because there is so much noise I can’t talk on the phone’. When you start the sentence with ‘I’, it gives your child the chance to see things from your perspective.
Catch them being ‘good’. This simply means that when your child is behaving in a way you like, you can give her some positive feedback. For example, ‘Wow, you are playing so nicely. I really like the way you are keeping all the blocks on the table’. This works better than waiting for the blocks to come crashing to the floor before you take notice and bark, ‘Hey, stop that’. This positive feedback is sometimes called ‘descriptive praise’. Try to say six positive comments (praise and encouragement) for every negative comment (criticisms and reprimands). The 6-1 ratio keeps things in balance. Remember that if children have a choice only between no attention or negative attention, they will seek out negative attention.
Get down to your child’s level. Kneeling or squatting down next to children is a very powerful tool for communicating positively with them. Getting close allows you to tune in to what they might be feeling or thinking. It also helps them focus on what you are saying or asking for. If you are close to your child and have his attention, there is no need to make him look at you.
‘I hear you.’ Active listening is another tool for helping young children cope with their emotions. They tend to get frustrated a lot, especially if they can’t express themselves well enough verbally. When you repeat back to them what you think they might be feeling, it helps to relieve some of their tension. It also makes them feel respected and comforted. It can diffuse many potential temper tantrums.

Keep promises. Stick to agreements. When you follow through on your promises, good or bad, your child learns to trust and respect you. So when you promise to go for a walk after she picks up her toys, make sure you have your walking shoes handy. When you say you will leave the library if she doesn’t stop running around, be prepared to leave straight away. No need to make a fuss about it – the more matter of fact, the better. This helps your child feel more secure, because it creates a consistent and predictable environment. Sun Smart

Time to find those hats again! Please remember all students are required to wear their hats. Consequences for not wearing a hat will be: No Hat, No play.

A Message from the Sun Smart Team:

It's the start of spring and the start of October so it's time for those five SunSmart things to remember!

1. Slip on sun protective clothing

2. Slop on SPF 30+ or higher sunscreen

3. Slap on a wide brimmed hat

4. Seek shade

5. Slide on some wrap-around sunglasses

Reminder

The front administration area is not to be used as a throughway for students or families before or after school hours. Please use the side gates to enter and exit the school. Thank you

GIRLS' WINTER UNIFORM

Winter Tartan Skirt (Grey/Green pinstripe) with bottle green tights.

Tartan slacks (Grey/Green pinstripe) with plain white socks or

Gold skivvy or Green/gold polo shirt, long or short-sleeved, with embroidered school logo.

School jumper or bomber jacket

GIRLS' SPORTS UNIFORM

Black sports skirt or black shorts/black tracksuit pants (Winter)

Green and Gold polo top [with the embroidered logo]

Plain white socks (micro socks not permitted)

BOYS' WINTER UNIFORM

Grey trousers or cords

Gold skivvy or green/gold long-sleeved polo top [with the embroidered logo]

School jumper or bomber jackets with embroidered school logo.

Plain grey socks (micro-short socks are not permitted).

BOYS' SPORTS UNIFORM

Plain black shorts/black tracksuit pants (Winter)

Green and Gold polo top [with the embroidered logo]

Plain white socks (micro socks are not permitted)

SCHOOL SHOES

Both boys and girls are to wear plain black shoes only

While plain, black leather runners are acceptable; ALL other sports shoes are acceptable only for sporting activities. Socks must be worn with shoes. "Blundstone" type work boots are not permitted.

WEARING OF HATS

During Terms 1 and 4 all children must wear a school hat. Hats are optional for Terms 2 & 3.

Community Group Expressions of Interest to Join

Each year it is expected our school will commit to raising additional funds. All Catholic Schools have an obligation to raise additional funds to meet the capacity to contribute factor.

These funds will be put towards improving the educational needs of our students through hardware or programs and/or improving school grounds or facilities.

Please Note: Our Parents and Friends group are on the recruitment drive. If you know of anyone especially new parents who might want to be involved please encourage them to do so by contacting the school.

As a school, we are extremely grateful for the hard work and time our community members put into making our school the best it can be. We are especially grateful for contributions and donations made when we hold school fundraisers or campaigns to help maintain and beautify St Mel’s.

Committee Recruitment

St Mel's relies on the support of our parents to make sure we can offer the best learning opportunities for our children. We are grateful for the commitment of those who are already on our Parish School Education Council and Social Committee and ask anyone who would like to be involved to please contact the school. All new or existing parents are welcome!

Attendance Requirements

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify the school as soon as possible on the day of absence, by phoning or emailing the school.

Notifying the school of your child’s absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility.

All Victorian schools are required to contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the same day of an unexplained student absence. If your child is absent on a particular day and you have not contacted the school to explain why, the absence will be marked as unexplained.

This system also promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education, they learn new things every day – missing school puts them behind.

URGENT REMINDER!!! Medical Update ~ Asthma Plans & Anaphylaxis Plans

If your child suffers from Asthma or Anaphylaxis, please remember to send in an updated Asthma Plan or Anaphylaxis Plan. These MUST BE arranged through your family GP. Without an updated plan your children will not be able to participate in school functions

SA Kitchen Garden