Deputy Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers

Positive Coping

All classes have now begun the third topic in the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships program: Positive Coping. Positive self-talk is a key strategy for coping with negative thoughts, emotions, and events. Resilience research shows that the use of positive self-talk is associated with greater persistence in the face of challenge, whereas negative self-talk is associated with higher levels of distress, depression, and anxiety.  Positive self-talk can be learned or strengthened through practice.

How to Model Healthy Coping Skills

As adults, it is important that we model healthy coping skills to our children. We can talk with our children about the strategies that we use when things don't go well in our own lives.  The attached article gives some simple but practical ideas for how we can assist our children to develop their own coping skills. 

In this week's SEL lesson, the Year 5 & 6 students used role-play to practise overcoming the negative voices in our heads that often fight for space with more positive self-talk. The students were presented with a variety of scenarios and had to simulate a conversation between the negative self-talk and the positive self-talk, with the intention that the positive would override the negative. The follow-up class discussion highlighted that it is important for us to notice when we begin talking negatively to ourselves so that we can argue back with positive self-talk -  kind of like putting a coach inside our own heads, a coach that encourages and gives positive and practical advice. 

Child Safe Standards at St Finbar's

This week our Wellbeing Team met to begin working on a new project. As a group we reworded the eleven Child Safe Standards into clear, easy-to-read statements designed to empower and educate our students.  Our Year 6 Wellbeing Leaders also attended in order to provide student voice and input. The Year 6 leaders will now design a set of posters that will be displayed around the school...we look forward to seeing the finished results. To learn more about the Child Safe Standards please click here. 

The Resilience Project Partnership Program

Did you know that the Resilience Project has its own area specifically for Parents and Carers?  The Hub contains a series of videos designed to educate parents about the program.  The videos are 5-10 minutes long and will walk through the key pillars of resilience: Gratitude, Empathy & Mindfulness.   This program is an important part of our school’s effort to look after the mental health of our community.

The link to  the hub is here https://theresilienceproject.com.au/parent-and-carer-hub-hugh/ 

Camp, Sports & Excursion Financial Assistance

Please find attached a form to apply for assistance from the Camp, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF).  Eligibility requirements are attached as well. It is available for Parents who hold a Centrelink Health Care Card and have a CRN number.  Once it is completed please return it to Libby in the office before the 23rd June, 2023.

Steele Anderson and Michelle Hill