Faith & Wellbeing
WELLBEING
Embodied Parenting Workshop
The beginning of a new year is exciting and hopeful. It can also be challenging and overwhelming. New routines are inevitable and so are new experiences. We would love to see as many parents as possible at our Embodied Parenting Workshop at St James on Friday 28th February from 9.30am-11.30am. The workshop facilitated by Mama Manon will assist with tools to help our children with tantrums, aggression, anxiety and attention difficulties. This event is free of charge and will begin with a coffee cart on the St James school grounds. Please use the following trybooking link in order to assist with numbers.
https://www.trybooking.com/BIMIL
Children and the news
Without a doubt the start to 2020 has proven to be an intense one for many. Whether it is news of bushfires or the outbreak of the coronavirus. In some way I know that members of our community may have been directly affected by both of these incidents. This can be traumatic for us as adults and equally as traumatising for our children. So how do we talk to our children about events in the news?
1. Focus on the child, not the distress
Start by asking your kids’ permission to talk about the issue. Follow their lead and if they don’t want to discuss it, don’t push it.
2. Be honest, explain the truth
Children have a right to truthful information about what is happening in the world but adults also have a responsibility to keep them safe from distress. Use age-appropriate language, be mindful of their reactions and be sensitive to their level of anxiety.
3. Offer reassurance
Tell your children that you love them and remind them that the adults in their lives are doing everything they can to keep them safe.
4. Help children get back to their normal routine
We know from our work on the ground that it is extremely important for children affected by disaster to get back to playing and learning so that they can regain a sense of normalcy and routine.
5. Show them all the good people trying to help
It’s important for children to know about the acts of bravery, generosity and kindness from ordinary people trying to help families impacted by the bushfires.
Sharing stories of volunteer firefighters, community leaders and every day Australians showing compassion can be comforting and reassuring.
6. Show them how they can help
Talking to children and showing how they can help others can be empowering and a vital step to restoring confidence. Get together and brainstorm ideas about what small or big actions you or they can take. Together, your kids and their friends can raise money, make posters or any other creative ideas that spring to mind.
7. Take care of yourself
You’ll be better able to help your kids if you’re coping well too. Children will pick up on your own response to the news, so it helps them to know you’re calm and in control.
Monitoring Devices and Technology
Our devices and technology are a doorway to a wealth of information, knowledge and educational resources increasing opportunity for learning and communication with others. It can also be at trapdoor to online dangers and are a huge distraction to students. Those doors are being opened sooner and more often by our students.
It is because of these trapdoors we share a joint responsibility to ensure that the children in our care are given boundaries and support around using devices. When students do not have the appropriate limits in place at home it affects the students engagement, attention and wellbeing across their home and school life.
Throughout the year students in 5/6 will explore their responsibility around technology to be a safe and respectful user. Using aspects of the esmart model students will look at the following units:
communicating safely online, creating and sharing, digital devices, friends and strangers, protecting privacy, searching and researching and social networking and gaming.
Please use the following links in order to assist you and your child to create a family technology plan that can be used at home to monitor screen time and usage.
https://www.familyzone.com/au/families/manage-screen-time
Mrs Georgia McNamara
Wellbeing Leader
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
LENT
Next week marks the beginning of the Lenten Season in the Catholic Church. Students and Staff will begin the Lenten journey by having pancakes to mark Shrove Tuesday and receiving the ashes on Wednesday during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Throughout the coming weeks classes will be participating in a number of activities to develop and strengthen our understanding of this important time.
Our wonderful Social Justice Leaders will launch our first fundraiser for the year, Project Compassion at Assembly tomorrow afternoon. This year we hope to raise over $1.000 which can provide educational resources and teacher assistance to those less fortunate than us. Each classroom will have a Project Compassion box and a visual tally will be placed in the front foyer and updated weekly to track how we are going. This year we want to give 100% to Lent and raise as much as we can to support an important organisation that supports local and global communities.
Ash Wednesday Mass
This Wednesday the Year 4 students will lead the school in receiving the ashes to begin the Lenten period. All families are welcome to join us in the Pop Up Church at 9.15am.
Reconciliation
On Sunday our Year 4 students, along with their families attended Mass at the St James Pop Up Church. This marked the beginning of their journey towards the Sacrament of Reconciliation that will be celebrated toward the end of the Term. Students presented Fr Barry with their commitment scrolls signed by themselves and their parents. By presenting these scrolls the families showed their commitment to growing and nurturing their faith. We ask that you keep the families of Year 4 in your prayers.
TERM 1 Dates
Friday 21st Feb - Project Compassion Launch
Tuesday 25th Feb - Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday 26th Feb - Ash Wednesday Liturgy lead by Year 4/ Beginning of Lent
Tuesday 17th March - St Patrick's Day Mass, Star and St James choir to attend
Wednesday 25th March - Holy Week Liturgy (Psalm Sunday) 3.10pm
Year 4 Reconciliation, St Joan of Arc Church @ 7pm
Thursday 26th March - Holy Week Liturgy (Holy Thursday) 3pm
Friday 27th March - Holy Week Liturgy (Good Friday) 12.45pm
Yours in faith,
Emma Herbert
Religious Education Leader
Parish News
Parish Website
You are Invited:
After 9am Mass on March 1, parishioners are invited to enjoy tea or coffee upstairs in St James Primary School’s newly renovated staff and kitchen area. Principal Brendan Flanagan would be delighted to give parishioners a guided tour of the school’s beautiful new learning spaces.
St Vincent de Paul News – Bush Fire Relief Efforts
From Kevin McMahon, State President of St Vincent de Paul
In response to some concerns raised in the media this last week or so, the accurate information about Vinnies is:
We will spend all donated money specifically on the bushfire needs
- We will NOT spend a cent on any admin fees
- We will do our role as second responders as soon as we have access to isolated communities.
SVDP have already been active in the emergency evacuation centre at Bairnsdale distributing petrol vouchers, food vouchers, swags and emergency generators for those who will be without power for some months etc.
We have set up a helpline for immediate cash help – over the phone 13 18 12
The next 12-18 months will be critical in assisting those most in need and everyone affected by the fires.
In the recovery phase, our money will be spent to provide: (some examples)
- Income support for those without businesses or farms re-established
- Counselling support if not provided by other agencies
- Stock replacement
- White goods, vehicles
- Generators for temporary use until power is connected
- Emergency supplies of water for household and stock use, tank cleaning or replacement
In the recovery phase, based on what THEIR communities need, Vinnies response will be tailored to what THEY want.
SVDP expresses thanks to all our generous donors and asks that we pray that the recovery of all concerned will be assisted by the knowledge that the rest of Australia has shown its support and generosity. We also pray for the well being of all concerned, including the volunteer emergency services.