Wellbeing

SFS TWILIGHT MARKET and ART SHOW

A huge thank you to everyone in the school community who helped make the Twilight Market and art show such a big success. I have received such overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, the school community, staff, the students and stall holders. 

A massive thanks to Courtney and the P and F who did an amazing job cooking sausages for everyone and the chocolate toss looked like a big hit too. THANK YOU!!! I really hope everyone enjoyed the evening. 

Looking forward, I am excited to announce the 2023 Twilight Market will be on Thursday 9th November next year. Put it in your calendar and let me know if you have a small business that you would like to promote. Next year we will have our new school hall completed, so rain, hail or shine the Market will go ahead!!

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) 

This term we are continuing to imbed Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) with the students and school community. PBL is a framework that we are using to teach the children about expected behaviours in different parts of the school. The children will have a weekly social skills lesson on a Monday identifying a specific social skill we would like the children to learn and practice around our school expectations of 

RESPECT

RESPONSIBILITY and

KINDNESS

This week we have chosen to focus on the value of KINDNESS and the expectation of “Encourage and support others”. The teachers will focus on this in class in the coming weeks and looking at the language we use with each other to demonstrate this. 

Our new beautiful banner has arrived today that is on display in our school foyer with lovely Lori the Lorikeet and our schoolwide expectations.

Action for Happiness Calendar

Getting absorbed in a new activity is a great way to boost your wellbeing. And when facing challenges, it can really help to take a new perspective or find a new way forward. This month’s calendar is all about trying something new. 

 Connected Parenting

The following excerpt is taken from the Connected Parenting resource from the Austrralian Childhood Foundation. It is all about raising siblings, how to respond to your children and how every child is different. For more information visit www.bringingupgreatkids.com.au

“Brothers and sisters can be the best of friends and sometimes act as if they are the worst of enemies. Their feelings for each other vary and can change over time along with each child’s age and stage of development. Brothers and sisters can squabble, tease and tell on each other. This is normal and one way children learn how to get on with others. Such behaviour can happen for a number of reasons: 

• Sometimes it is not possible to treat children in the same way all the time. Parents need to respond to each child’s age, personality and the specific circumstances.

 • It is normal for brothers and sisters to think and behave differently. It is also normal for children to disagree at times. 

• Brothers and sisters may often fight as a means of gaining a parent’s attention. 

• Children will often argue over something they feel is not fair. 

Responding to siblings

 Value and respect each child’s individuality, needs and rights. Avoid negative comparisons. Promote respectful relationships by having family rules that apply to everyone. Acknowledge and praise times when children are getting on well together. Allow each child to pursue his or her own interests. Have realistic expectations about how long young children can play together. Spend time with each child as well as with all the children together. Allow children space to sort out their own arguments, ensuring that the conflict is kept to a manageable level. Ask children if they need your help to sort things out. Step in when the conflict becomes unmanageable for children. Don’t look for someone to blame. Look for solutions. Encourage children to think about how other children feel. Help children to understand that not everything can or should be shared. 

Every child is different

As parents, we are constantly comparing our children to others. Whilst this can be a source of great pride, it can also become a source of worry that something is wrong with our child or that we are doing something wrong as parents. Every child is different. Children develop differently, have different personalities, possess different strengths and require different kinds of support to meet their individual needs. 

All children develop at their own pace and in their own way

Children grow and develop at different rates. While their developmental pathways may differ, most pass a set of predictable milestones along the way. It is normal for children to experience developmental spurts and slow spots in different areas of their development over time. If your child is a little ahead or a little behind at a certain age - this is normal. Most of the time, given the right nurturing and stimulation, all children will catch up in the end. All children have different strengths and vulnerabilities. Some are good at sport, others music. Some are very academic and others not. Some are highly anxious and others are more relaxed. Some children are good sleepers and others wake through the night for years. 

Feeling confident that you are on the right track

Many parents are feeling under increasing pressure to ‘get their parenting right’. Others feel under increasing pressure to do well in raising their children who in turn are expected to succeed in school, recreation and employment. Many parents feel that parenting doesn’t come naturally to them. Parents often lack confidence to know they are parenting in a way that best meets their individual child’s needs. Many parents feel judged by others about their parenting approach. These experiences can leave parents feeling alone and isolated. Many feel that no other parent is going through similar experiences. These are all common feelings and experiences.”

If you have any questions or concerns about the wellbeing of your child please do not hesitate to contact me on rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Rachel Lenko

Student Wellbeing Leader