St Clare of Assisi Primary School

From the Principal Week 8

Dear Parents and Carers,

I find myself often chatting with parents and carers about how to support their child when they are stressed and anxious. Just like in adults, when a child is stressed, a fight-or-flight response kicks in, producing higher heart rate, breathing and blood pressure along with clinging, shaking, hiding, screaming, acting out, running away and sometimes nausea. Because a child has not yet learnt the adult coping skills, it’s extremely difficult – if not impossible – for children to think logically or control their behaviour until the fight-or-flight response has dissipated and that can take up to an hour. Below are some strategies we can teach children to use when they are feeling stressed and anxious.

Take deep breaths. Anxiety is often accompanied by rapid, shallow chest breathing. Inhaling for three seconds from the abdomen, holding it for three seconds and exhaling through pursed lips for three seconds can lower heart rate and induce relaxation.

Get active. Physically demanding tasks like wall push-ups, walking up the stairs or climbing a jungle gym can help calm and centre a child.

Make a plan. Taking specific actions can help children understand and tolerate stress.

Use rituals. These can be stability anchors that relieve stress if they’re rolled out before, during, or after, anxiety-producing events – for example, always taking a child out for ice cream after a doctor’s appointment.

Name it to tame it. Children can be asked to tell a story about what they’re worried or upset about and why.

Narrow the focus. Meditating, colouring or focusing on a specific feeling, activity, sight or conversation can produce relaxation.

Laugh. Humour can distract, reframe, relax muscles and release endorphins. Try playing a goofy game, watching a cartoon or telling family jokes.

Reflect. After dealing successfully with a fraught episode, walk the child through what worked: On a scale of 1 to 10, how hard was it? What is one thing that helped you get through it?

(Acknowledgement: “8 Simple Ways to Soothe an Anxious Child” by Erin Leyba in Psychology Today, May/June 2020)

God bless.

Rachel Smith

Principal

Principal’s Notes

RAT Distribution Changes

The ACT Government has announced that they are moving away from providing two tests per student and staff member each week. Tests will now be provided to students and staff on request. Should your child/children need a RAT test please do not hesitate to contact the front office.

Student Absence Explanation

As the class roll is a legal document, all student absences are required to be explained by the parent/carer. Please use the Compass App for this purpose. Even if you phone the school to let them know of your child’s absence, we still require a written explanation via the Compass Portal.

Three Way Conferences

The teachers and students have begun their preparations for our Three-Way Conferences next week. Our Three-Way Conferences can take place in person as long as the following occurs;

We follow a COVID Safe plan,
Masks are always worn by parents and staff,
There is no congregation of parents and students from different cohorts queued up at entry and exit points, and
That no parents and carers are able to hang around and chat/linger with other parents in the school grounds.

Please note that the Compass portal for three-way conferences will close tomorrow at 9:00am.

Winter Uniform

It is customary at St Clare of Assisi to transition into the winter school uniform at the beginning of Term 2. To help with your preparation for this transition please feel free to drop in and check out our Second-Hand Uniform Shop.

Term Two Starting Date – Wednesday 27^th April