Dear SCA families,

I have recently spoken with a number of parents who are wondering 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. What can we do to help our children learn the important skills to help them calm down?

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)

We’re all in this together

The school year has been underway for just over a month, and already a great number of parents have rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help around our school. Volunteers have supported the school at the Community Council, cooking at the Welcome BBQ, on the Fete Committee, in the Canteen, on the Parent Network, managing our pile of Lost Property, providing Care Meals, covering Library Books, running our School Banking, and assisting at our (aborted) Swimming Carnival. I extend a sincere thanks to each one of these parents. Many hands make light work. 

Swimming Carnival and Water Fun Day

We are hoping the weather will be kinder for our re-scheduled Carnival and Water Fun Day, next Wednesday 10 March. For further details, please refer to the letters sent home on Monday.

I thank the staff and many parents who were all set up and ready for action last Thursday. Second time lucky??? 

Progress Reports and Three Way Conferences

Progress Reports and 3 Way Conferences are coming up. Progress reports will be sent home on Thursday 11^th March and then 3 Way Conferences are scheduled for Week 2 of Term 2. Our school based Progress Reports and 3 Way Conferences provide you with ‘early year’ assessment and feedback on your child’s progress, social skills, work habits and effort which is not in the semester reports.

Who’s at the Front Door?

Most of us would expect visitors to our home to let us know they were there. It’s even more important here that we know at any given time who is in the school. For that reason, ALL visitors are expected to sign in at the front office before going to the classroom and sign out again when leaving. The extra few minutes it takes you helps us to ensure the safety of each child.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sunsmart

You are no doubt aware of our “no hat, no play” policy which is in place for most of the year. We also take other measures to ensure our school is sunsmart:

• Children eat (recess and lunch) under shelter
• Movement between classes is under shelter
• Outdoor assemblies are under shelter
• Children are encouraged to bring and use sun screen (we cannot provide it for all, as some children are allergic to specific products)
• Sporting activities are moved to cooler parts of the day when extremely hot
• Children are allowed to wear sunglasses at school
• Playground equipment is covered and inside areas are provided for use during lunch time

Let’s Make it Work (safely)

Please, please, please ........The safety of our children is paramount and we need your assistance in regards to our drop off and pick up procedures.

Morning Donut Drop Off - This is a drop off area only. Please do not park your car as it inconveniences other parents and disrupts the flow of traffic.

Afternoon Donut Pick Up – The afternoons are pick up only. Parents should not need to get out of their car or park in the area. Staff are there to assist your children. If you need to get out of your car, please park in the carparks and walk over to collect your children.

When you are leaving the school carpark between 8.45 - 9.15am and 2.45 -3.15pm you MUST turn left. When you sit there and wait for a break to turn right, you add to the congestion of the traffic.

The speed limit in the carpark is 10km.

The Pedestrian crossing goes right across the carpark. Please be vigilant.

The Exit lane is the exit lane, it is not a short cut.

Parking near the Crossing  (Box Hill Ave)- It is illegal to park near a crossing and it is also unsafe for the children. Please use the donut and front pick up as they are supervised areas.

All of the children are supervised until they are picked up.

If we all follow the rules it makes it easier and much safer for everyone!

Facebook

Please follow us on Facebook. We use it to supplement our other communication methods (newsletter, SZapp, Notes, Meetings, emails etc). Search for @scaconder on Facebook.

It was once said…

Experience is the name we give to our mistakes.    

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Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal