Dear SCA Parents and Carers,

As we reach the halfway point of the term, we tend to notice that our students become tired and less resilient. Things that would normally not bother or upset them become major issues. When our students are resilient, they feel confident and capable of dealing with life’s challenges and their ability to learn and pay attention in school is improved.

What is resilience?

Resilience is the ability to cope with change and challenges – to ‘bounce back’ and recover when things go wrong. Ups and downs, change and challenges are a normal part of life, and everyone goes through periods of feeling stressed, angry, or unhappy. But if kids are stressed for long periods of time, stress hormones (particularly cortisol) can build up in their brain and interfere with their ability to learn and pay attention in school. Using healthy coping skills to deal with stress can help your child to pay attention, use higher level thinking skills and learn new facts and ideas.

Resilience involves behaviours, thoughts and actions that can be learned over time. Here are some tips for encouraging resilience in your child.

Strong relationships

Encourage your child to develop a wide social circle of friends through school and extra-curricular activities. Help your child develop and maintain strong connections with yourself and other family members who they can talk to and go to for advice.

By encouraging strong relationships and good communication, your child will have the opportunity to talk about important issues affecting them and feel supported when they experience life’s inevitable disappointments and hurts. Connecting with people provides social support and strengthens resilience.

Self-respect

Self-respect is very important to building resilience. When your child believes in themselves, they will have the confidence to handle challenges and disappointments when they occur. Encourage your child to learn to trust themselves to solve problems and make good decisions. Talk to your child about when they have successfully handled difficult situations in the past – and let them know that previous challenges can help you build strength to handle difficult situations in the future.

Values

Resilience is linked to character traits such as kindness, honesty, and empathy. Doing things to help others or ‘make a difference’ can help build children’s sense of worth and strengthen their resilience. Talk to your child about the importance of being kind to other people and encourage them to get involved in age-appropriate volunteering (such as Mini Vinnies).

Change is part of life

Change can often be scary for children. Help your child understand that change is part of life, and that changes can be positive. Talk about how people grow and learn new things through change. Encourage your child to think about how they have already changed and grown so much since they started school. Try to give your child extra attention and patience if they are feeling anxious about changes in their life – and let them know that though some things will change, they can always rely on your love and support.

Onwards and upwards

When your child experiences a difficult situation in their lives, try to talk to them about it and give them your encouragement and support. Let them know everyone goes through troubles and that bad times don’t last forever. Talk to your child about situations in your own life when you have gone through a hard time or succeeded despite an initial setback.

Encourage your child to think about ways they can make themselves feel better when something upsetting happens – like doing a fun activity, talking with a friend, or going for a walk.  Help your child to see the good things in life (even in times of stress) and be optimistic about the future. Encouraging your child to develop a positive attitude will help strengthen their resilience.

Self-care

Encourage your child to eat properly, exercise, have screen free time and get enough sleep – and make sure they have ‘down-time’ to just relax have fun. Making sure your child is healthy and has time for fun will help them stay balanced and better able to deal with stressful times.

Next week is Sabbath Week. It is typically Week 7 each term and is a week to pause, rest and be present to each day. The Sabbath is a traditionally Jewish custom where one day in seven was devoted to rest and worship. Many other cultures have similar cultural observances.

At St Clare of Assisi the Sabbath Week is specifically timed when energy levels begin to dip during the term giving us a small pause before completing the final weeks of the term. We do not send homework during that week to provide families with a little respite from very busy home routines. We always encourage reading as a pleasurable activity, so we provide readers for our younger students, not referring to this as homework.

Thank you for your ongoing care and partnership in your child’s learning.

God bless.

Rachel Smith

Principal

Principal’s Notes

Hats Off – June and July

In June and July, hats go away! In Canberra we have already started to witness daily UV levels decrease to what is considered “low” levels (under 3), during the morning and afternoon periods.

Cancer Council ACT does not generally recommend sun protection behaviour (i.e. hat wearing and sunscreen application) when UV levels are under 3 due to the low risk of potential UV skin damage. In Canberra UV levels drop and remain under 3, all day around the June and July period and the students are encouraged to leave their hats at home during this time. They may wear a navy beanie for warmth.

Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday

On Monday 13^th June, the ACT will celebrate the Queen’s Birthday with a public holiday. As it is a public holiday, all schools in the ACT will be closed on that day. A reminder that the Tuesday 14^th June, is the second of our two Pupil Free Days this term.

Questions from Parents

Our staff are always very, very happy to answer any questions about the learning environment and program offered for your child. If your child comes home talking about the classroom and something sounds a little odd, then please be sure to clarify directly with the teacher. A simple email is always effective or a quick conversation after or before school is also helpful. They are always happy to ring you back if you leave a message. 

Signing In or Signing Out

A reminder to parents and carers if children are arriving late or departing early from school. All students must be signed in or out by their parent or guardian at the office.

School Uniform

There have been many children arriving at school in the incorrect footwear lately. Just a reminder that students are to wear black school shoes with their winter uniform and not sports shoes. Thank you for your support with this.

Leaving St Clare of Assisi

If you anticipate that your child will leave St Clare of Assisi at the end of this year, please submit the form from the link further in the newsletter. We need to begin planning for staffing and class configurations for 2023. Thank you to those who have let us know already, this is very much appreciated. Naturally Year 6 parents need not respond to this request.

Pentecost

Last Sunday was Ascension Sunday when the Church remembers Jesus' ascension into Heaven. This Sunday, the Church celebrates Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the beginning of the Church. Pentecost is the celebration of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Jesus, who were gathered together in the Upper Room. The symbols of Pentecost are the flame, wind, and the dove, which represent the Holy Spirit. Our Year 6 students will receive the sacrament of Confirmation next week during the season of Pentecost, when they will be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Confirmation

Please pray for our Year 6 students and their families as the students receive the sacrament of Confirmation this coming Tuesday 7 June.

Vinnies Appeal

We would really appreciate your small contributions so that as a community, we can make a huge positive impact on individual’s lives that are doing it tough!

The Vinnies Night Patrol Van is also looking for donations of winter woolies such as blankets, sleeping bags, scarves, beanies, jackets etc that you no longer need. Items of all sizes in good clean condition are welcomed.

Thank you in advance for your support of Vinnies. Simply bring in your donations via your child's classroom and a member of our local Vinnies will collect for us. 

Donations due no later than Thursday 16 June.

Kinder - spaghetti

Year 1 - baked beans

Year 2 - soup 

Year 3 - fruit

Year 4 - tuna

Year 5 - tomatoes

Year 6 - bottles of pasta sauce 

Beginning early Term 3, we will be implementing a 9 session program called ‘Seasons for Growth’. Staff who are formally trained as ‘Companions’, spend time with a small group of students who are dealing with some aspect of change, separation, loss or grief. The sessions do not provide counselling or therapy. Instead, they:

• aim to support young people to understand and manage the grief that is experienced because of change, the loss of a parent or significant other through death, separation or divorce.
• assist in normalising the emotions associated with the loss
• encourage the expression of thoughts and emotions
• educate about the grief process
• develop a peer support network
• help restore self-confidence and self esteem
• draw on extensive research in developing a sound educative response to loss and grief.

‘Seasons for Growth’ provides opportunities for students in  Years 1 to 6 to integrate the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and cope with change, loss and grief, using the symbolism of the four Seasons. It helps children to:

• accept the reality of loss
• work through the pain of grief
• adjust to an environment in which a significant person is no longer present
• emotionally relocate and move on with life.

However, they do suggest that the young person completes the program six to twelve months after the loss, as they are in better position to cope with the program.

As recommended by the Good Grief Organisation, each child should only complete the program once in each of the three stages. This effectively means that students can only participate in the program every second year at school.

This program is strictly confidential and implemented with discretion and sensitivity. Please feel free to talk to me if you have any concerns or issues you would like to further discuss regarding this nomination. If you think that this program is something that your child or children would benefit from, please write their names below and the reason for nomination and send it back to school in a sealed envelope, addressed to Mrs Haines.  Please return nomination form extended to Friday 3rd June.

After nominations are made and numbers are ascertained, a permission slip and further information will be sent home via your child.

Mrs Karen Haines

Religious Education Coordinator

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Seasons for Growth Nomination Form 2022

I/We _____________________________ would like to nominate our child/ren for the Seasons for   Growth program for 2022.

Child/ren’s names:

1. _____________________________ Class: ______________

Reason for nomination:

___________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________ Class: ______________

Reason for nomination:

___________________________________________________________________

Parents/Carers signature:

__________________________________________________

Congratulations to the children who will be awarded white cards at the 8.45am Friday Morning assembly this week.

TERM 2

WEEK 7 (6th June - 10th June)

Wednesday 8th June - MSP Catchup Photos

WEEK 8 (13th June - 17th June)

Monday 13th June - PUBLIC HOLIDAY 

Tuesday 14th June - PUPIL FREE DAY

Escape the chaotic school drop-offs and spend some quality time walking with your kids or grandkids to and from school. It’s good for children, parents and the environment

The Active Streets for School Program will take place at St Clare of Assis on Friday 3^rd June.  Active Streets delivers infrastructure improvements around schools to make it safer and easier to ride, walk, scooter or skate to and from school. All children who walk to school will be given a resources pack, parents are encouraged to talk to their children about how they can use these resources to support walking or riding to school.  Parents agree the worst part of a school day is picking up the kids in the line-up of traffic that combines the stresses of traffic, a time crunch and children who may or may not be cooperative.  Let’s get on board and support the launch of the Active Streets for School Program on Friday 3^rd June.

Sunsafe – means no hats in June and July

Because the Cancer Council ACT does not recommend sun protection in Canberra during June and July, SCA does not enforce the wearing of hats during this time. From today, the “no hat, no play” rule is shelved for the next two months. Bring on that Vitamin D!

“The End of May is Hats OFF Day”

Last Tuesday 50 students from Years 2-6 represented our school at the Tuggeranong PSSA Cross Country carnival at Stromlo Park. All students represented our school beautifully and showed great determination and perseverance in each of their races. Congratulations to all the students who ran on the day. There were some wonderful results including:

William G - 1st Place in Boys 12 years

Chloe P - 2nd Place in Girls 11 years

Evie H - 3rd Place in Girls 10 years 

Mia R - equal 4th Place in Girls 10 years

Sophia R - 5th Place in Girls 9 years

Ryder O - 6th Place in Boys 12 years

Player of the Week

Speckles – Bye

Smarties – Ella

Smiggles – Niki

Squiggles – Zaria

Swifts – Maddi and Ava L

Skittles – washed out game

Sparkles – Emily

Smurfs – the whole team

Sunshines – the whole team

Stars – washed out game

Sparkles Match Report

Sparkles put in another magnificent effort during Saturday's match. Coming up against Rebels, Jasmine, Elissa and Ava combined beautifully in the shooting circle to score 35 goals, with Mariella, Scarlet and Ania doing a really great job with their positioning and timing to bring the ball through the mid-court. We saw excellent high hands over the pass all down the court, and strong tagging defence from Ava, Isla and Emily made it really difficult for Rebels to get the ball into the circle. Our defence end also picked up lots of deflections and intercepts along the way. Great work Sparkles - as always, you played like champions.

For this Friday only the Clothing pool will be open from 2.45 - to 3.10.

Winter Jumper's: There are a great quantity available, especially in the smaller sizes. Due to an over supply all jumpers are on special for $3.00.

We are still in need of the following items:

• Sports Shirts all sizes
• Boys Pants - Size 6 - 10 especially
• Jumpers Sizes 8 - 10 (very hard to come by)

If you have any of the above items please feel free to drop them in. A reminder that we also exchange for the next size up.

Please ensure that clothes are clean and in a reasonable condition to donate.

For hygiene reasons, we cannot accept stockings or Scungies.

Don’t forget to let us know if you are planning to leave St Clare of Assisi at the end of the year. (Year 6 exempt of course!) Please use the link below.  We will soon commence the process of planning enrolments and class numbers for next year. 

https://stclareconder.schoolzineplus.com/form/10