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Dear Parents and Carers
Special friends and family members gathered at school last week to experience a shared learning experience to celebrate Catholic Education Week at St Clare’s.
Over 400 guests shared in prayer, songs, stories and specialist lessons, including Science, Japanese, Music and Physical Education. Family and friends enjoyed engaging with students as they participated in various school activities. Many visitors commented that school has certainly changed from ‘back in my day’.
At St Clare’s we value shared learning experiences, along with kindness, respect and compassion. We provide a safe and inclusive educational environment where students encounter the love of Christ and are supported to grow academically, spiritually and personally.
Our school’s community spirit was evident as we gathered together to celebrate Catholic Education Week.
Quotes from our Students
My grandpa loves birds and I drew a parrot with him - Lawson, 6NS
My grandma came and we played Uno and did facts about our family on a family tree. We researched facts about the country our family is from. - Rylie, 5AB
My grandma came and we played maths games. I also got to show her my book on Book Creator - Kavnoor, 4WD
My mum and aunty came and we did a sloth activity, we wrote what we would do if we were sloths. - Skylah, 3TT
First Holy Communion 2023
Please continue to keep our Year 4 students who are preparing for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in your prayers. Many of them attended Mass at St Patrick’s Parish last Saturday evening to show their commitment to receiving the Sacrament.
A reminder that there is a Parent Evening THIS Thursday 1 June at 7pm at the St Patrick’s Parish hall. This is for Parents/Carers only and we are unable to offer child care.
F-2 Mass - CHANGE of DATE
Please note that we have had to change the F-2 Mass from Wed 14 June to Tuesday 20 June due to Father Janeesh’s availability. This Mass will now be held at 2.15pm and all families from F-2 are welcome to attend. It will be held in the modular building.
Religious Education Curriculum Updates
This week I share with you the curriculum being covered and reported on in the first semester for Year 3 and Year 4.
Year 3
This Semester, Year 3 has explored scripture and how scripture speaks of God in many ways. Students have come to recognise Jesus as the Son of God. They have focussed on how people have different experiences of life and celebrate in a variety of ways. Students have learnt how the feasts and seasons of the liturgical year celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. There has been a focus on Mary as a key figure in the Catholic Church. The Sacraments of Initiation and Healing have also been explored.
Year 4
During Semester One, Year 4 students have explored how Scripture contains messages and teachings for people, past and present. Students have looked at how people celebrate their beliefs through Catholic traditions. They have focused on knowing that the celebration of the Mass (the Eucharist) is the heart of a Catholic community’s prayer. Students have investigated the parts of the Catholic Mass and the words and symbols used.
Last Wednesday, Father Janeesh visited the Year Two students to support our Religious Education inquiry about celebrations in the church. He was able to answer questions for the students about the types of celebrations we recognise at St Patrick's Church including the Sacraments and special days.
The students took notes as he spoke to them. Father shared a video about all the groups at the church including The Choir, Paddy's Kitchen, The Rosary Group and Divine Kids.
He spoke about the ways the students can participate in the local church. The Year Two students enjoyed hearing from Father Janeesh.
Reminder the staff have a Professional Practice Day on Friday 9 June so there is NO SCHOOL for students.
Camp Australia are providing care on this day if required. Please ensure you book in as soon as possible.
Please complete the Application for Leave During Term Form if your child is going to be absent for more than 3 school days. The form is below and can also be accessed via PAM in the Knowledgebank.
Here is the link for the St Clare's Parent Access Module (PAM)
St Clare's PAM
You username is the email address that you have registered with the school. The first time you log in we ask that you use the forgotten password feature to set your own password.
ALL parents must access PAM to receive up to date information and grant necessary permissions. Students will miss out on events if permission is not granted.
School Fees
Term 2 fees are now overdue. Please contact the school to arrange payment.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties please contact the school via finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au for a confidential discussion.
If you financial situation has now changes and you have a Pension or Health Care Card please let us know that this will impact your school fees payable.
Dear Parents and Families
The holidays are fast approaching, and the Rocketeer's bookings are now open, so get in quick before the spots run out as they are filling fast! We have lots of awesome activities, excursions and incursions planned. To find out more, search Rocketeers and type St Clare's as your school to see everything we have planned.
The 9th of June is a pupil free day at St Clare's, we have opened the booking system for that day so get in quick as there are only limited spots available. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in contact with Chelsea your OSHC Coordinator.
Big Art weeks - on the 12th- 23rd June we are hosting two awesome packed weeks full of everything arts and crafts and lots of creative fun!! If your child/ren would like to be a part of this, book them into before and after school care to unleash their imagination. Big art comp starting the 12th of June and running until 16th July showcase your child's creativity and win. Massive prizes are up for grabs proudly brought to you by RIOT art and craft with over a $3000 prize pool. For more information visit www.campaustralia.com.au/
Just a reminder that we are a nut free service including spreads and other snacks alongside physical nuts. Parents, please drop your children off in the service in the morning, the children are not allowed to walk themselves in unsupervised nor are they allowed to sign themselves in on the tablet.
If you ever have any questions the service phone number is 0450 253 460 operating hours Mon, Wed and Fri 6:30 - 10am, Tues and Thurs 6:30- 9:30am and every afternoon 2-6:30pm.
Kind regards
Your OSHC team Chels, Pooja and Steph
A SPECIAL REPORT: Managing Overwhelm
Due to the pandemic, the world we now live in is a very different place. The hyperconnected nature of our current environment means that we are constantly being reminded of the challenges we face via numerous media and social media channels. Our connectivity to the digital world exposes us to a barrage of messages that can leave us feeling overwhelmed. As a result, many children and their parents are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety.
Our brains have not evolved fast enough to adapt to this digital landscape. The combination of constant access to information and having little control over the situations presented, can be stressful and overwhelming. It is therefore important for adult carers to check in with their children and be aware of what information they may have been exposed to. It may not necessarily be the information itself that is harmful, but more their inability to process and make sense of it. Providing children with the skills and strategies to cope will enable them to flourish and thrive, socially, emotionally and academically.
The blueprint for parenting, based on our own experiences, is no longer fit for purpose in raising kids as citizens of tomorrow. This can be inherently stressful and overwhelming, not only for parents and carers, but children alike. If left untreated or unmanaged, constant stress and anxiety can lead to a number of behavioural issues or health consequences.
This Special Report suggests a number of strategies to help manage any feelings of overwhelm that you or your child may be experiencing.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to a special report:
https://stclaresofficer.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-managing-overwhelm
How to Help Kids Stay Safe Online
Adapted from: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/blog Office of the eSafety Commissioner
- Start the chat
It’s not possible to be at your child’s side every second of the day, so it’s important to talk with them about online safety issues to help develop their critical thinking and ability to make good choices. It’s also good to let them know they can come to you for help if they have any concerns. You may feel they know more about the latest technology than you do, but you have more life experience to guide them.
- With primary school aged children use online devices in the open living spaces at home to make parent supervision part of the expectation for your child.
- Take the opportunity to set some boundaries around when and where they can use devices like tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles, to help limit potential tech tantrums — you could even fill in an Early Years Family Tech Agreement
- Screen free time before bed is important for good sleep. Consider charging devices in a central location at a regular time each night to allow an hour screen free before bed.
- While you are all at home more, it’s a great time to co-view and co-play with your kids, so you can understand what they are doing and experiencing online.
- Learn about the games, apps, social media and platforms they are using at The eSafety Guide, including how to protect their information and report inappropriate content or conduct.
- Use parental controls and safe search options
Parental controls can help block your child from accessing specific websites, apps or functions. They can also monitor your child’s use of connected devices and set time limits. But beware! You cannot always rely on them — they should be used in combination with other online safety strategies.
- Parental controls are available on most tablets, smartphones, computers, TVs and gaming consoles.
- You can also download family safety controls or buy robust filters out of the box.
- You can set up child-friendly search engines, or select safe search settings on digital devices, to help prevent your child from stumbling across inappropriate sites and content.
- Check smart toy settings
It’s surprising how many toys or devices can connect online these days, from drones and smart teddies to tablets and wearables. While they can be both entertaining and educational, they can reveal your child’s personal details and location — and allow other people to contact them without you knowing. You can help keep them stay safe by:
- setting strong passwords
- turning off location settings
- limiting the amount of personal information shared.
The eSafety Gift Guide has advice on what to check for and how to stay safe.
- Look out for unwanted contact and grooming
Unwanted contact is any communication that makes your child feel uncomfortable or unsafe, even if they initially welcomed the contact. It can come from a stranger, an online ‘friend’ or even someone they actually know. At worst, it can involve ‘grooming’ — building a relationship with the child in order to sexually abuse them.
You can help by:
- making sure their accounts are private — including chat functions on games
- encouraging them to delete requests from strangers and any contacts they don’t know in person
- checking in with your child as they use online devices in the open living spaces at home
- reporting and blocking anyone suspicious on a website or service
- remembering that if suspicious online contacts become aggressive or threatening you should contact your local police.
- Know the signs of cyberbullying
Kids who are bored by long periods at home can pick at each other, and that happens online too. So it’s important to keep an eye out for cyberbullying. It can include mean posts, comments and messages, as well as being left out of online group activities like gaming.
- Remember, when they are away from school, kids have less access to their usual support systems, including friends, teachers and counsellors.
- eSafety research shows that girls are more likely to be affected than boys and the person doing the bullying is generally someone they know from school.
- Watch out for signs such as your child appearing upset after using their mobile, tablet or computer, being unusually secretive about their online activities or becoming withdrawn.
- Cyberbullying can make social isolation worse and the longer it continues, the more stressed kids can become, impacting on their emotional and physical wellbeing.
What to do if your child is being cyberbullied
As parents, our first instinct may be to ban our children from social media, disable the wi-fi or turn off the data access. But this can actually compound the problem, making your child feel as if they’re being punished and heightening their sense of social exclusion.
There are four simple steps that can help minimise the harm:
- report the cyberbullying to the social media service where it is occurring
- collect evidence of the cyberbullying material
- if the material is still public 48 hours later, make a report to eSafety — we work with social media platforms to have the harmful content removed.
block the offending user.