Issue 13 - 28th July 2021
Every day at St Peter Chanel, our students are learning something new and consolidating what they have previously learned. I am consistently impressed with how active our teachers are and how enthusiastically our children engage in their learning. During the Winter months, coughs and colds mean that children are best at home for a couple of days. At this time of year, the teachers spend considerable time ensuring that students who are away ill, get caught up on what they have missed. Of course, illness is a perfectly acceptable reason for absence. Knowing that they are susceptible to colds and flus, though, means that every other day that they can be, students should be at school. Over the coming weeks, I am going to focus on the importance of attendance. The following article by Michael Grose, Parenting Educator, is a great start.
It’s not okay to be away ... nor to be late to school
One of the most important things you can do to ensure your child has a bright future is to make sure he or she goes to school every day—and gets there on time. It sounds simple, but it’s true. The correlation between school attendance and children’s achievement levels is well established. The more time kids spend at school, the more likely they are to experience school success. Conversely, according to a report from the Victorian Auditor General, students who are regularly absent from school are at the greatest risk of dropping out of school early, and of experiencing long-term unemployment. When kids miss school, not only is their academic progress impeded, forcing them to catch up on missed work (which some never do), they often miss important interactions with their peers which can compound issues of social isolation and low self-esteem. Also, many teachers tell me, it’s often the kids who can least afford to take time off school who are most likely to be serial absentees.
It’s now commonplace for children to stay away from school for reasons that would have been unheard of just twenty years ago. These include staying away to celebrate their own or a sibling’s birthday; being absent because they stayed up too late watching television; going shopping for clothes; an extended long weekend; and kids not wanting to take part in a sports day or special school event. This type of absenteeism sends a strong message to kids that parents don’t really value learning or their children’s school experiences.
Australian kids only spend 15% of their total time at school. They spend more time asleep than they do at school. So we need to maximise every day to get full value. That means turning up to school every day, on time.
Being late is not okay either
Missing a few minutes each day may not seem like a big deal but your child may be missing more than you realise if he or she is continually late. Current research shows that mornings for most children are the most productive time of the day, with 10.00am the peak period for productivity. When children arrive late and take time to settle as they inevitably do, valuable learning time is lost.
It takes strong parenting ...
It takes a strong will to resist the persistent pressure that kids can bring to bear, particularly if they play the guilt card with comments such as “It’s not fair that I have to go school today because Aunty is coming to visit!” Nice try. But the answer should be “No!”. As parents we need to make a commitment that our kids make the most of their precious time at school. That means that we send them to school every day, on time and ready to make the most of the school day. Of course, there will be times, such as illness or genuinely extenuating family circumstances, when kids should be away. But these need to be a rarity rather than the norm.
It’s reassuring to know that you increase their chances of future success just by making sure they turn up to school every day. And of course regular school attendance also helps kids prepare for the workforce, where it will be expected that they turn up each day work-ready. The real world is unforgiving of those who stay away with NO EXCUSE.
AS A PARENT:
✔ Commit to sending kids to school every day.
✔ Make sure kids arrive at school and class on time.
✔ Inform the school when they are away, sending medical certificates and other evidence of genuine absence.
✔ Catch up on missed work.
✔ Make kids who are away stay in their bedroom – that is where ill kids should be.
Acting Principal
Mrs Kerrie FlynnInternational Day of Friendship will be this Friday, 30th July. We addressed the importance and need for friendship with all students on day 1 of Term 3. Making Jesus Real in our everyday lives, fosters a strong friendship environment, therefore, as we begin a new term, we have asked our students that THE SPIRIT OF JESUS IS IN THE LITTLE THINGS WE DO AND SAY EACH DAY TO HELP TO MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY ….EVERY DAY….. It is important these little things are things we can say and do together, as we can make a big difference to our classroom, school and at home.
Things we can do and say, to make our’s and others’ day:
- “Thanks Mum/Dad for driving me to sport”.
- “Your project is awesome, you must be really happy with it”.
- “Thanks for teaching us today Mr…Miss… see you tomorrow”.
- "How was your day Mum/Dad?
- “Come and join in our game Sarah”.
- “You’re a great member of our team and you have really improved from last year”.
- “Love your cooking Nan, and I appreciate you washing my clothes Mum/Dad”.
- “Sorry If I upset you yesterday”.
- “Thanks for being a great friend”.
- Saying a personal good morning to your teachers and kids in your class …just not only to your group of friends.
If you are a GIVER of these words or phrases and you try harder to encourage, compliment and fill people’s buckets each day, this helps you to be a happier person. It helps your wellbeing and inner peace, as you are working on being a better person and, “feeding the positive Spirit within you.”
Pax Tecum,
Mrs Andrea Jaffray Morf
Deputy PrincipalWe welcomed Will Smith and his team on Monday morning for a seminar to empower and inspire our Grade 5 and 6 students to be the best version of themselves. Students learn about the term ‘BEAST’ in a series of fun, energetic and engaging activities that have a focus on Leadership, Teamwork and School Spirit. Students have an opportunity to learn about their own leadership potential and how to implement positive engagement activities into their everyday life. This seminar also had underlying focuses on resilience and relationship building among peers.
After lunch Will then engaged the boys in further mentoring with how to look after their mental health, team work and respect for other people’s personal information.
GRL IN PWR
For the afternoon sessions we also welcomed Caity Walker to join the Grade 5 and 6 girls. Caity inspired our girls to be authentic, strong and ambitious women. The girls explored how to find who they are on the inside, then how to protect this valuable version. How to move from a place of self loathe to self love. Caity also touched on consent and how some situations can make us feel uncomfortable. Caity showed the girls how to be aware of their gut instincts and they have the right to say ‘NO’.
HAVE I CHECKED IN?
HAVE I SIGNED IN?
HAVE I SANITISED?
With the spike in cases on the mainland, and the requirement for our school to complete a Covid Checklist on a fortnightly basis, we would like to remind families of the following requirements:
Please do not enter the school unless it is necessary to do so. For the collection of children, you are able to wait at the bottom of the steps and the students will come out to you. Please adhere to the social distancing rules when gathering and avoid congregating in groups.
The preference is for families to contact the school via the following options:
Phone: 6452 1431
Email: spc@catholic.tas.edu.au
SeeSaw message to the teacher
Message in your child’s diary
Any adult entering a school building must use the ‘Check in Tas’ app, regardless of how long they stay for. Check-in QR codes are placed at the school office when entering the building. A sign in sheet will also be available for those who do not have a smartphone.
Entering the school for any reason:
- Sign in at the sign-in station (School requirement)
- COVID check in using QR code or sign-in sheet (Tas Government requirement)
For Assemblies, we ask that people please enter via the front office, use the hand sanitiser upon entry and follow the two step process above. Please adhere to the 1.5m social distancing and refrain from entering the school if you are unwell.
Congratulations to the following students who received Aiming High awards at our last assembly:
Kinder - Audrey & Brock
Prep - Luca & Rory
Grade 1 - Darcy & Lenni
Grade 2 - Jhett & Myla
Grade 3 - Max & Arah
Grade 4 - The whole class.
Grade 5 - Zarah & Logan
Grade 6 - Lillama & Tayarna
When a student is unable to attend school, due to being unwell or an appointment, it is recommended that you add the attendance note via the Compass app. You are able to call the school office also. Siblings are not allowed to notify of an absence. If they do, it will be left as unexplained. Only a parent or guardian can notify.
Please refrain from parking on the grassed areas around the school grounds. These have become a safety hazard with the grass becoming very muddy and slippery. We ask can you please utilise the Church carpark until the weather improves for everyone's safety.
We need your help! Our Breakfast Club is looking for a volunteer on a Thursday morning, to nourish some of our students who just don’t manage to have breakfast before coming to school.
We only need you for about an hour (at the most). Please contact the office if you have a valid WWVP card and are able to help us, help our kids at SPC.
Thank you to Smithton Rotary for your generous donation to our Breakfast Club.
Congratulations to Miss Danae Ling on her recent engagement to her partner Jacob! We wish you all the best for your future together.
Book week runs from 21st - 27th August with this year's theme being ‘Old worlds, New worlds, Other worlds’. As per previous years, we will hold a book week dress-up day on Thursday, 26th August. We will also be holding a book fair. More information will be sent home to families as it gets closer.
Students from Grade 5 and Grade 6 will participate with other local primary schools in their Winter Sports Program over the next few weeks on a Thursday. Students have chosen their preferred sport between football, netball, taekwondo, tennis or hockey. Students will be required to wear their sports uniform on these days.
Students will travel by bus to and from school and will be supervised by Mrs Rebecca Britton, Miss Montana Bradley and Mr Fletcher Nicholls.
Catholic Education Week is celebrated from 7th - 14th August 2021. On Tuesday, 10th August students in Grade 6 will attend the Catholic Education Week Mass in Ulverstone. Information will be sent via compass for this event.