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SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

1 April 2022| Week 9

Upcoming Dates

  • Week 10: School Swimming Program Continues
  • 7th April: Last day for students Term 1
  • 8th April: Catholic Education System Pupil Free Day
  • 19th April: First day for students Term 2
Please refer to School Stream for full event details. Please check the EVENTS tab to add event details directly to your calendar!

Principal's News

Week 9, Term 1, 2022

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Dear Parents and Carers

Cyber Safety: A School & Family Responsibility: Last week I included the poem about the importance of parent and school partnerships in educating our children and students. This week I share some information around Cyber safety.

At St Mary’s we are very aware of the importance of Cyber safety in our ever expanding technological world.

We recognise that we have a joint responsibility, along with parents, to educate ourselves and our students about safe online practices as we all develop as digital citizens.

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Some of us are yet to embrace Cyber Citizenship and others who have or may have found it moving so fast that it is difficult to keep up with new developments and what they really mean.

For the wellbeing of our students and their families, we have gathered some information about Cyber safety and associated devices to help you become more informed.
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Website & Article Links for Parents & Families:
  • eSafety This website hosted and supported by the Australian Government has extensive information. Of particular interest: Managing Children’s Online Time & in the parent question area of the same page Cyber safety expert, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, talks about the importance of sleep for brain development and academic success- My child is up late online most nights. Should I be worried?
  • iParent The eSafety parent Portal where parents can learn about the digital environment and how to help children have safe and enjoyable online experiences. The new Screen Smart Parent Tour is certainly worth a look.
  • Screen Smart Parent Tour A 10 minute interactive tour for parents of pre-teens and young teens (10 to 14 yrs ) which addresses six important online topics including social media, screen time, personal information, inappropriate content, cyberbullying and contact with strangers. Each topic offers practical tips and advice on how to allow children to explore safely and manage online issues if they arise.
  • ThinkUKnow ThinkUKnow Australia explores the possible dangers of online interactions and actions to take.
  • Cyberbullying What is it? The Australian Parenting Website, Raising Children Network, published this article.
  • Guide To Games Apps & Social Networking Up to date, specific information provided by eSmart. Some Apps & sites you have heard of and many you probably haven’t, but your children may have!
We are encouraged to
Engage Positively Online – Know Your Online World – Choose Consciously When Interacting Online
Security
Your Children, Our Students –Together we remain responsible for their wellbeing

Farewell to James (room 8) and family who recently left our school community.

In faith and love

Rosie Harrison

Pupil Free Day

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Next Friday 8th April is a Catholic Education System Pupil Free Day. Vacation Care is available, please see the School Stream App for details. On this day our staff will be gathering for Professional Development focused around living out the Ladauto Si' principles and embedding the Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum across our school. We hope our students enjoy the early start to the holidays!

Religious Education News

Sacramental Program: This year, St Mary’s students will be offered the opportunity to participate in a school-based Sacramental Preparation Program, run in collaboration with St Mary’s parish.


Children from Years 3 and above are able to receive the Sacraments of Communion and Reconciliation. Those who have made these Sacraments can receive Confirmation.

There will be a parent and student information sessions on the following dates:

Sacramental Program Information Session on Saturday April 2nd at 3pm - 4pm in the Mary MacKillop Hall.

The Sacramental Program will run during Term 2 with lessons being held after school from 3pm-4pm on a Thursday.

If you would like further information about dates, cost and sessions, please contact Clare Nolan on clare.nolan@nt.catholic.edu.au.

Key Dates:
Holy Week Liturgy - Room 11 will be recording a video for the Holy Week reflection for students to watch in their classes. This will be sent out for families to view at home.
Easter Resurrection Liturgy – Tuesday 19th April 1:30pm in the Mary MacKillop Hall
ANZAC Day Liturgy – Tuesday 26th April 8:30am in the Mary MacKillop Hall

Clare Nolan
Religious Education Co-ordinator
Prayer for Peace in Ukraine

Peace is a precious gift which must be promoted and protected… Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence. - Pope Francis

God of Peace
Our hearts ache for the people of Ukraine as their country is invaded by power and military force.
We pray especially for the vulnerable and marginalised communities who will be most severely impacted by war.
We pray for Caritas Ukraine as they continue to support communities with emergency relief such as shelter and food.
We pray for Australia, that we may make a positive contribution to peacemaking in our world. We pray for ourselves and people everywhere: help us to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who suffer, raising our voices in solidarity against injustice.
Loving God, keep alive within us the flame of hope so that, with patience and perseverance, we may always opt for dialogue not war.
Amen
Prayer

Room 13 News

Edited - Room 13 Newsletter (3)

CathCroc

Caathcroc

2022 School Swimming Program

Kids having a swimming lesson in indoor pool
Our School Swimming Program continues next week Monday to Thursday! The students have quickly settled into the change of routine and are enjoying their time at the pool each day.

Swimming reminders:
  • Transition Rooms 7 & 8 students wear their swimmers, thongs, rash shirt to school, with their school uniform (including socks and shoes) in their school bags. They will get changed upon returning to school. Please ensure that these students have arrived at school prior to 8.40am as the bus will depart at this time.
  • All other students will need to bring their swimmers, thongs, goggles, rash shirt and towel in a plastic bag. Please ensure that swimming outfits are sun safe with no bare shoulders.
  • Please provide a labelled plastic bag to place all wet clothing after each lesson.
Please refer to the 2022 Swimming Lessons Parent Information note for further details.

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing News

Zones of Regulation
By now some of you may have heard your children talking about their ‘zone’ when relating to their emotions or energy levels. The Zones of Regulation (ZOR) is linked to the ALERT program and used at St Mary’s in the Engine Room to help students co-regulate and become aware of their state of alertness and emotional state. In Term Two St Mary’s is adapting a wholes school approach in using the Zones of Regulation, with many classes already implementing ZOR in the classrooms.

Information for Families
The Zones of Regulation is an internationally renowned intervention which helps children to manage difficult emotions, known as ‘self-regulation’. Self-regulation can go by many names such as ‘self-control’, ‘impulse management’ and ‘self-management’. Self-regulation is best described as the best state of alertness for a situation. For example, when your child takes part in a sports game, they would need to have a higher state of alertness than when, for example, they were working in a library. From time to time, all of us (including adults) find it hard to manage strong feelings such as worry, anger, restlessness, fear or tiredness, and this stops us from getting on with our day effectively. Children who feel these emotions often find it hard to learn and concentrate in school. The Zones of Regulation aims to teach children strategies to help them cope with these feelings so they can get back to feeling calm and ready to learn. These coping strategies are called ‘self-regulation’.
It is important to remember that we teach the students that everyone experiences all of the Zones. The Red and Yellow zones are not ‘bad’ Zones. All of the Zones are expected at one time or another. For example, the Blue Zone is helpful when you are trying to fall asleep.

What are the different Zones?
Blue Zone: low level of arousal; not ready to learn; feels sad, sick, tired, bored, moving slowly.
Green Zone: calm state of alertness; optimal level to learn; feels happy, calm, feeling okay, focused.
Yellow Zone: heightened state of alertness; elevated emotions; has some control; feels frustrated, worried, silly/wiggly, excited, loss of some control.
Red Zone: heightened state of alertness and intense emotions; not an optimal level for learning; out of control; feels mad/angry, terrified, yelling/hitting, elated, out of control.
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Spirit of St Mary's Update

Today we celebrated our Spirit Cup Fun Day. The students had great fun today relaxing watching a movie on our ‘Big Screen’ and snacking on slushies and popcorn. It was just what everyone needed after a busy week of swimming! Spirit Cup Fun Day is an opportunity for the school to gather and have the efforts in showing the Four Rs and ‘Making Jesus Real’ each day.

Next Term we will set a new goal for our students to work towards for Term Two’s Spirit Cup Fun Day.

Here are some photos from our Fun Day!
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Canteen Online Orders & Update

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To streamline processes across the school, in 2022 we are now only accepting online orders for lunches.
All families need to set up an account for online ordering through Flexischools, which is linked directly in the School Stream App. Details on how to set up an account can be found in the “CANTEEN” tab of School Stream. There is no need to download the Flexischools App, it can all be accessed from the School Stream App.

For those with an existing account, you will need to update your child's class and room number for 2022 before placing your first order. Please refer to the instructions in School Stream.

You can find the updated 2022 Canteen menu in School Stream. Please note daily orders close at 8.40am. Any orders received after this time, will be fulfilled subject to availability of stock and may be substituted for a basic sandwich.

Please note that at this time our school canteen has been impacted by supplier shortages. Some items may be temporarily unavailable and will be marked as 'out of stock' when ordering. Thank you for your understanding.

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