Holy Family Newsletter (Week 4 Term 2, 2023)
Messages from the Principal
Acknowledgement of Country
As we gather on this sacred land, let us acknowledge that we are standing on Bundgalung country, for which the members and elders of the local Indigenous community and their forbearers have been custodians for thousands of years, on which they have performed age old ceremonies, celebrations, initiations and renewals. We acknowledge their living culture and unique role in the life of this beautiful country.
Understanding Bullying
At the heart of Catholic Education lies a commitment to the wellbeing and safety of every student. It is important that our school actively engages with parents and promotes positive relationships. Over the coming months, ten items on Bullying and Friendships will be shared in the newsletters. In this newsletter we focus on Item 2: Conversations about Bullying.
Having an open dialogue about bullying with your child is crucial for fostering trust, understanding, and resilience. You could use this video from Bullying No Way as a conversation starter. (See Link Below)
Here are some tips for initiating and maintaining this important conversation:
Ensure that your child feels comfortable and safe discussing sensitive topics like bullying. Choose a quiet, private setting where your child feels relaxed and free to express themselves without fear of judgement or reprisal.
- Be ready to manage your reactions.
- Start the conversation by asking open-ended questions that invite your child to share their thoughts and experiences. For example, you could ask, "Can you tell me about what's been happening at school lately?" or "How are things going with yourfriends?"
- Practise active listening by giving your child your full attention and demonstrating empathy and understanding. Avoid interrupting or dismissing their feelings, even if you disagree with their perspective. Reflect back on what they're saying to show that you're truly listening and validating their experience.
- Let your child know that their feelings are valid and that it's normal to feel upset or worried about bullying. Reassure them that they're not alone and that you're there to support them every step of the way.
- Focus on empowering them with knowledge and strategies for dealing with bullying. Help your child to brainstorm possible solutions or strategies to manage the situation. If your child is experiencing bullying or if the conversation reveals other issues, contact the school.
By fostering an open and supportive dialogue about bullying, you can help your child feel empowered, resilient, and equipped to navigate challenging situations with confidence. Starting the conversation about this topic should be grounded in your family's beliefs and values. Make sure you have early, regular conversations with your child about the values you have as a family regarding respect and care for others and the dignity of each human person.
What are your family values? How do you as a family provide healthy opportunities to grow in mutual love and respect?
Attendance
Learning growth can occur when your child attends school every day.
By attending school every day, students maximise their exposure to educational opportunities, engage in meaningful learning experiences, and lay the foundation for continuous academic progress. Regular attendance provides students with the opportunity to ask questions, seek clarification, and collaborate with others, enhancing their understanding of the material.
Parents and educators play important roles in fostering an environment that promotes and values regular attendance, contributing to the overall success and wellbeing of students.
Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Parent Survey
The Tell Them From Me survey window for parents has been open this week (closes on Friday 24 May) and I strongly encourage all parents to participate in the survey. The survey is anonymous and voluntary, and participants may skip any questions they are not comfortable answering. We will be using the data collected from the survey in our school improvement planning. We will also provide feedback on the parent survey results at the Holy Family School Group Meeting in August next term.
Staff Development Days
Friday, 24th May. Staff will focus on Formative Assessment and the new English and mathematics curriculum.
Wednesday, 29th May. Proclaim. The Catholic Schools Office mandates this staff day and the focal points are faith, learning and community.
Students do not attend school on these two days. Active Kids will be available on both days.
Last week Holy Family was most fortunate to have Kirra Pendergast run workshops titled Safe on Social Media for our students, staff and parents. Below are 10 tips from Kirra:
10 Tips for role modelling positive and mindful technology use
- Setting boundaries for tech use is essential for creating a healthy and balanced relationship with technology.
- Establish times and places where tech use is allowed, such as not using devices during mealtimes before bed. Stick to these boundaries consistently.
- Mindfulness is essential for maintaining a positive and healthy relationship with technology. Practice mindfulness by taking breaks from tech, engaging in offline activities, and being present in the moment. Encourage children to do the same.
- Engaging in offline activities is essential for creating balance in tech use. Encourage children to participate in physical activities, spend time in nature, and engage in creative endeavours. Role model these behaviours yourself.
- Practise positive and respectful communication online and offline. Avoid negative or inflammatory language online, treat others with respect, and model good behaviour. Encourage children to do the same.
- Model good security habits, such as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication, and practise safe and responsible online behaviour. Teach children to do the same and to avoid sharing personal information online.
- Stay informed about the latest tech developments and trends and model responsible use of technology. Seek guidance from trusted sources and practise critical thinking when evaluating online content.
- Celebrate offline achievements like completing a project or reaching a fitness goal. Encourage children to pursue offline activities and celebrate their successes.
- Encourage collaborative tech use by engaging in group activities, such as playing educational games or creating digital art projects. Encourage children to share their knowledge and skills with others and create a positive and supportive environment that promotes learning and growth.
- Be mindful of screen time and its impact on children’s health and well-being. Encourage children to take breaks from screen time and engage in physical activities or social interactions. Model these behaviours and promote a healthy balance between tech use and offline activities. If you or your child is struggling with tech use or experiencing negative effects, seek support from a trusted professional or resource. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and encourage children to do the same.
Kindness
There is never a reason not to be kind.
God Bless
Murray
Principal
School Community Groups
We've had a fantastic response with parents (both mums and dads) connecting to one or more of our School Community Groups. As of today we have 292 parents connected.
Please see the attached link if you are yet to register. View the information video to learn what's involved and how to get connected.
Attached is also the Updated Class Tally showing the percentage of parents (both mums and dads) from each class who have connected to our School Community Groups. The girls and boys in 3 Blue are a little nervous holding on to their tight lead and the chance of enjoying a class Icecream Parlour for the class with the greatest percentage of parents connected. This competition for classes closes tomorrow, Friday at 11:59pm.
We want all our parents to feel connected and engaged in the life of their children at Holy Family and we know that the formation of our School Community Groups will provide a great way to support this.
Faith and Mission
First Holy Communion
We have 20 students preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Please keep these children in your prayers as they journey to receive the nourishment of the Eucharist.
While preparing for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion the students have learnt that the word Eucharist means ‘thanksgiving’. They focused upon the Christian tradition of praying a ‘Grace Before Meals’ to give thanks to God for the many blessings we have. Below are some simple prayers that you may like to say each time you gather for a meal as a family.
Bless the food before us, the people beside us and the love between us. Amen.
Bless us, O Lord,
And these gifts
Which we are about to receive,
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
God is great and God is good;
Let us thank him for our food;
By God's hand, we must be fed,
Give us Lord, our daily bread.
Amen.
Learning and Teaching
Understanding the K-6 Student Report
Information for Parents
How is English and Mathematics reported on?
Students will receive an achievement grade for each Focus Area in English and Mathematics.
Please click the link below to access the text version of the English Glossary and to access a multimedia version of the English Glossary.
Please click the link below to access the text version of the Mathematics Glossary and to access a multimedia version of the Mathematics Glossary.
How are achievement grades determined?
Kindergarten:
Achievement Grades in Kindergarten are identified on a three-point scale using the following descriptors:
- Working Towards
- Working At
- Working Beyond expected achievement.
Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2), Stage 2 (Year 3 and Year 4) and Stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6):
Achievement Grades in Year 1 to Year 6 are identified on a 5 point scale using the descriptors from the Common Grade Scale. The Common Grade Scale describes the performance of students in Year 1 to Year 6 at each of the five grade levels A-E.
Sport
Intersport Ballina
Holy Family Sporting Excellence & Sportsmanship Award
Cahlu from 6 Green was presented the inaugural Intersport Ballina Holy Family Sporting Excellence & Sportsmanship Award for Term One at last week’s assembly. Mr Crawford presented Cahlu the perpetual trophy, certificate and $100 Intersport Ballina voucher for her awesome sporting achievements in Term One that included representing the school at PSSA Swimming, Polding Netball and Diocesan Cross Country. Congratulations Cahlu and a big thank you to Intersport Ballina for their support.
Diocesan Cross Country
Twenty-three students from Year 3-6 travelled to Grafton’s McAuley College on Tuesday 21st May to race in the Lismore Diocesan Cross Country Championships. Holy Family did very well with Harriette, Frankie and Isaiah winning their races. Congratulations to Leighton, Asher, Lily, Celia, Sierra, Amy and Coco who have also qualified to race at the Polding Cross Country Championships at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Wednesday 5th June. Well done Guys!
Diocesan Rugby Union
Mason, Paddy and Liam from Year 6 participated at the Lismore Diocesan Rugby Union Trials in Grafton on Friday 17th May. The boys played very well during the day with Richmond Zone winning all their games against Tweed, Clarence and Hastings zones. Congratulations to Paddy and Liam for being selected in the Lismore Diocesan team that will compete at the Polding Trials in Forbes on July 1. Well done boys!
School Events
Chess
Information notes with accompanying permission slips have been distributed to interested students for the Term Two chess tournament at Alstonville High School on Tuesday, June 18. Notes can be collected from the office. Once entries close on May 31, a Compass alert will be sent to families so that payment can be made. Participants (Years 2-6) need a sound understanding of how pieces move and some strategy.
Brendan Coyle
Canteen Corner
Canteen Roster - Term 3, 2023
Week | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
5 | Closed - Pupil Free | Marilyn Evans | Esther Jenkins |
6 | Kellie Sproule | Melanie Mellon | Ashlee Pirak |
Our Term 2 Meal Deal is on Friday the 14th of June. Orders are now open. All orders must be placed through Compass canteen. See the flyer for more details on the menu options and how to place orders.
Student Awards
Principal’s Award
The very worthy recipient of the Southern Cross Credit Union Principal’s Award for the month of May is Layla in 3 Green.
Layla is an unassuming student. She is the quiet achiever who does her very best each and every day and displays a responsible attitude to learning in all Key Learning Areas.
Dedicated and conscientious, Layla participates with enthusiasm in all activities, and strives hard to do her very best. When faced with challenges she shows perseverance. Layla also takes great pride and care in the neatness and presentation of her work.
Layla always displays outstanding Christian values. She is a polite, responsible student who is kind and caring in her interactions with others and responsibly follows school rules. Layla displays respect and empathy for her classmates and makes everyone feel valued.