News from Lynda
Thank you
Thanks to Julie Griffin for coordinating the Mother’s Day breakfast and stall. Thanks to the dads who supported Julie with setting up and cooking the bacon and egg rolls. Thanks also to the mums who helped with the stall. There were many smiling faces as children left the stall with their decorated bag and gift for mum.
Hope all our Mums had a beautiful Mother’s Day
Staff Professional Learning
Last Friday 3 May staff attended professional learning on the URstrong Friendology Curriculum founded by Dana Kerford a Canadian teacher. Dana’s friendology framework for supporting students to develop healthy friendships is being implemented in many schools worldwide.
The objective of the program:
“Explicitly teaching children how to develop healthy friendships and manage conflict in a positive way is at the heart of helping them flourish. These important social skills are the key to bullying prevention, creating safe, caring learning environments, and inspiring kinder, happier children”
https://urstrong.com/resource/language-of-friendship-introduction/
Later in the term our school will adopt this program as part of our student wellbeing program. The key messages in the lessons link to our school values, The Victorian Capabilities Curriculum and Catholic Education Melbourne Religious Education Curriculum. We will continue to provide parents with more information in the weeks ahead.
The URstrong website does have some free resources for parents. There is a parent membership available however Dana informed us that URstrong are currently working on making this membership free for parents. We will let you know if this will be available.
Click on the link to view more information. URstrong Friendology- Video
New Parent Engagement Platform- Enews
73% of our subscribers to our newsletter opened and viewed our new Parent Engagement Platform. It would be great to see this increase to 100%. If you were previously receiving newsletter emails, you will continue to receive a link via email to access our parent engagement platform. The parent engagement platform supports parents with accessing newsletters, important dates and information. If you have changed your email address or have not received the newsletter previously, please contact Cate in our school office so as she can add your email to the list of subscribers.
Don’t forget to install our new school app called SZapp. Information about the school app can be located http://www.schoolzine.com/szapp go to the app store / google playstore and search SZapp and download. You will need to select a region and type in school name. We will no longer be sending messages via FLEXIBUZZ.
We are hoping this new platform will support effective communication. The Schoolzine products have been specifically designed to support schools with communication and are used in many schools Australia wide.The feedback we have received so far has been very positive. Many parents have indicated that information is easier to access. If you have any feedback please email principal@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au or speak to a member of our school board. The names of the school board members are located on our parent engagement platform and are on display in our school office.
Chicks free to a good home
The foundation and year 1-2 students have had chicks hatching in their classrooms as part of their Integrated work this term. We are looking for new homes for the chicks and if you are interested could you please contact Deb Wilson (Foundation teacher). The chicks need to be collected by Thursday 16 May.
First Aid
As part of our school protocol we always phone parents to let you know if your child has reported a knock, bump or blow to the head. We always ensure we make contact with parents in case there is any follow up needed. In all cases we follow first aid procedures and most incidents rest and ice-pack is all that is required. A slip indicating that your child has visited the first aid room will be sent home.
Gossip
Teachers often talk with the students about the harm of gossip, deliberate put downs and being mean on purpose can cause to others. Students are still learning about how their words and actions can impact others and often need support from adults with understanding this.
As adults we too sometimes need reminders about the impact our words and how we deliver messages can have on others. I have heard many teachers and parents say to their children, “treat others how you would like to be treated”
Pope Francis speaks quite frankly about the effect of unkind words/gossip can have on others.
“Gossip destroys community because it is inopportune or careless.”
Pope Francis, Rome, 14 November 2018
Pope Francis also talks about gossip destroying the reputation of others and the gossiper walking away calmly.
I hope in our school community we can be mindful of how we interact with each other and apply our school principles of Respect to all in our school community. Last year our school board worked on the Federated Parent Code of Conduct Guidelines. I encourage all parents to familiarise yourself with these guidelines. There is an expectation that parents agree (as part of their child’s enrolment at the school) to these guidelines.
Please see link below or you can find a copy of these guidelines in the school policies located on the left hand menu of the Parent Engagement Platform.
