3rd April 2020
To our St Peter Chanel Catholic School Community,
On behalf of all our SPC staff I would like to thank you all for your care, patience and understanding over the past few weeks. There is no doubt that we have all been affected in varying degrees by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst schooling is starting to take on a different form, we would like you to know that we are committed to continuing our connection to you all. As a Catholic school community, we are ready to embrace the current challenge with steadfast faith and hope in the Person of Jesus Christ, and we are ready to renew our focus on the holistic flourishing of the human person.
At this stage, for Term 2, our school sites will continue to remain open to provide Learning@Home
- for students who are not physically attending school and,
- for all students who do attend our schools each day
We look forward to reconnecting with you all at the beginning of Term 2. Take care over the holiday period.
Week 10
As a means of clarification with respect to Week 10:
- From Monday 6 April 2020 school holidays commence for students.
- Our school staff will have four student free days for essential professional learning and planning time to develop their skills and capabilities to prepare for a different model of teaching in Term 2. This model of teaching will be a comprehensive approach to Learning at Home trying wherever possible to reimagine a school day and its practices. It will use a variety of approaches that you as parents will most likely already be aware of such as student workbooks and activities (in the home learning pack), Seesaw, Google Classroom, Zoom and Email.
- Please be aware that normal school buses will not run during Week 10 (Monday 6 April 2020 – Thursday 9 April 2020).
- Limited care provisions will be provided for parents who are unable to organise adequate supervision for their primary aged children at their usual school site for school hours only e.g. 8.30am-3.00pm.
- To access such care please inbox/message our St Peter Chanel Facebook page, email christina.gretton@catholic.tas.edu.au or phone the school if you intend to send your child/ren to school during Week 10.
Families Learning @ Home
At SPC we acknowledge that parents and families are the first and continuing educators of their children and how important it is for all to think about this at this changing and challenging time. Learning is simply more than engaging with the curriculum. Rich experiences for learning at home involve fun, laughter, challenges and flexibility.
Most importantly we urge you to take time to be with your child/children and become involved with the learning at a pace that suits your family.
We value that families are helping their children with:
- Sleep: getting enough sleep and rest can help us all feel better during the day. Set regular times for going to bed and getting up in the morning. Keep normal bedtime routines for younger children and expect the same from your older primary and high school-aged children too.
- Food and drink: make sure your children are eating regularly throughout the day and drinking plenty of water.
- Moving: being physically active can lift your mood, be relaxing and provide an opportunity for fun.
- Relaxation and fun: is there something your children enjoy doing that will help them relax? Everyone needs time out to just think about something nice, whether that is playing games, singing or communicating with friends. Set rules and limitations around social media usage and other online interactions.
Sunday Connection
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Cycle A Sunday, April 5, 2020
Gospel Reading Matthew 26:14—27:66
Jesus is crucified, and his body is placed in the tomb. (shorter form: Matthew 27:11-54)
Family Connection
Palm, or Passion, Sunday begins the most sacred week of the Church year—Holy Week. During these days, we prepare ourselves for Easter by prayerful reflection upon the events of Jesus’ Passion and death. You might display a crucifix in a prominent place this week, as a reminder of the salvation Christ won for us. The crucifix can also be the focal point for family prayer during Holy Week.
Because of the length and complexity of the Passion narrative, young children have difficulty remaining attentive when it is proclaimed in its entirety. Families can choose to read a portion of this Sunday’s Gospel each day of Holy Week, providing ample opportunity for children to ask questions and respond to the events described there. In this way, the entire week can become a “way of the cross.”
Each day during Holy Week, the family can gather in a prayerful space with a crucifix as the focal point. The Passion as found in Matthew’s Gospel might be read as follows throughout the week:
Sunday: |
Matthew 21:1-11 (Gospel at the Procession with Palms) |
Monday: |
Matthew 26:14-25 |
Tuesday: |
Matthew 26:26-35 |
Wednesday: |
Matthew 26:36-56 |
Thursday: |
Matthew 26:57—27:14 |
Friday: |
Matthew 27:15-54 |
After reading from the Gospel each night, the family might reflect on the reading together. Conclude your prayer time together by praying the Lord’s Prayer.
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This week families were posted a letter with information regarding the new fee assistance in regards to COVID-19. If you have any questions around this please contact Mrs Christina Gretton via email christina.gretton@catholic.tas.edu.au.
Our Raffle Winners are as follows:
1st - Katie Everett
2nd - Tim Burke
3rd - Ayla Saward
4th - Kolt Fraser
5th - Rocky Poke
6th - Levi Korpershoek
7th - Robert Barnes
8th - Luca Smith
9th - Patrick Cotton
10th - Jarrod Farrelly
Congratulations to our winners. Thank you again to our P&F for organising this and to our school community for your support.
A reminder to all families that daylight savings ends on Sunday 5th April, clocks will go back 1 hour.
Congratulations to the following students who were presented with Aiming High Awards in week 7;
Kinder - Alice & Huxley
Prep - Max & Ethan
Grade 1 - River & Airelle
Grade 2 - Charlotte & Max
Grade 3 - Lucas & Lara
Grade 4 - Esmay & Calvin
Grade 5 - Sienna & Luca
Grade 6 - Kyron & Zarlia
As you are aware, COVID-19 or Coronavirus is becoming a global topic for us all. We are all seeing constant media around this and it can create confusion and worries for adults and children.
Young children are not always able to communicate their worries or fears around these issues. They rely on adults around them to provide information that is age appropriate and create spaces that feel safe and predictable. Children also show us they have worries through behaviours.
You might notice your child/ren:
- Become more ‘clingy’ and want to be close to you, they may find separation causes worries and they may not want to go to school or to other people (which they may have been fine with previously)
- Bed wetting
- Regressive behaviours such as wanting to be cuddled more, talking like a baby, wanting help with things they previously have done on their own e.g. dressing themselves
- Emotions may be more obvious – worried children may cry more (about seemingly ‘small things’), angry, tantrums, meltdowns, ‘whining’, defiance etc.
- Poor sleep or nightmares/night terrors
- Change in eating habits
- Withdrawing at home or school (wanting to be left alone, not playing with others anymore, not wanting to be around adults or other children)
- Attention seeking (connection seeking) – wanting to have your attention more than usual
- Older children may constantly ask questions
Of course there are many ways children show us that they are not feeling great, you know your child best. If you have any questions or want some information on how to talk to your children or understand their behaviours please contact the school for support.
We are also currently looking at ways to support the children and parents at school. We are working together to look at providing children with opportunities to ask questions and get information that supports their wellbeing.
Please find below some ideas on how to support your child at home:
- Provide simple facts about the virus such as it is a disease like the Flu, it can be given to others through coughing/sneezing, some people do get sick, some people have died, most people recover and are ok.
- Teach children how to wash hands and maintain hygiene.
- Monitor and limit children’s access and exposure to social media, news etc. Children can find constant media (including social media such as Facebook) very overwhelming. They are not able to process it the same as adults.
- Allow your children to talk about their feelings. Don’t tell them not to worry (because they will!). Hear their worries and validate that they have them such as ‘you are really worried that you/me/family will get sick’, then reassure with facts such as how to keep safe e.g. hand washing, covering mouth with elbow or tissue to cough/sneeze.
- Access reputable information from government and health sites for the most up to date information.
- Routine – try to keep home as normal as possible – eating time, bedtime etc.
- Family time! Stay connected to each other – movie nights in, games, stick to family ‘traditions’ or create new ones! Simple things like bike rides, pancakes for tea on Sundays… whatever works for you and your family! Be creative.
- Have FUN! Play is a natural way for children to de-stress and feel more relaxed and calm! Play lets children explore their feelings, play out stressful situations, and process what is happening in their lives… Let children explore and play (inside or outside) – let them climb, run, build things out of boxes, Lego, tea parties, cars, drawing, playdough, slime, role play... the list is endless (it really is!).
- Look after yourself. It is important to make sure you are healthy. Exercise and eat well. If you need support please reach out to someone. Many psychologists and therapists are able to work via Skype/online to support adults as well as face to face.
Some useful contacts:
Beyond Blue (mental health support for adults and young people) 1300 22 4636
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Youth Beyond Blue
https://www.youthbeyondblue.com/
Lifeline (Crisis support and suicide prevention) 131114
Kids Helpline (anytime, any reason)
Reputable information can be found here:
World Health Organisation (WHO)
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
Raising Children Network
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/coronavirus-and-children-in-australia