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Dear Families and Friends,
As we hit the middle of term it is hard deciding whether the time has gone quickly or slowly. In a sense, it feels like we have just started while on reflection we have already achieved so much. I always like to use the saying "don't count the days, make the days count" but it is so critical to be aware of not letting things slip by. The simplest way to take advantage of days is to attend school, and to arrive on time and be ready to learn. Pleasing to note, is the strong attendance rate across the school, as well as what seems to be more students actively riding or walking to school. Also late arrivals have reduced this year ... especially on Cambo's Kitchen mornings!
This week's newsletter has a range of items so please take the time to go through the articles. We have some school events coming up as well as recounts about what has happened. As a parent myself I found the information available through the Life Education program particularly useful.
Can I take the opportunity to thank the staff and participants in this week's Reconciliation Workshop, as well as again acknowledge Camryn and Kai's achievement in qualifying for the Division Swimming Carnival that was held this week.
Wishing everyone a terrific weekend.
Dave
The preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation has commenced.
Family Workshop 1: Wednesday 24th February. Thank you for your attendance and active participation this week!
Commitment Masses will take place on Saturday 27th of February at 6pm Mass or Sunday 28th of February at 9am Mass. Please bring your child to Mass and fill in the registration form for Reconciliation at one of these Masses. A copy of your child’s Baptism certificate will also need to be filed at the school if not there already. (We can arrange to photocopy this for you at school)
Family Workshop 2 Wednesday 10th of March at 5pm in the school Library.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on Wednesday 17th of March at Lumen Christi Church, at 5pm. (An alternative date is Thursday 18th of March at Sacred Heart Primary School if the Wednesday is not suitable)
In addition to the workshops, it is encouraged that candidates for Reconciliation will celebrate the Mass each weekend after making their commitment. During the Sunday Mass at 9am there will be Children’s Liturgy which allows the children to discuss the Gospel and complete activities designed to help children to understand the Gospel message. Candidates may prefer to attend Mass on Saturday night at 6pm or at Yinnar, Boolarra or one of the Morwell Masses.
If you require any further information please contact Mrs.Colaciello or Mrs.Campbell
Please take note of these dates for your family calendar
Preps continue to have Wednesdays as rest days until Wednesday 10th March
5th March: Lumen Christi Athletics
12th March: School Photos Day
16th March: Whole School Trip to Morwell Art Gallery
25th March: District Athletics (All students) at Yinnar (Back-up date 31/3)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS SHEET
When is it?
Our Athletics Day is on Friday 5th March. The events start at 9am and we aim to finish at around 1pm.
What happens on the day?
The morning session involves the students rotate as a class group through a series of running and field events. Afterwards we join together as a school for some events between the houses. At the conclusion of these events the winning team will be announced. Normally we would have a BBQ afterwards but due to the uncertainity around COVID regulations we decided to give this a miss.
What do the students wear?
The students wear their normal sports uniform but are allowed to wear a coloured t-shirt/polo in their house team colour. Students will wear their normal school hat. Please no hair-spray/ zinc.
Who can attend?
Family and friends are encouraged to attend. We need helpers before and on the day to assist us. We ask that no dogs (or any other random pets!) are brought to the Athletics Day.
Can I take photographs?
As with all school events we ask that parents only take photos of their own children on the day.
How can I help?
We require some help with the set up in the morning of the Athletics Day. During the running of the day teachers will need assistance with marshalling, measuring, timing, raking sand etc. As you follow your child around to each rotation please offer to assist the staff members. We also need some assistance at the end of the day to pack-up equipment. Parents that have a defined role on the day will need to have a valid Working with Children card.
Can I take my child home after the Athletics?
Families are welcome to take their children home at the end of the Athletics, and many do with the students tired after a busy day. School procedure requires that the parents verbally tell each child’s teacher that you are taking them home. Parents can take other students only if the school has written permission from the parents - this includes relatives.
What happens next?
Following our Athletics Day we repeat it all again at the Yinnar and District event held at the Yinnar Football Ground on Thursday 25th of March. The format is similar with students rotating through events on the day in their age groups. Again we will require parent help. From these events our School Athletics team is selected from students Year 3 to 6 to represent our school at an Interschool Athletics Carnival to be held later in the year.
This week we had the bonus visit from Holly from Life Education. The Life Education program's aim is Empowering our children and young people to make safer and healthier choices through education.
Life Education helps children to:
- Connect the choices they make with short and long-term consequences.
- Value their safety and health.
- Develop positive attitudes for safer and healthier choices.
- Build confidence and skills to manage peer and community pressure.
The program links perfectly with our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour as well as our Religious Education Program. At Lumen Christi we have strong Child-Safe practices and Life Education empowers not only each individual child but our school community as a collective. The information that was presented to the children across the week was age appropriate and will continue to be the language we use as we continue through the year.
The content covered in each session gives a snapshot of likely topics the child will encounter at school, at home or in the community.
During the lock down of 2020 Life Education staff utilised the time away from school visits to develop some outstanding resources for both school and home. I encourage all parents to take a look the website and remember to fall back on these resources when you come across a tricky parenting moment, now or into the future.
https://www.lifeeducation.org.au/
Below are some summary pages about the content covered by each class:
Year Prep/1
Year 1/2
Year 3
Year 4/5
Year 5/6
Thanks to Year 4/5 for supplying some reviews about their learning:
From Year 4/5:
From Year 5/6:
Life Education Visit - Relate Respect Connect
The Year 5/6 students participated in a session called Relate, Respect, Connect. The students were immersed in a conversation about how to respect ourselves and others, particularly in the online space. The key message was to show empathy and develop respectful, trusting relationships. Of course the highlight of the session was seeing Harold the Giraffe again, even for our senior students.
The mental health benefits of having children actively involved in their local community are well known, as well as added health advantages of being involved in physical activity.
We are extremely fortunate in Churchill with the collaboration of the different sport and recreation groups to operate under the banner of Active Kids Churchill. If I had a magical wand it would be to do a magical swish to have every family involved in at least one of these groups, if not multiple connections.
I have personally experienced and interacted with many of these groups and clubs and cannot speak more highly of them. If you would like further information please reach out to me or follow 'Active Kids Churchill' on Facebook as they regularly post updates and information from all the great clubs in Churchill.
Do your children a tremendous favour and get them involved and active ..... and I'm sure the parents and extended families would enjoy the social engagement that happens along the way.
Be a Blue Devil, Brave, Cobra, Cougar, Ram, Tennis or Hockey star this year!
The term four Parentzone Gippsland Newsletter is available to download from the Anglicare Victoria website.
Please click on the following direct link to download a copy https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Parentzone-Gippsland-Newsletter-Term-4-2020.pdf
ParentZone Gippsland is offering the following free programs this term:
Let’s Talk about Parenting including a Dads Matter and a Parenting Teens program, Breaking the Cycle, Homework Club, and for Latrobe families – Storytime (online supported playgroup).
In addition we are excited to offer 5 single session parenting groups to Gippsland families:
- Understanding your child’s behaviour, Wednesday 14th October
- Risky Business: Tough Conversation with Teens, Wednesday 21st October
- Parenting Pre-schoolers, Monday 30th November
- Parenting Anxious Kids, Monday 7th December
- Self-Care for Parents, Monday 14th December
Parents/carers can register for one session, a few sessions, or all sessions!
To register please contact ParentZone Gippsland on 5135 9555 or email Parentzone.Gippsland@anglicarevic.org.au.