Dear Parents, Guardian and Carers,

Tonight 25 of our students from grades 3 to 6 are completing their Sacrament of Reconciliation at St Michael’s Church. They have worked hard with their families to prepare for this night and we wish them all the best.

Pope Francis says that the sacrament of reconciliation makes us aware of God’s love and mercy, pushes us to reflect on ourselves and our actions, and to convert. Let’s remember that God never tires of forgiving us and that we should never tire of asking him for pardon. He also says that the Act of Contrition, recognizes that God is “all good and deserving of all my love. The prayer means that the penitent promises to put God at the centre of everything, making God the foundation of every order of values, entrusting everything to Him”. And putting love for God first also means loving the people and the planet God created, always seeking what is best for them. In confessing and seeking forgiveness, we recognise that “God is mercy; mercy is his name, his face. It’s good for us to always remember that in every act of mercy, in every act of love, the face of God shines through.”

Just a reminder that the staff will be participating in a Religious Education professional development day on Thursday 22nd August so this will be a school closure day. Our Relax and Read Pyjama Day will be on Friday 23rd August, where all students and staff are welcome to dress in pyjamas to celebrate book week. From 3pm onwards, parents are welcome to join us in classrooms for a short activity. 

• 22nd August - School Closure Day
• 23rd August - Relax and Read PJ day 
• 30th August - Father’s Day Stall 
• 9th - 10th September - grade 4 camp
• 19th September - Footy Colours Day 
• 20th September - Term 3 ends at 1pm 

GETTING ALONG WITH SIBLINGS 

If the sounds of “He hit me!” or “She’s hogging the TV!” are echoing through your home, you’re not alone. Sibling rivalry is as common as vegemite sandwiches in households with multiple kids. Sure, having an only child might guarantee peace and quiet, but most of us are raising a whole crew, navigating the inevitable clashes that come with it.

But here’s the thing: some squabbling is perfectly normal. It’s how kids learn to share, compromise, and stand up for themselves. However, it’s crucial to know when those playful tugs-of-war cross the line into something more hurtful.

So, how do you tell the difference between everyday bickering and behaviour that needs parental intervention? Here are some questions to consider:

1. Is it one-sided? If one child consistently hurts, manipulates, or excludes the other, it might be a sign of bullying. Look for patterns of aggression, teasing, or control, especially if the targeted child isn’t instigating the conflict.
2. What’s the motive? Are the children fighting over typical kid stuff like toys or attention, or is one sibling intentionally trying to hurt or humiliate the other? If the motive is malicious, it’s crucial to address the behaviour promptly.
3. How old are they? Young children are still developing conflict resolution skills, so some immature behaviour is expected. However, as they grow, you can teach them healthier ways to express their emotions and resolve disputes.

If you suspect your child is bullying a sibling, here are some steps you can take:

1. Model respectful behaviour. Children learn by watching their parents. Demonstrate calm and respectful communication, even when dealing with conflict.
2. Spend quality time with each child. Unmet needs for attention and connection can fuel misbehaviour. Dedicate individual time to each child to strengthen your bond and make them feel secure.
3. Encourage perspective-taking. Perspective is the root of empathy (and empathy is the key to conflict resolution!). Ask questions like, “How do you think your sister felt when you said that?” or “What could you have done differently?” As they see the impact they have on others (and vice versa), they feel empathy and make changes that are much longer lasting than changes that are forced upon them by powerful parents.
4. Teach conflict resolution skills. Equip your children with tools to resolve disagreements peacefully. This could involve teaching them to take turns, compromise, or use “I” statements to express their feelings.
5. Seek professional help if needed. If the bullying persists or escalates, don’t hesitate to seek guidance from a therapist or counsellor who specialises in children’s behaviour.

Remember, some sibling conflict is normal and even healthy. It provides opportunities for children to learn important social and emotional skills. However, by addressing bullying behaviour early on and teaching healthy conflict resolution strategies, you can create a more peaceful and supportive environment for your children to thrive.

Kind regards

Jodie

John 6:51-58

The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is a central doctrine of the Catholic faith. It is regarded as a revealed truth proved by both scripture and tradition. This week’s gospel, indeed the entire ‘Bread of Life’ discourse (Jn 6:26-72), is an essential passage of scripture that supports the teaching of Christ present in the Eucharist. Along with scripture, the other proof of the doctrine is tradition. Since the first century, only a brief time after the death of Jesus, Christians linked their celebration of Eucharist with the words of Jesus at the last supper – they celebrated Eucharist as a memorial of Jesus.

In a world that is obsessed with health and fitness and yet, ironically, also experiencing an ever-increasing overweight and obese population, what we eat has come under greater scrutiny than ever before. ‘You are what you eat’ has become a catch cry for healthy eating but Catholics have known the truth of this statement for centuries. When we participate in the Eucharist, we not only receive the body of Christ; we become the body of Christ. The people who make up the Church in the world are indeed the body of Christ. In the words of St Teresa, ‘Christ has no body now but yours!’

Catholic Earthcare is celebrating the Season of Creation with an art competition. The theme for the competition this year is “To hope and act with Creation”. We act for a better future because we know Christ was God's gift of hope to us. 

Any interested children are able to enter - please read the criteria on the attached flyer.

Entries need to be to Mrs Rickwood by Friday 30th August in the form of an image.

Book Club Issue 6 is out now!

Orders are due back at school by Friday 30th August.

The Parents and Friends committee are running a

Father’s Day Stall

on Friday 30th August 2024 during school hours.

 If you would like your child/ren to have the

opportunity to purchase from the stall

please log onto CDFpay to allocate them a Gift bundle.

Purchases must be made by 10:00pm Thursday 29th August 2024.

Cash cannot be accepted on the day.

Cost =$8 per Gift Bundle ( 1 per child only)

Each gift bundle will consist of two gifts chosen by your child

and a raffle ticket. 

Helpers are warmly welcomed!

Click the link to register your interest to help out.

Father's Day Stall Parent Helper 2024

*Please note: Volunteers are required to have a current working with children’s check.

With only 18 days of the 2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge left. It’s time to make sure you have your books completed for the challenge.

Foundation to Grade 2 

Number of books: 30
Number of books from the challenge book list: 20 or more and 10 or more of your choice.

Grades 3 to 4 

Number of books: 15
Number of books from the challenge book list: 10 or more and 5 or more of your choice.

Grades 5 to 6 

Number of books: 15
Number of books from the challenge book list: 10 or more and 5 or more of your choice.

The challenge will be closing on 6th September 2024 and all students need to have completed the challenge by 29^th August 2024.

We offer hot lunches weekly on a Monday with Munch Lunch. They are a local company that offer a variety of lunch items. 

Ordering is simple, download the Spriggy Schools app via your App Store or Google Play store, select St Michael's School,  add your children and their class to the app and place your order!  Lunches will then be delivered to school. Orders need to be placed by 9:00am on the day. You can pre order lunches 2 weeks in advance.

Contact: Munch Lunch 0459 220 445 or hello.munch.lunch@gmail.com