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Dear Parents, Guardian and Carers,
As we begin the preparation for supporting your child to transition into a new school year, promoting their independence and ability to solve problems is a way in which we can all support them to prepare for the changes ahead. I recently came across the following blog by Michael Grose and felt it gave some useful tips to help:
When parents solve all children’s problems we not only increase their dependency on adults but we teach them to be afraid of making mistakes. That’s fertile ground for anxiousness and perfectionism, which often go hand in hand.
Kids get used to bringing their problems to parents to solve. Of course, if you keeping solving them, they’ll keep bringing them. “Mum, my sister is annoying me?” “Dad, can you ask my teacher to pick me for the team?” “Hey, I can’t find my socks!” It’s tempting if you are in a time-poor family to simply jump in and help kids out.
Alternatively, you can take a problem-solving approach, cuing them to resolve their own problems and take responsibility for their concerns. “What can you do to make her stop annoying you?” “What’s the best approach to take with your teacher?” “Socks, smocks! Where might they be?”
Here are 5 questions you can ask kids to encourage them to resolve their own problems:
- “Can you solve this yourself?” Get kids thinking they can do it.
- “What do you think needs to happen?” Start kids thinking about solving problems.
- “What’s the first step?” Sometimes just getting kids started is enough to get them working out issues themselves.
- “How would you like me to help?” Get kids considering the type of assistance they need.
- “What’s the best way to do this?” Get kids assessing and prioritising.
Problem-solving is one of the four major skills (optimism, social skills & independence being the others) that resilient kids share, yet it’s the one that many of us aren’t equipped to develop. Start by stepping back and asking good questions when kids bring you their problems to solve.
Combined Schools Shopping Night - 15th November 5-9pm
St Michael’s, together with St Gabriel’s and St Pauls are excited to announce that we will be hosting a local shopping tour in the Traralgon CBD. This is a lovely way to support our local small businesses in the lead up to Christmas, while also showing support to our school. All participating stores will be offering discounts on the night and there will be raffles and a lucky door prize too. Further information can be found on the advertisement in this newsletter - please use the QR code for further information and tickets. This event isn’t just for families of St Michael’s so please share with your family and friends.
A special thank you to the Parents and Friends groups of all 3 schools for their organisation of the event.
Important dates:
- 14th to 17th October - Grade 5/6 Swimming program
- 15th October - Year 3 Big Day Out excursion
- 16th October - Year 1/2 Scienceworks Excursion
- 21st to 23rd October and 25th October - Year 3/4 Swimming Program
- 26th October - Sacrament of First Eucharist Commitment Mass
- 1st and 4th November - School Closure Day
- 5th November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
- 19th November - School Concert 1.30pm and 6pm
Regards
Lia DiCorleto
Acting Principal
Each week students from each class are awarded Student of the Week certificates. These children are nominated for the example they have been within the school based on the School Wide Expectation focus for that week. The weekly focus will be from Wednesday until Tuesday the following week. Awards will be presented to students at assembly on Friday.
In Week 2 the School Wide Expectation focus is Respect:
I have the right to feel safe in our school environment.
| Willow Lipman | Imogen Hunter | Edwin Kornet |
| Lincoln Anderson | Sam Nguyen | Jaxon Nachorny |
| Frankie Armstrong | Harrison Ingram | Charlie Mortimer |
| Leo Rabette | Mack Prince | Johnny Foster |
| Scarlett Ryan | Noah Del Mundo | Jordan Marcou |
| Cael Booth | David Magallon | |
| Huntah Martin | Logan Suter |
Jesus reminds us in this week's gospel that to join him in God's kingdom requires absolute commitment and a willingness to give up that which is most precious to us. The rich man who approached Jesus was genuine in his desire to fulfil all the requirements of the Law to attain eternal life. When Jesus quoted all the commandments that deal with right relationships to the man, he was able to tick these off, assuring Jesus that he has been doing all of this since childhood! Then Jesus ‘looked steadily at him and loved him’ – he looked on him with the eyes of love; the eyes that see to the heart of a person, and in that look knew what was most important to the man. Jesus could tell by his dress no doubt that the man was wealthy and so it is this aspect of the man’s life that Jesus chooses to challenge him about. This gospel shouldn’t necessarily be read as a condemnation of wealth – rather, it is the man’s inability to surrender his wealth that Jesus challenges. Jesus asks the man if he is willing to give up that which is most important in his life…. his wealth. The man is unable to do what Jesus asks of him and goes away sad. Why sad? He’s sad because he knows that he has been tested and failed. He knows that what he genuinely desired was within his reach but he needed to let go of his position, his status, his wealth, to be able to grasp what he desired in both hands.
In August, 9 of our St Michael’s children entered the Catholic Earthcare competition. To celebrate the Season of Creation the theme for the competition was “To hope and act with Creation.”The children used a variety of mediums to complete their artwork: paint, pencil, clay, assorted textures and watercolour.
Well done to all of our children on their fantastic entries into this competition.
Congratulations to Evelyn Maria Roji who was successful in placing 2nd in the Bishop's Award for Primary Schools.
Certificates will be handed out at assembly on Friday.
Icy poles are available in Break 2 for 50 cents each with a limit of one per student.
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
