Principal's Message
Dear St Monica’s families and friends,
The above image is taken from Charlie Mackesy's book, "The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse" There are a number of messages in this book and Charlie's imagery and writing style is a unique way of presenting these messages. At times we are called upon to apologise and this takes great courage. During this time of Lent, we can look deeply into our inner self and ask what we are apologising for. If we are being kind to ourselves and one another perhaps the need to apologise can be alleviated.
TO APOLOGISE OR NOT TO APOLOGISE! by Michael Herbert
The courage to apologise is a powerful life skill that can have amazing benefits for not only our relationships but also for our wellbeing. But that’s not the end of the story. We all probably remember times when we have said sorry for something just to keep the peace, even though deep down we knew we should not be apologising. Knowing the things for which we do not need to apologise is just as important as knowing when we should apologise.
The benefits of an apology... It is said that saying you’re sorry is a potent medicine for the giver and the receiver. It tells the receiver that you know what you did was wrong, you are not proud of what you did, and it won’t happen again.
For the receiver; it is an acknowledgement of being treated in an unfair way; the dignity has been restored for the person who has been hurt.
For the giver; Learning to apologise teaches us to be more sensitive and attuned to others, resulting in improved insight and self awareness. When we apologise, we repair a broken connection, avoiding an escalation of the conflict. An apology is an acknowledgment of our personal responsibility, demonstrating humility towards the other person.
No need to apologise for...
- Our feelings
- Being clear about our boundaries
- Saying ‘no’ if it is something we should not do or do not wish to do
- Not agreeing with someone
- Expressing emotion or tears
- Refusing to be a slave to our phone by not answering if we don’t want to
- Replying to emails according to unreasonable time frame
- Letting go when we need to
- Asking for clarity when we do not understand
- Needing some ‘Me’ time
- Changing at a pace that works for us, not as other’s might require
- Recovering from situations at our own pace
- How other people behave
- Putting our wellbeing first
Important: Term 2, return to school information.
Monday 25 April: ANZAC day public holiday.
Tuesday 26 April: Pupil Free Day (SMOOSH has places available on this day)
Wednesday 27 April: Students return to school
Class parent representatives
The St Monica’s School Council is looking for a Parent Representative from each class to enhance the quality of relationships and the communication channels between teachers, parents and the children. The role is voluntary, has no formal structures and is not meant to be an arduous task. We are just hoping to build a strong Catholic Community. If you are interested in the role, please fill in the attached expression of interest note. This note has also come home in bags this afternoon. Sincere thanks to Erin Gilligan, Council Parent Representative, for co-ordinating this initiative for our school.
St Monica’s Open Days – Thursday May 12 and Tuesday May 17
I am pleased to announce the dates for the St Monica's School Open Days. Word of mouth is always the best advertisment for prospective families looking to enrol their child into a school. Please share the good news about our school and invite people to come for a visit in May. The flyer below will be used to market our school in the coming weeks. A letterbox drop and advertising campaign is currently being organised in preparation for the Catholic Schools Enrolment period.
COVID19 Updates - RAT distribution
The ACT Government is making some changes to the way rapid antigen tests (RATs) are distributed to school communities for the remainder of Term 1.
RATs will continue to be available through our school, but will be provided to students and volunteers as needed, or if there are increased cases in our school.This change will ensure school communities continue to have ready access to RATs, which is one of the many measures that have supported a safe return for students and staff to on-site learning in Term 1.
This week, families who require additional RATs can request them by phoning or emailing the school office.
RATs can only be collected from school or sent home with students. If your child is not attending school at the time, or your family is in quarantine, we can make arrangements with you to have a relative, neighbour, or another student collect the RATs on your behalf.