Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

This week we have welcomed all families into the school for Parent-Teacher interviews. It has been a joy and a privilege to catch up with many of you as you have arrived or departed from meeting with your child’s classroom teacher.  I have been delighted to hear of the successes and progress your child has made in the first six months of the school year. Held in June each year, Parent-Teacher interviews afford you the opportunity to:

• learn more about your child’s academic, emotional and social development.
• meet with and get to know your child’s teacher.
• develop and strengthen the educational partnership between teachers and parents.
• help the teacher understand more about your child.
• make plans with the teacher about how you can both support your child.

If you don’t have any particular concerns about your child’s learning, you might have wondered whether it was worth making an interview time. Simply coming along this week is one way you have shown your child that you’re interested in their learning and what’s happening for them at school. In the event that you missed an opportunity to speak with your child’s teacher, please contact your child's teacher to make a mutually convenient time.

First Eucharist - Congratulations to the 77 young parishioners, who made their First Eucharist last weekend. What a beautiful celebration it was and I sincerely thank my year 4 Teaching team for their support and guidance of the candidates over the past few weeks.

Open School Council Meeting - Next Tuesday at 6.30pm we will be hosting an Open Forum Council Meeting. This meeting is open to all members of our school community. Come along and find out how the council works in partnership with the school, in offering the best possible opportunities for your children.

Lunchtime Clubs! We offer a variety of activities for the children to engage in at lunchtime and we have had several new Student Led initiatives on offer this term. I am in awe of the creative and genuine ideas the students are coming up with and it is my pleasure to support them. This term we have started:

Lunchtime Prayer Club, led by Lucy and Greta (Year 3). This club was made known to and acknowledged by Archbishop Christopher Prowse who wrote a letter of support and blessings for it’s success.

Lunchtime Comic Book Creations, led by Atticus and Liam (Year 4). This club gives students an opportunity to draw comic book characters and superheroes. Atticus and Liam have a love of drawing and would like to help others to learn to draw.

Lunchtime Drama Club, led by Ellie (Year 3). Come and meet under the trees at lunchtime for your chance to perform and act with like-minded people. Sometimes it is scripted, other times it’s simply improvisation!

Lunchtime Scrabble Club, led by John from TeamKids!

And just today, I have received another idea from Chelsea, Ilina, Emerson and Sierra (Year 4) to start up a Lunchtime Craft Club. They wish to meet with me next week to discuss their idea further.

Illnesses - As the weather takes a turn, it is the time when cold and flu symptoms present and students and staff become unwell. If your child is unwell please keep them home from school until they are well enough to return. There have been a number of children coming to school who are not well enough to be at school. If a child is sent home from school due to vomiting they are to stay away from school for the next 24 hours. Please encourage your children to remember good hygiene practice - washing hands, covering mouh when coughing and sneezing into a tissue.  

WWVP Cards - For parents who are volunteering in the school please ensure your WWVP card is up to date and a copy of card is held in the Front Office. Many thanks for keeping the safety of our students a priority. 

2024 Parish Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and in Years 4-6 in 2024.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on 17, 18, and 19 September.

Registrations will open next Monday 24 June 2024 via the parish Qkr! App.

Registration for the Sacrament must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App (NOT the school app). If you are registering more than 1 child you will need to fully complete and pay for each separate registration in that candidate’s name.

ALSO – Please discuss with your child their Saint’s name and Sponsor as this is a requirement on the registration form.

Please also note that the school holidays fall within the registration period, so please register sooner rather than later.

No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.

For further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

Come along to our Open Community Council meeting on Tuesday 25 June at 6.30pm in the school library.

All are welcome to attend and it's a great opportunity to:

* Get to meet our newest Council members;

* Learn about the initiatives our Council is supporting around the school, including the development of the outdoor classroom and fundraising initiatives;

* Ask questions and provide feedback;

* Meet and engage with other parents; and

* Find out more about what our Community Council does.

As parents ourselves, we know it can be difficult to get to these meetings. To make it easier to get out of the house, we have arranged for Teamkids to provide care for the children if you need or would like to bring them along. We all know how much the kids love TeamKids!

We will have nibbles, wine and other refreshments and a lucky door prize. Whether you're new to the school or have been with us for years, why not bring a friend and make an evening of it.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is the fear of being separated from a parent or carer, and is sometimes accompanied by stranger anxiety, or wariness and distress around unfamiliar people. These anxieties are a normal part of your child’s early development.

By the time children reach preschool and school age they will generally be comfortable leaving their parent or carer, particularly in situations with familiar environments and people, although new situations may still cause some initial anxiety.

If your child is still experiencing regular and significant anxiety upon separating from you they may need extra support.

Helpful ideas to cope with separation anxiety:

• Ask yourself if you are anxious about leaving your child. Children are very quick to pick up on anxiety from caregivers, and your anxiety may be sending a message to your child that it is not safe if you leave them.
• Teach yourself and your child some breathing exercises to help you relax.
• Practise saying goodbye – e.g. Have your child stay with your partner or a friend for 5 minutes at a time while you go outside to hang out washing, put out the bins etc. Say goodbye to your child each time, and don’t allow your child’s distress to delay your leaving.  Let them know that they are safe, and that you will be back. 
• Introduce your child to new environments and people in advance whenever possible.
• Always say goodbye – tempting as it is to sneak out when your child is occupied, this could result in an increase in your child’s anxiety.
• Keep goodbyes brief - it could be helpful to talk to your child’s teacher, and have a plan in place to distract your child with a fun or comforting activity while they settle after you have left.
• Consider using the ‘stepladder approach’ to managing anxiety (see “Raising Children Network” in the online resources list below)
• If the anxiety is causing regular distress, or interfering with daily life, it may require some specialist support. Consider speaking with your GP or school counsellor about a referral to a private psychologist or other agency.

Helpful online resources for separation anxiety:

• http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/anxiety_stepladder_approach.html
• http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/separation_anxiety.html/context/734
• parentline.com.au/parenting-information/tip-sheets/anxiety.php
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/worrying.html