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Dear All,
This week we remember Saint Mary MacKillop. May she be an inspiration to us all during this difficult time. Thank you to our Year Two teachers who organised our Paraliturgy on Friday which our teachers shared with all classes.
This week we are privledged to work with Dylan Wiliam, who is one of the most respected educationalists in the world. We are fortunate that he is not on the international speaker's circuit and has time to work with schools. We have booked two sessions with Dylan with another session booked for September 11. Dylan will be working with teachers about Formative Assessment, where we get better at looking what the student knows and then teaching from that point, rather than just teaching from a curriculum. "Teacher the child, not the Curriculum."
Here is one of his videos to give you some ideas what he will be talking to the teachers about
Fortunately, our building project has continued as we are an Essential Service. We do not know if there will be further delays due to the amount of workers that are allowed on site, we will learn more soon. We are tracking to be finished in the first few weeks of Term 4.
God Bless and Stay Safe
Anthony
Lord, no one is a stranger to you and no one is ever far from your loving care In your kindness watch over refugees and asylum seekers, those separated from their loved ones, those who are lost, and those who have been exiled from their homes. Bring them safely to the place where they long to be, and help us always to show your kindness to strangers and those in need.
Amen.
Feast of the Assumption
Monday, 15 August the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.
Although defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII just over half a century ago, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times.
The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.
Way of the West
The St Mary’s school and Parish community are joining forces to respond to the needs of asylum seekers in our community. During the month of September, our Way of the West campaign is urging us all to respond to this need by donating various goods outlined on the flyer attached.
These goods are donated to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Footscray and dispersed to families in need from there. Due to the current Covid 19 restrictions, donationed items can be left on the presbytery porch (beginning Sunday September 6th)).
What can we donate to help?
Here are some much needed items you can donate.
WEEK 1 Sunday 6th to Saturday 12th September
Dried Food Healthy breakfast cereals Dried fruit, nuts, seeds Healthy snack food (for lunch boxes) Spices Tea (both black & green) and instant coffee
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WEEK 2 Sunday 13th to Saturday 19th September
Tinned Food Fish like sardines or salmon Vegetables such as tomatoes, corn, peas Lentils, chickpeas, beans (not baked) Tomato paste Small jars of honey Long life milk
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WEEK 3 Sunday 20th to Saturday 26th September
Toiletries Shampoo Soap Toothbrushes Sanitary products Shaving items
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WEEK 4 Sunday 27th September to Saturday 3rd October
Other Household Items Dishwashing detergent Washing powder Nappies (especially larger sizes) Gift Cards (Kmart, Big W, Target)
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Again, the best way is to drop off items this year (contact free) is to place them in the large box that will be left on the presbytery porch. They will then be taken to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray to be distributed to families in need.
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St Mary’s Student Wellbeing Resources
A St Mary’s Student Wellbeing Hub will be added to your child’s Google Classroom. This hub has a range or resources such as books and videos in the area of wellbeing. You can explore any of the rooms in the hub with your child.
There is also another Student Wellbeing resource which provides information and resources to support families. The link is below.
Class Representatives
The Class Representatives are doing a wonderful job leading their classes. In our meetings they have shared the great ways they are supporting their classes by organising prayer, creating a video or selecting the idea for the Fun Friday meets.
I have certainly noticed much media this week around concerns around Wellbeing during this lockdown. I thought it would be valuable to share what our families are doing to support the well being of their children. These responses were shared in the recent survey in response to the question.
How have you supported and monitored your child's well being during Remote Learning?
I sit with her at the beginning of the day, look at what is allocated and see if she has any questions, then let her start the work herself and offer to answer questions or give help when needed.
Ensured plenty of physical exercise, regular chats with family and friends online, and downtime to do their own thing.
Plenty of chats about feelings and strong emotional responses.
Daily check in, purchased a printer so do not have to write out questions. Set up art desk with painting in the garage, tried to do fun tasks such as cooking and sewing and writing games. Bought a heap of new books to keep her reading routine up. Maintained a school routine and expectations.
We spend most of the afternoon playing games, outdoors, walking, learning new skills, involving him in general household tasks. Given the opportunity to have FaceTime with mates and in the weekend play online with mates.
Allowing regular Time with friends socially as well as encouraging them to work with others online. Regular exercise & family time
Psychologically:
- they are made aware that they are safe
- there is minimal catastrophising at home, and little anxiety (fortunately, there has been minimal impact from a work/financial point of view)
- they do watch the news in the morning, are aware of events around them, and free to ask questions and have them answered honestly
- the impact of social isolation has been mitigated by zoom, google meet and speaking with mates during online games (...the only benefit of Fortnite)
- they are far less stressed out during the day (no rushing to get to school or after school activities), and the day seems to roll on seamlessly (although days roll on endlessly, and will get boring soon, I imagine...)
Physically:
Thank you VULY (best Christmas present EVER!)
Overall, we are fortunate that we have been minimally impacted, and that the kids seem quite pragmatic and relatively resilient.
Kept to a regular routine - start same time each day, ensure they get outside for a walk, run or ride for at least 1 hour each day, set bedtime each night.
Focused on core subjects - maths, literacy, writing and reading. Supported them in keeping connected with some of their friends