THANKS FOR ALL YOUR KIND THOUGHTS AND WELL-WISHES

It’s nice to be back on deck after a weeklong stint being on carer’s leave for my wife and I’m pleased to say she is recovering well. Personally, I feel I did an amazing job in the role of carer and passed with flying colours.

On a serious note, thanks to all our wonderful school staff who helped and supported Mr Steve Pitt to take on the role of Acting Principal in my absence. He did an amazing job managing the school and dealing with all the day to day issues that arise with the running of a school. Kudos to you Mr Pitt on a job well done.?

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

A reminder to all in our school community that we are still offering ongoing support for all St Ita’s students, parents, and staff through GSCARA. Any families wanting information on what supports are offered can contact GCASA directly on 5134 3922 or 1800 806 292.

In addition to the above-mentioned supports, we remind families that we continue to have:

• Our regular school counselor, Miss Ozge Kucukvardar is on-site on Mondays and Wednesdays
  
• Anglicare’s, Heath Mills, available onsite Thursdays to meet with parents heath.mills@anglicarevic.org.au 5622 8600

If you wish to discuss your child’s well-being at school, parents are welcome to make appointments through school admin with a member of our Executive School Leadership Team, Andrew Osler, Stephen Pitt, or Robyn Lewry on 5623 7222.

A reminder to all families that the Victoria Police have advised where children, parents, or members of the community have specific allegations, concerns, and/or information in relation to sexual assault concerning a child or young person that contact be made with Morwell Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) on (03) 5120 0351 or email central-gippsland-socit-response-team-oic@police.vic.gov.au
SOCIT detectives are specialists and are trained to understand the complex and diverse nature of sexual offenses.

Further information about reporting is available www.police.vic.gov.au/reporting-sexual-offences

I know through conversations with families that these support groups have been well used by our community and our commitment to all our families is that these supports will be ongoing as long as they are needed.

Listed below are some of the actions that our staff have undertaken;

• A whole staff meeting at the start of the school year, to review the Child Safe Standards, mandatory reporting procedures, and the reportable conduct scheme to ensure all staff were aware of their professional expectations.
  
• All teaching staff participated in a Professional Development opportunity to look at the new DOSCEL: Learning and Teaching Expert Practices Document with a focus on identifying connections to Child Safety, Student / Teacher Relationships, Cultural Backgrounds, and Inclusive Education.
  
• A review of staff ratios required when leaving school grounds to attend, class Masses, Sacraments, district, regional, and state sports carnivals, school liturgies, and other school events held off-site.
  
• School Improvement team meeting weekly with a focus on;
  1) child safety within our school
  2) identifying and prioritising student and staff well-being needs
  • Regular check-ins with all staff related to their personal well-being
  • Promoting student voice and advocacy via our daily briefings, school assemblies, newsletters, and other external school events
  • Continue promoting open communication with parents and carers

As a learning community, we will continue to place a strong emphasis on child safety and student well-being to ensure that the St Ita’s Learning community is a safe and caring space for all.

BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE ST ITAS COMMUNITY

A big shout out to all St Ita’s parents who participate in school drop off and pick up at the Drouin rec reserve. Ben, site foreman from Searle Brothers Construction said to say thanks to all the parents for working with him for the concrete pour last week. “The mums and dads were fantastic and so accommodating of our needs to get the pour done. We really appreciate the support of this great community.”

The second concrete pour will be happening on Monday 18th March and we will have the same pick up/drop off procedures at the Drouin rec reserve to accommodate Ben and the team.

BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR CHILD

The most important relationship to a child is the one they develop with their parent or caregiver. Children learn about the world around them through a positive parent-child relationship. As they are growing and changing, children look to their parents to determine whether or not they are safe, secure, and loved. It is also the foundation from which they will build their future relationships.

You can build a positive parent-child relationship by being in the moment with your child, spending quality time together, and creating an environment where they feel comfortable to explore. There is no secret handbook or guaranteed approach to get this relationship right, and you’ll likely find hardships along the way. However, if you keep working on improving your relationship, your child will surely blossom.

The eight positive parenting techniques listed below can help you strengthen the relationship between you and your child:

Show Your Love

Human touch and loving affection are needed at every stage of our lives for healthy emotional and neurobiological development. It is important that your child receive gentle, loving touch (i.e., hugs) from you several times throughout the day. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to connect with your child. Greet them with warm expressions, give eye contact, smile, and encourage honest interaction.

Say “I love you” often

It is often implied that we love our children, but be sure to tell them every day, no matter what age they are. Even when your child is being difficult or does something you don’t like; this can be an excellent opportunity to remind them that you love them unconditionally. A simple “I love you” can have a major impact on your long-term relationship with your child.

Set boundaries, rules, and consequences

Children need structure and guidance as they grow and learn about the world around them. Talk to your children about what you expect of them and make sure they understand. When rules are broken, make sure to have age-appropriate consequences in place and be consistent with them. To learn more about age-appropriate consequences, visit https://www.familyeducation.com/kids/an-age-by-age-guide-to-setting-discipline-consequences-for-kids.

Listen and empathize

Connection starts with listening. Acknowledge your child’s feelings, show them you understand, and reassure them that you are there to help with whatever they need. Try to see things from your child’s perspective. By listening and empathizing with your child, you will begin to foster mutual respect.

Play Together

Play is so important to a child’s development. It is the tool through which children develop language skills, express emotions, foster creativity, and learn about social skills. Additionally, it is a fun way for you to strengthen your relationship with your child. It does not matter what you play. The key is to just enjoy each other and commit to giving your child your undivided attention.

Be available and distraction-free

Setting aside just 10 minutes a day to talk to your child, without distractions, can make a big difference in establishing good communication habits. Turn off the TV, put away your electronic devices, and spend some quality time together. Your child needs to know that you believe they are a priority in your life despite the many distractions and stressors that come your way.

Eat meals together

Eating together as a family can often lead to great conversation and bonding time with your child. Encourage everyone to put their phones or other devices away and simply enjoy each other’s company. Meal time is also a great opportunity for you to teach your children the importance of a healthy and balanced diet, which also affects their overall mental health.

Create parent-child rituals

If you have more than one child, try to make a point of spending individual time with each of them. Quality, one-on-one time with your child can strengthen the parent-child bond, build up your child’s self-esteem, and let them know that they are special and valued. Some parents schedule special “date nights” with their children to create that one-on-one opportunity. Whether it’s a walk around the neighbourhood, a trip to the playground, playing a board game or just watching a movie at home – it’s important to celebrate each child individually.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

1. Wednesday 27th March - last day Term 1
2. Thursday 28th March - pupil free day
3. Friday 29th March - Good Friday
4. Monday 15th April - pupil free day
5. Tuesday 16th April - Term 2 starts all students
6. Thursday 25th April - Anzac Day
7. Friday 26th April - pupil free day
8. Monday 10th June - King's Birthday
9. Tuesday 11th June - Pupil Free day
10. Thursday 27th June - last day Term 2
11. Friday 28th June - pupil free day
12. Monday 15th July - pupil free day
13. Tuesday 16th July - Term 3 starts all students
14. Friday 20th Sept - last day Term 3
15. Monday 7th Oct - Term 4 starts all students
16. Monday 4th Nov - pupil free day
17. Tuesday 5th Nov - Melbourne Cup
18. Tuesday 17th Dec - last day term 4