THE RAISING CHILDREN NETWORK

The Raising Children Network, is a government-funded, non-profit organisation created to support families.      

We would like to introduce all parents to a valuable resource to support the social and emotional wellbeing of students at St Itas. As parents and educators, we play a crucial role in nurturing the mental health and resilience of children, and the Raising Healthy Minds app is a parent-friendly tool to support our work.     

The app is FREE and was co-designed by parents, carers and mental health experts. It provides practical, evidence-based articles and videos on emotions, behaviour and wellbeing for children aged 0-12 years, as well as information on parental self-care.

Please take the time to download and use the benefits of this excellent app. A brocher is attached on the public noticeboard. 

NO CAMP AUSTRALIA ON FRIDAY SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

Unfortunately, Camp Australia are unable to offer care on Student free day on Friday 4th of July due to a lack of staff. Parents will need to source out other options for care on the school closure day.

 FIRST SEMESTER PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Our first semester parent / teacher interviews will be held in the second Week of term 3 on Monday 28^th July 3.40pm – 7.00pm and Wednesday 30^th July 3.30pm – 5.30pm. Parents will be able to log on their interview time via the online booking

DROPPING STUDENTS AT SCHOOL BEFORE 8.30AM

A reminder to all parents that the school drop off time and gate opening is at 8.30am. We have been getting a growing number of students dropped off at school between 8.00 and 8.30 am and children are unsupervised. It can also be extremely cold and wet with minimal shelter. If you need to drop your children off prior to 8.30am we recommend that you contact Camp Australia and access before school care.

 CHILDREN WALKING HOME VIA DROUIN REC RESERVE

We have noted that we have a lot of students who are now walking from school via the Drouin Rec Reserve gate at the end of the day.

In the interest of student safety, we will monitor all students who walk and ask them to assemble at the end of each day under the shelter before exiting as a group.

A staff member will walk the children around to the grassed area behind the signage so they can exit through the gate behind the goals that leads to Civic Park.

For parents and carers who are parking and waiting for their child to walk to their car, these children will also meet under the shelter and parents will need to exit their cars to collect their children at the gate.

Parents must notify their child's teacher with a class dojo, written note or email to give permission for their child/ren to walk from this point of exit.

We thank you for supporting us to have a child safe environment at St Ita’s.

 TEACHING KIDS RESPECT

We all know what it feels like to be respected (or disrespected). But what does the word respect really mean? To teach respect in the classroom we must be able to define it.

Respect can be summed up this way: It’s about treating others as you would like to be treated.

 What does this actually look like in the classroom? Kids who show respect and are shown respect:

• Feel safe around their peers and their teacher
• Don’t yell or talk over others
• Listen to others even when they disagree
• Don’t try to control others
• Talk openly about their needs and wants
• Admit when they’ve made a mistake
• Freely express who they are and allow others to do the same.

 Here are some recommendations and activities you can use to teach and encourage respect.

 Model respect.

Children look to adults for clues about behavioural expectations. If they see their caregivers and teachers treating others with respect and compassion, they’re more likely to do the same.  Children are master imitators. If we expect them to always say please and thank you, we must act as role models and do the same.

 Start with yourself.

Too often adults make the mistake of demanding respect from children while treating children disrespectfully—for example, by shaming, lecturing, or being critical. This can happen when our “buttons get pushed” or we’re tired or frustrated.

Teachers and caregivers must commit to unlearning ineffective or harmful ways of responding to children and model the respectful behavior they expect from kids. We can train ourselves to think before we speak and choose our words carefully, knowing that children imitate what they see and hear.

 Discuss respect with your child.

Use age-appropriate language to let your child know how they should treat others. Teach your children to use respectful words and phrases, like “Yes, Miss/Mrs. Smith,” and to say please and thank you.

Explain that respect is shown not only in their behavior but also in their attitude toward others. Make sure kids know that it’s not okay for anyone, including adults, to use disrespectful behavior.

 Praise respectful behavior.

Recognize your child when they demonstrate kindness, good manners, empathy, and respect for others. This intentional acknowledgment leads to positive outcomes.

 Create a visual anchor chart.

Visual charts are a great way to communicate with kids. Create an anchor chart listing ways kids can demonstrate respect in different settings—at home, at school, and in the community. Include eye-catching images to make it more visually appealing.

An anchor chart is a great way to open up more nuanced conversations about how certain behaviours may be considered respectful in some situations but disrespectful in others.

 Play games that promote taking turns.

Taking turns is part of everyday life, whether it’s standing in line, sharing resources, or listening to someone without interrupting. Learning this important social skill helps kids exercise patience and show respect for others. It’s a vital part of social development and communication.

Try incorporating respect games for your children with clear rules about taking turns.

Teach the importance of self-reflection.

There are cultural and individual variations in who we feel deserves our respect and how we show it. For example, in some cultures, it’s considered disrespectful not to remove your shoes before entering someone’s home. In others, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave your shoes on.  

 Challenge children to reflect on their views about who they believe deserves respect, and under which circumstances. Here’s an exercise to try:

 Begin by defining respect and what it looks and sounds like, so your children have a foundational understanding. Next, create some scenarios for your children to consider. Ask them to decide whether they should give someone respect in each of the scenarios (have them use a signal, such as a thumbs up). For example, you can ask:

 Do you give someone respect because they are smart? Because they are talented? Why?

• Does someone need to earn your respect, or do you give it automatically? Ask them how a person would earn it.
• Do older people deserve more respect than younger people simply because of their age? If so, why? If not, why?

You might be surprised at just how different the answers are among children. This exercise is a good way for kids to reflect on their own beliefs about respect. It also helps parents understand where students are coming from, both personally and culturally.

Respect starts at home. It lays the groundwork for positive interactions and relationships throughout a person’s life.