DROUIN REC RESERVE PARKING

Thank you for your patience on Tuesday afternoon with car pick up at the Drouin Rec Reserve. Our plan moving forward will look like this.

• Walkers will walk around the back of the cars, and through the gate to enter Civic Park.
• Cars arriving before 3.15 pm can drive into the Drouin Rec Reserve and turn right to park on the grass in front of the old fire building. These parents can exit their cars to collect their kids safely.
• Cars wanting to use drop-and-go can enter the Drouin Rec Reserve, and turn left drive around the ground, and pass the cricket nets where kids will be assembled for collection.

Thanks for working to keep our kids safe and remember with practice comes perfection.

NEW BUILD NEWS

Our new school building is almost complete and is looking likely to be open and operational on the first Tuesday of Term 4. The finishing touches are being done to the external areas of the building, such as the decking, and the asphalting of the playground and around the temporary Grade 1 portables.

Thank you to all our Grade 1 teachers, and kids for being so patient and working out of the Grade 4 rooms over the last two days while these finishing touches have been undertaken.

Our new build is such an amazing new space and I’m so excited with the learning possibilities it creates for us. Ben the Builder we salute you. ?

 FOOTY DAY

Next Friday 20^th September, the last day of term, we will be holding our annual Footy Day Celebration. Students can wear their favourite sports team’s colours and participate in a series of special round-robin activities which the Grade 5-6 students have organised. There will be some great prizes to be won for students showing outstanding sportsmanship.

Students are asked to bring a gold coin donation on Friday, which will go towards supporting our local Mini Vinnies program.

TEACHING OUR BOYS TO RESPECT WOMEN

Dr Justin Coulson is one of Australia's most trusted parenting experts and authors and holds a PhD in Psychology. He is the founder of Happy Families (a website of parenting resources and advice) as well as the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine's Parental Guidance.

One day whilst being interviewed he shared this scenario. Several years ago, when my daughter was just 8, she came to me about a boy in her grade.

“Dad, he keeps on trying to kiss me. Today at recess he kissed me twice on the face. I keep telling him to ‘Stop it!’ and he doesn’t.”

Historically this kind of incident may have been called cute. Parents or staff members may have knowingly smiled and clucked about what a great pair these two would make.

In today’s age… I was unhappy about this. The boy may only be eight, but he was old enough to understand respect and consent. And he was old enough to know that if anyone, girl or boy, says to “Stop it, I don’t like it!” then he should stop.

No one’s daughter should be made to feel uncomfortable and afraid of going to school because a boy is overly affectionate.

Is this where violence begins? Maybe… or maybe not. But it is undeniably disrespect. And pervasive disrespect leads to violence and harm.

Teaching boys to respect women

It has been widely reported that many people think Australia has a respect-for-women problem.

Let’s review the statistics:

• One in three women over the age of 15 have experienced physical violence.
• One in five have experienced sexual violence.
• One in four have been emotionally abused by a partner.
• Men are almost always the perpetrators.
• Approximately 70 women are killed each year by a current or former partner. Men are almost always the perpetrators.
• One in four children in Australia experience domestic and family violence. Again, it’s predominantly at the hands of males.
• Yes, women can – and do – offend violently. They harm others. And yes, these statistics have been called into question by thoughtful researchers who argue that a far more nuanced (and gender-balanced) view may be more accurate.

But however you view these statistics, there would be few who would argue that there is significant room for improvement in respect to respect in Australia. And far too many girls and women are being disrespected – my daughter being just one example of where it can all ‘innocently’ and ‘harmlessly’ begin.

Game changing ideas to teach boys better

Here are just a few ideas for teaching our boys to respect girls, women, and womanhood, whether we are mums, dads, teachers, or another adult figure in their lives.

Example, example, example

If we show respect we will teach respect. This means we respect our children, we respect other adults, and we especially respect women. It means that we do not call girls or women names. We do not ever hit or threaten to hit girls or women. It means we listen to girls and women and respect their opinions.

Speak kindly

This is pretty basic, but at this age, it’s all it takes to show respect. Say please and thank you. Never say things like ‘shut-up’ or ‘get lost’ (or anything worse), whether to a child, or an adult, and regardless of gender. Respectful speaking teaches respect.

Be helpful

Teach boys (and all children) to recognise when someone needs help or feels lousy, and show them how to help.

Monitor media

Violent media is increasingly normal and has an undeniable desensitising impact on those who view it. While most 5 year old’s don’t enjoy violence, by the time they’re 9 or 10, they’re all over it. Some studies have shown that after playing violent games or viewing violent ‘entertainment’, people are less likely to show empathy or kindness. Minimising exposure to games and movies or tv shows that promote disrespect and inhumanity can help.

Talk about the issues

When you see disrespect, talk about it. Ask your sons how it leaves them feeling. How does it make the victims feel? What are better ways of responding to it? Such conversations promote empathy and perspective, and help our boys develop social awareness and conscience.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

1. Friday 20th Sept - Last day Term 3
2. Friday 20th Sept - Football Colours Day / Activities
3. Monday 7th Oct - Term 4 starts all students
4. Monday 4th Nov - Pupil free day
5. Tuesday 5th Nov - Melbourne Cup
6. Tuesday 17th Dec - Last day of term 4