St Ita's Primary School Drouin
PDF Details

Newsletter QR Code

50 Victoria Street
Drouin VIC 3818
Subscribe: https://stitaspsdrouin.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 03 5623 7222

T3 W8 2020 Newsletter

Filter Content

T3 W8 2020 Newsletter

welcome_to_country.png

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are situated and remind you that we are gathered on Aboriginal land.

We acknowledge the Elders of this land both past and present.

matthew.jpg

FORTRESS CATHOLICISM

Getting teenagers up for Mass on a Sunday has probably been a struggle since the beginning, but, until the last half century, baptism meant at least nominal lifetime membership of the church, so parents didn’t have to worry about that. Parents didn’t need to explain or justify the Church’s structure or teachings: the school or Father or the Catechism would take care of that. Job done!

Since that time the wider world has largely broken through the walls of fortress Catholicism and unfortunately it has occurred at just the time when the church is least able to defend itself. We have been caught stumbling with the forces of modernity, hamstrung by traditions and methods unfit for purpose and shamed by the betrayal of sexual abuse from deep within our Church

Today’s readings speak particularly to Catholic parents and go to the heart of the coming Plenary Council of the Australian Church. Our hearts ache to transmit our love of God and of his Church to our children. But how and where to start? The “Wisdom of Solomon” didn’t have to deal with the complexity of issues Australian parents deal with.

Today’s children, teens and young adults are digital natives, inhabiting a vastly different world from recent preceding generations. Details of their interactions, relationships, influential figures, social media and immediate and global environment and their perspective on our credibility damaged Church might be beyond parents and grandparents.

But what we want them to know of God’s Kingdom remains. It isn’t about structures or prohibitions but about “love your neighbour as yourself” proclaimed by Paul (Romans 13:9) and in Jesus’ call to treat those who won’t conform as “pagans or tax collectors” (Matt 18:17), which sounds harsh until we recall that Jesus treated “pagans and tax-collectors” with boundless and unremitting love.

That is a message we can sell! It is to this core of Gospel teaching that the Plenary Council seeks to return us. If we prayerfully and actively engage with that then we may well re-engage our non-conforming offspring in our Church.

Deacon Mark Kelly 

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION REMINDER

A letter inviting our Confirmation families to express their preference of the year they would like their child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation was sent out last week via email on Care Monkey.

 A reminder to all our Grade 6 Confirmation families to please email their expression of interest form by this Friday, 4th of September, 2020 to Thérèse Meggetto at tmeggetto@dcsi.net.au 

Sincere thanks you for your cooperation.


Due to stage 3 restrictions, there will be no public Masses for the near future.     

facebook_2_.png
Check out our Catholic Parishes of Warragul & Drouin Facebook presence.

    NUT ALLERGY AWARENESS

    A reminder to all parents that St Ita’s is a nut free environment. We have several students in our school with a severe food allergy including anaphylaxis to nuts. This is a medical condition that causes a severe / even fatal reaction to specific foods. These reactions can be triggered by contact, ingestion or inhalation.

    We ask all parents to refrain from sending nuts or nut products in their children’s lunch and snack. This includes Nutella, peanut butter and nuts contained in cakes or snack bars. We thank you for supporting us as we look to keep all children in our school safe, healthy and well.


     

    SCHOOL UNIFORM DURING ONSITE REMOTE SUPERVISION

    A reminder to all students attending On Site Supervised Learning that you are expected to be in full school uniform. No students should be attending onsite remote supervision wearing casual clothes.



    CONFIRMATION FOR GRADE 6 STUDENTS

    A letter inviting our Confirmation families to express their preference of the year they would like their child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation was sent out last week via email on Care Monkey.

    A reminder to all our Grade 6 Confirmation families to please email their expression of interest form by this Friday, 4th of September, 2020 to Thérèse Meggetto at: tmeggetto@dcsi.net.au

    Sincere thanks you for your cooperation.


    SIBLING TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS FOUNDATION 2021

    Sibling telephone interviews for Foundation 2021 are being conducted this week and next. Please book your time via the szApp as per the details sent on Care Monkey this week. If the scheduled times do not suit, please request your preferred day and time for next week by email to the Admin office. Please click here to email Admin


    SCHOOL FEE CONCESSION

    Term 3 school fees are now due for families not on a direct debit payment plan.

    For any families impacted financially by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and  have concerns about your financial situation regarding school fees, please contact myself on 5623 7222 during the hours of 9am-3pm Monday to Friday, or via email: principal@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child(ren)’s education at our school to continue. 

    For any families that have recently received a Government means-tested health care concession card, please forward a copy of your card to the office to check your eligibility, as a fee concession may apply. The card must be in the name of the parent/fee payer for a fee concession to apply. 



    NEXT WEEK'S ON SITE INTENTIONS FORM

    MEDITATION FOR CHILDREN

     We all want happy, healthy lives for our children. Teaching kids how to meditate can give them a jump start to accessing the many benefits of meditation. Even though today’s kids exhibit elevated levels of restlessness, stress and anxiety, only 1.6% of children in the U.S. meditate. Yet several studies suggest that kids who practice mindfulness tend to develop positive traits such as increased self-control, better attentiveness in class, and more empathy and respect for others. In addition, meditation may help children manage challenging conditions such as stress, depression, ADHD and hyperactivity.

    Clearly, introducing kids to mindfulness can benefit them now and in the long run. But children should never be forced to meditate, or they may develop the same aversion towards sitting that they often have towards certain cooked vegetables (!). They should be given the same gentle encouragement that we give ourselves when it comes to meditation practice.

    CHILDREN’S MEDITATION

    Did you know that it’s easy to learn mindfulness meditation for kids? Many kids have a natural feel for it. Young kids aren’t burdened by as many biases, barriers or preconceptions, which gives them an edge when it comes to non-judgmental awareness.

    While there hasn’t been as much general research about the effects of mindfulness on kids as on adults, meditation in the classroom has been getting a lot of attention lately. One flagship initiative is the Compassionate Schools Project taking place in elementary and secondary public schools in Louisville, Kentucky, and impacting some 20,000 kids. With a stated goal of “Educating the Whole Child,” the curriculum “integrates mindfulness for stress management and self­-control; contemplative movements, postures and breathing for physical awareness and agility; nutritional knowledge for healthy eating; and social and emotional skills for effective interpersonal relationships.”

    Elsewhere, some schools are experimenting with replacing detention time with meditation. A pilot study within the San Francisco school system, partnered with the Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education, convinced even skeptics that the effort to provide mindfulness training to kids, including in one of SF’s poorest school districts, was well worth it. Over a four-year period, suspensions reportedly decreased by over 70%, academic performance increased, and everyone was happy about it. The switch to meditation is already offering similar results in a number of North American schools: maximum benefits at minimal cost.

    HERE ARE A FEW OF THE BENEFITS OF CHILDREN’S MEDITATION

    1. Enhanced focus

    In just a generation or two, things have changed so much that our attention spans can’t keep up. Between social media and technological gadgets, kids – and adults – are constantly surfing the internet, interacting via social media and playing video games indoors instead of reading a book, taking a walk or playing sports. Children who grow up with their noses in their devices often find it difficult to focus and remain attentive. Meditation teaches them that it’s possible to direct their attention at one thing at a time, and that it actually feels great not to be distracted. 

    1. Fostering compassion and self-esteem

    Due to pressures and circumstances beyond their control (and sometimes beyond anyone’s control), kids may sometimes feel like they’re not able to pass muster. This can be tough sometimes, especially when a child is bullied or badly teased by others. Most of the insecurities people have as adults can be traced back to their childhoods. The good news is that meditation can bolster children’s feelings of security, empathy and inner stability, and this, in turn, builds compassion, joy and self-esteem. Meditation teaches kids – and adults – that right now is enough. 

    1. Boosting confidence

    Mindfulness for children helps kids gain self-awareness and become more confident. The confidence develops naturally when kids learn from their meditation practice that they don’t have to react to all of their thoughts and emotions – they can choose which ones merit their attention and response. Confident kids are better equipped to deal with unfamiliar situations. Thanks to this adaptability, they become better problem solvers and develop a deeper appreciation of life.

    1. Building empathy and happiness

    Mindworks meditation expert Trungram Gyalwa says that the more you give to those around you, the more you gain. Children’s meditation helps them learn how to share their love with other children. They become more patient and understanding, listen more readily to others and empathize with them. One study cited in Slate Magazine “looked at the effectiveness of the Mindful Schools program on around 400 low-income, mostly minority elementary-school students. It found that after five weeks of regular mindfulness sessions, teachers reported that students became more focused, participatory, and caring.” Clearly, mindful children have the tools they need to be happy children.

    meditation.jpg

     







    BOOK CLUB - Issue 6 out now

    Please click on the picture below to access issue 6 of the Scholastic Book Club catalogue on-line. Please submit your orders on-line by Friday 11 September.

    book_club_620_folder2.png

    Parents, for more details on how to order or to view previous issues visit Scholastic Book Club: