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ENJOYING QUALITY FAMILY CONVERSATIONS
This weeks conversation starters, to help you kick off some quality conversations with your family.
- Who do you look up to as a role model in your life? Why?
- When have you ever felt embarrased at school? What happened?
- What is your favourite holiday destination and why?
The goal? To help build a routine—whether it’s nightly dinners, drives to school, or even just one dedicated evening a week for “Family Conversation Night” (no screens allowed!).
You’ll be amazed at the magic that unfolds once it becomes a family habit.
RESPECTFUL BEHAVIORS AT ST ITAS
As many of you are aware, one of the biggest challenges currently facing schools across the country is the ongoing teacher shortage. At St Ita’s, we are fortunate to have a dedicated and capable pool of Emergency Teachers who support our school when staff are unwell or engaged in Professional Development – both of which are essential and supported under the current teacher award.
I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone – students, staff, and parents – that St Ita’s, is a learning community built on mutual respect for one another. Respect is not just an expectation; it’s a core value that underpins everything we do.
In a primary school setting, respect means showing consideration and empathy, and engaging in positive, supportive interactions with others. It is how we ensure every member of our community feels safe, valued, and included.
It’s important that we continue to work together to reinforce these values and support an environment where everyone can thrive – including those who step in to support our classrooms when needed.
1. RESPECTING PEOPLE
Verbal Interactions
Use polite words: please, thank you, excuse me.
Speak kindly to teachers and classmates.
Avoid name-calling, teasing, or rude language.
Active Listening
Pay attention when others are speaking.
Don’t interrupt, even if you disagree.
Show interest in what others have to say.
Empathy and Kindness
Understand how others might feel.
Offer help or comfort when someone needs it.
Celebrate others' successes.
Respecting Personal Space & Property
Keep hands and feet to yourself.
Respect classmates’ belongings.
Take care of books, furniture, and school equipment.
2. RESPECTING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Listen carefully to your teacher.
Complete tasks promptly and without complaints.
Classroom Etiquette
Take turns speaking.
Stay focused and avoid disrupting others.
Use quiet voices and calm behavior during learning time.
Tidying Up
Clean up after yourself.
Help keep classrooms and school spaces neat.
3. PROMOTING RESPECTFUL BEHAVIORS
Inclusive Behavior
Be kind to everyone, no matter their background or abilities.
Include others in games and group work.
Resolving Conflicts
Talk it out calmly and respectfully.
Listen to each other’s point of view.
Ask an adult for help if needed.
Stand up against bullying and discrimination.
Report hurtful behavior to a trusted adult.
Support anyone who is being mistreated.
Modelling Respect
Adults set the tone—teachers and staff show respect in all interactions.
Students learn respectful behavior by watching and following adult examples.
• Build stronger friendships.
• Create a happier, safer school.
• Help everyone feel like they belong.
• Support better learning for all.
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.
In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
1. An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
2. Repetition: Bullying behaviours happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
3. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumours, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
There are three types of bullying:
1. Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes:
• Teasing
• Name-calling
• Inappropriate sexual comments
• Taunting
• Threatening to cause harm
2. Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:
• Leaving someone out on purpose
• Telling other children not to be friends with someone
• Spreading rumours about someone
• Embarrassing someone in public
3. Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:
• Hitting/kicking/pinching
• Spitting
• Tripping/pushing
• Taking or breaking someone’s things
• Making mean or rude hand gestures
WHERE AND WHEN BULLYING HAPPENS
Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. It can also happen travelling to or from school, in the youth’s neighbourhood, or on the Internet.
SCHOOL CLOSURE THIS FRIDAY 22nd AUGUST
A reminder to all parents that there is no school this Friday 22nd August.
Camp Australia will be offering before school care and after school care services on this day. Please ring them to book your child in if required.
SUPPORTING SAFE AND RESPECTFUL PLAY AT ST ITA'S
With the sun beaming down the last couple of days its been beautiful getting out and soaking up some Vitamin D. Sunny days give our students the chance to get out and burn off any excess energy.
One of the ongoing challenges we face with our infant students—particularly boys—is their natural inclination toward hands-on and physical play. Games like Zombies, Fortnite, Monsters, Wrestling, or any game that involves pretend fighting or using sticks and other objects as imaginary weapons are popular among young children, especially boys.
While this type of play is developmentally typical and often rooted in imagination and social bonding, it can quickly escalate or lead to unintentional harm when boundaries aren't clear or consistently reinforced.
Our Approach at St Itas is:
1. Emphasising the "Golden Rule":
We regularly reinforce that “We must be respectful of each other and keep our hands to ourselves.” This message is consistent across classrooms and the playground.
2. Teaching Safe Play Skills:
Teachers work closely with students to guide them toward safe, cooperative forms of play. This includes helping them:
• Understand when play is becoming too rough
• Recognise peers’ discomfort or disinterest
• Use their words to resolve conflicts or express excitement
• Take breaks when emotions run high
3. Offering Alternative Outlets:
We provide a variety of play options and settings that allow children to burn energy and express creativity without resorting to aggressive play. Outdoor activities, imaginative play stations, and movement breaks help meet these developmental needs in safer ways.
4. Supervision and Gentle Intervention:
Staff are always nearby to redirect play when needed, reminding students of the rules and supporting them to make better choices in the moment.
5. Partnering with Parents and Carers:
We encourage open communication with families so that we can work together to support children’s development and reinforce consistent expectations around respectful behavior and safe play.
It is never acceptable for children to use their hands or feet in a violent manner towards each other, whether in the classroom or on the yard.
When such incidents occur, the child is removed from the yard and brought to one of our designated cool rooms. These spaces allow children to deescalate and calm down in a supportive environment.
Once the child is ready, a restorative process begins. This includes helping all involved parties understand what happened, take responsibility, express their feelings, and find a path to repair the relationship. Our goal is always to support learning, accountability, and emotional growth.
WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS
Recently the Foundation students spent some time making a Compassion Kit during our WSAPB lesson for those less fortunate in our community. They decorated a card, coloured in an 'I care' jar, coloured in a blanket, coloured in a smiley face and added a tissue into a decorated brown bag. On Monday we had the privilege of being able to hand over the 'Compassion Kits' to a representative from St. Vincent de Pauls with the intention of making someone's day and bringing them a smile! The kits were welcomed by Barbara Durand, and she has the pleasure of being able to hand these out to those in need. Making the kits was a really heart warming activity to do with the kids and made us Foundation teachers so proud that the students put so much effort into them. Well done parents on raising such compassionate little people :-))
The Foundation Team.
CARLINE PICK UP AND DROP OFF EXPECTATIONS
Can I please remind all parents thet the speed limit at drop off and pick up is 10 kph. In the interest of child safety could I ask all parents to observe this safe speed when dropping and picking students up at Admin carline and Drouin Rec Reserve car line.
Also a reminder to parents that there is no right hand turn cutting in front of cars making a left hand turn into school admin drop off and pick up. The expectation id that parents drive down to the roundabout and come back up the hill to join the queue making a left hand turn into school. This eliminates traffic issues and keeps everyone safe.
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.
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS AT ST ITA'S
Friday 22nd August No School For Students
Grade 4 Camp to Phillip Island
SCHOOL BELL TIMES 2025
8.50 am | Morning Bell - Learning Begins |
10.50 am - 11 am | Eating Time (10 mins) & Recess |
11.20 am - 1.20 pm | Learning Time |
1.20 pm - 2.20 pm | Eating Time (10 mins) & Lunch |
2.20 pm - 3.20 pm | Learning Time |
3.20 pm | Afternoon Bell - Hometime |
PARENT INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS
Our teaching staff have put together information slides for each grade level to help provide families with important information about our school. The slides include information relevant to each grade level, such as specialist timetables, classroom expectations, and special activities that may be happening. We encourage families to look at these slides as they will assist in answering many common questions about school life at St. Ita's.
CLICK HERE to view the slides
STUDENT MEDICATION
We understand that, from time to time, students need to take medication while they are at school. If so, please contact the Admin Office to complete a Medication Administration Form.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
BOOK WEEK 2025
Congratulations to Reb Kensley on being accepted to represent Victoria in the SSV Under 12's Boy Netball Team this year. Out of 70 boys who applied for the program, Reb was one of 12 boys chosen to play for Victoria in the last week of October at Ballarat. It was a grueling process over two days and he conducted himself with great skill as a defender. Our school is super proud of this wonderful acievement and we wish you all the best during the carnival.
GIRLS 9's FOOTBALL TEAM
On Wednesday our girls football team the "The St Ita's Mudlarks" went to Traralgon to compete in the final of the Girls 9's football carnival. The St Itas Mudlarks were well prepared and razor sharp under the tutorlidge and coaching of the dynamic duo Harper and Kingy and of course the physio / medico Mrs. Stern. The girls had a great carnival and did well to bring home the runners up pennant. The St Ita's community is extremely proud of your efforts!
PARISH NEWS
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Thanks to everyone in the St Ita's community for supporting our students with the next step of their Scaramental journey on Friday Night. Bishop Greg and Father Brendan with the support of the parish sacramental team and school staff put together a beautiful ceremony in the wamth of St Itas Church.
The children were very well prepared by Liz, her team and the St Ita's staff. Thanks to all our parents for your support and I ask that you continue to pray for all our candidates as they venture forward on their faith journey.
GOD FIGURED IT OUT
Jesus is asked in today’s gospel (Luke 13:22-30) “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He doesn’t directly answer this impertinent question and his response, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate,’ needs some un-packing. Entering by the narrow door might suggest that only an elite group can be saved, as some Christians over the centuries have chosen to interpret the passage. Jesus’ life and mission, his teaching of God’s unfathomable goodness, forgiveness and the salvation offered to all, says otherwise.
“Sinners are filled with joy to hear him speak of God’s unfathomable goodness: even they can hope for salvation. In the Pharisee camp, however, they criticize his message and also his welcoming of tax-collectors, prostitutes and sinners: isn’t Jesus opening up a road to the watering-down of religion and to unacceptable morals?” [Pagola, 2016]
In order to correctly understand the invitation to «enter by the narrow door» we need to remember Jesus’ words that we read in John’s Gospel: «I am the door; the one who enters through me, will be saved» (John 10:9). So, far from watering down or inviting laxity, Jesus’ mission has been to point to the Father and to himself as the means to the Father. Relationship is everything: Jesus’ relationship with the Father and our relationship with the Father through Jesus.
Whilst assuring us of the boundless love of our merciful father, Jesus demands greater rather than lower standards. He calls us to «Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate»; «Don’t judge and you will not be judged»; «Forgive seventy times seven»; «Seek God’s Reign and God’s justice». Particularly he warns against those who figure they are an elect or elite who tick all the boxes, so they are the winners and everybody else is damned.
No one owns or controls God, and we are on shaky ground when we claim to have God figured out.
Deacon Mark Kelly
SCHOOL UNIFORM
We understand, and are aware that our school uniform retailer, Beleza, has recently experienced shortages and stock ordering issues with some of our school uniforms core items. Beleza have confirmed that they will communicate with us as soon as items have been received, and we will notify families so that we can aim to have all students in full school uniform as soon as possible.
SCHOOL FEES
Term 1 & 2 School Fees are now overdue. The due date for payment was 21st April 2025. If you have not received a statement, please contact the Admin Office to request a copy.
Term 3 School Fees are due and payable by 21st July 2025.
DIRECT DEBITS
There is still time to set up Direct Debits if you would like to use this method of payment. We offer weekly, monthly, and fortnightly options, and credit card and bank account options are available.
CSEF/CONCESSIONS
We encourage all families with a current Concession Card to complete the paperwork for the CSEF Concession Program. Rules and conditions apply, so please read the attached information carefully. If you have any questions, please contact the Admin Office on (03) 5326 7222.
SCHOOL SAVINGS BONUS
TRAVEL CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE
We encourage all families to review the attached Travel Conveyance Allowance Application Form to see if they meet the government's requirements to receive an allowance for driving their children to and from school daily. Please review the eligibility criteria carefully, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Admin Office at (03) 5326 7222.