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Learning Occurs Everywhere
“And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.” Luke 5:3
As the midpoint of Term 1 arrives, the learning journey of each child continues at St Bede’s Primary School. At St Bede’s we seek to live Gospel values, empower students and educate the whole child. These values are evident through our pastoral care and wellbeing initiatives as well as our strong relationships with families. I trust that the Parents Teacher / 3 Way Conferences provided an opportunity for families to celebrate learning, both for your children and our wonderful teachers. I invite you to reach out and compliment where appropriate.
Our students at St Bede’s Primary School are eager and hungry for learning, and our teachers are committed to delivering high quality lessons and instilling valuable learning anywhere at any time. Learning opportunities are carefully crafted and teachers ensure that all students are well catered for. There is an understanding that the learning needs of each individual are different, hence, the learning journey is different.
The above scripture from Luke refers to a moment where Jesus used a boat as a floating platform to teach a large crowd that had gathered at the Lake of Gennesaret to hear the Word of God. Jesus sat to teach the crowd in a makeshift amphitheatre as the crowd had gathered, eager and hungry for learning. This passage also tells us that teaching was not restricted to church elders and the synagogue. Teaching, and indeed learning can occur anywhere, and be taught by anyone.
Our students are offered a variety of opportunities for enrichment and extension. Each teacher provides these opportunities within the classroom, however, these opportunities also extend outside of the normal classroom environment. Each week for the remainder of Term 1 our students will be able to experience the Arts, experiments, cultural activities, games and bootcamp. These activities have been developed and led by our Year 6 students. It is a privilege to see student leadership in action at St Bede’s through service to others. It is my hope that these opportunities will grow in number as the year progresses in a number of other fields.
At St Bede’s we are proud to offer learning enrichment to a wide range of students. Mrs Elliott and her team provide additional support to students with an individually tailored program and carefully planned approach. In 2022 we have expanded this hard working team to increase the level of support offered to our students. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher or Mrs Elliott should you wish to discuss any additional learning needs of your child.
Learning is not limited to the classroom, learning occurs in all areas of the school in a number of ways. We are proud that our school library is very well resourced and Mrs Mihalopoulos provides students with very engaging lessons. The library provides a quiet sanctuary for students who wish to read or play games during breaks. Please be advised that our library is open at lunch time each day for the remainder of the term.
Sporting endeavours are another aspect of school here at St Bede’s. Students are offered the opportunity to trial in an extensive array of sports, participate and compete in school and Archdiocesan carnivals and participate in gala days. These sporting activities are important to us, as they allow us to cater for all students by encouraging participation, whilst allowing students a pathway to compete and excel at higher levels. Please contact Mr Heffernan should you like further information on the sporting opportunities offered here at St Bede’s.
At St Bede’s we cater for creative students through visual art, music, dance and drama lessons. Whilst these areas are a part of the Australian curriculum, taught by class teachers and Mrs Deighton, our children have the opportunity to undertake additional learning opportunities in music. Families can arrange private music tuition to take place during school hours. For piano please contact the office. For all other instruments please contact Musiccorp directly on 1300858911.
There are so many wonderful opportunities at St Bede's. You are encouraged to spread the news to all. We still have places for students across the school.
Finally, there is much to celebrate about living in Australia. The situation in Russia and the Ukraine has impacted many across the globe. Children across the world are having their world view shaped by these events. We continue to pray for all who are impacted and that a peaceful resolution is close. As parents we censor what our children view and hear, however, this isn’t always possible. Your child may be anxious, scared or even curious. Included in this newsletter is some relevant information in responding to your child in the current climate.
God Bless,
Andrew
Talking to kids about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
It’s normal to feel anxious about the news emerging from Ukraine, and children can pick up on this too. So how can you reassure your child and explain what’s happening if they ask questions? There’s no ‘one way’ to go about it, and you know your child best but hopefully these tips will help.
Firstly, check in with yourself. If you’re feeling anxious it’s ok to say that you don’t have all the answers and to share your concerns with other adults, like grandparents, teachers and school counsellors, who can help you talk to your child.
Secondly, go at your child’s pace. If they ask you about what’s happening or seem scared or worried, ask your child what they’ve heard or what they’re worried about, rather than giving lots of information which may overwhelm them. Consider the language you use, and try to keep it age appropriate and reassuring. Let them know that they’re safe and the conflict is happening far away (maybe show them where Ukraine is in relation to Australia on a map). Acknowledge sadness for those who are being directly affected and suggest finding out ways to help. If your child has questions, consider asking them if they’d like to research the answers together with you, or tell them you’ll find out answers to their questions and let them know later.
It’s also a good idea to monitor what children see on TV and hear on the radio as much as you can, and limit discussing worrying details when children are around. Depending on the age of your child, resources like the ABC’s Behind The News can help to explain what’s in the news in a kid-friendly way – see https://www.abc.net.au/btn/newsbreak/btn-newsbreak-20220224/13769874 and https://www.abc.net.au/btn/features/upsetting-news/10500572 for examples. Watching these together and then talking about it can help children feel safer and know they can talk to you if they have questions.
If you’d like to talk about any of these tips or have any other concerns about your child, you can contact me via email Amy.Kennedy@catholiccare.cg.org.au or by phoning through the school.
Amy Kennedy
Student and Family Counsellor
Links for talking with children about difficult topics
Below are a couple of resources for talking with students about the war in Ukraine.
The links below can work for any challenging topic.
- Talking About Ukraine with Our Children - Dr. Aliza Pressman
- How to Talk To Kids About Ukraine - NYTimes/Melinda Wenner Moyer
- Students are on TikTok Talking About Ukraine—How Teachers Can Answer Their Questions - We AreTeachers
- How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Subjects - Common Sense Media