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Our wonderful school community has surpassed itself again this year with the amount of toys donated to St Vincent de Paul. We are completely overwhelmed by your generosity.
We celebrated Advent last Monday with a whole school liturgy run by the teachers. We presented our school Christmas Concert yesterday including the Kindergarten Nativity. Well done to every class and especially Kindergarten for making it such a special occasion.
The Year 6 Graduation Mass is being celebrated this evening at St Peter Chanel’s followed by a graduation dinner. This is always a special and exciting occasion for our Year 6s.
Everyone is most welcome to attend the End of Year Mass next Thursday, 19 December at the Cathedral in Manuka beginning at 10am.
Wishing you all a happy Christmas and safe holiday.
Blessings
Nikki Dwyer
Welcome back everyone!
Swimming Carnival
St Bede’s is holding its annual swimming carnival at CISAC Pool in Belconnen on Tuesday, 18 February. Years 2 to 6 will attend this event. Permission notes and swimming entry forms were sent home this week and need to be returned by tomorrow, Friday, 7 February. Please make sure you discuss carefully with your child the events they wish to participate in on the day so that we don’t have children swimming in races they may find difficult. St Bede’s is renowned for its parent help at all events and I am sure this year will be no different. If you are available on the day and can help in any way, please complete the slip at the end of the entry note. Please note that, due to new regulations, there will be no free time in the pool after the carnival has finished and the students won’t have access to the pool canteen.
Hockey and Soccer clinics
There will be a one off hockey clinic on Wednesday, 19 February (Week 3) for Years 1 - 6. Soccer clinics will be happening across the school later this term. Capital Soccer will provide some skill based sessions from Weeks 6 - 10 on Tuesdays.
Eastlake Demons Football club Little Dees
An eight week program for boys and girls aged 4 - 6 years at Kingston Oval from 4.30 - 5.30pm commencing Friday, 14 February at a cost of $100.00. Register via email juniors@eastlakefc.com.au
Have a lovely weekend
Julie Douglas
The following students received an award in Week 3:
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
| Kinder Gold | Eddie M, Archie, Chloe |
| Kinder Blue | Eddie D, Fox, Adam |
| Year 1 | Zoe K, Xavier |
| Year 2 | Felicity, Chloe L, Anastasia, William |
| Year 3 | Hunter, Sophie K, Charlie |
| Year 3/4 | Patrick, Elsie, Hugo, Liam |
| Year 5 | Edward, Tom, Zalia |
| Year 6 | Ruby H, Mikail, Tamille |
WALK IN LOVE AND PEACE AWARDS
| Kinder Gold | Noah S |
| Kinder Blue | George B |
| Year 1 | Henry |
| Year 2 | Mateo |
| Year 3 | Mattes |
| Year 3/4 | Sophie D |
| Year 5 | Charlotte |
| Year 6 | Abigail |
LEADERSHIP AWARDS
| Principal's Award | Iggy |
Christmas Eve
6.00pm Vigil Mass —St Christopher’s Cathedral
9.00pm Vigil Mass —St Peter Chanel’s
Christmas Day
Midnight Mass, Cathedral (preceded by carols at 11.15pm)
8.00 am— St Christopher’s Cathedral
9.30 am—St Peter Chanel’s
11.00 am—St Christopher’s Cathedral
Boutique / Uniform Shop will be open on:
Thursday, 30 January from 1.00 – 3.00pm
Friday, 31 January from 9.00 – 11.00am
Monday, 3 February from 8.30am – 9.30am
Term 1 starts on Monday, 3 February for Years 1 – 6
Kindergarten start on Tuesday, 4 February
We all want our kids to feel good. Ice cream, days at the beach and play dates may bring kids joy but once they’re finished the good feeling often disappear.
These feel-good activities give kids a rush of euphoria but leave them craving for more. This can lead to an addictive cycle known as ‘the hedonic treadmill’ where one cookie isn’t enough. They’ll need two. Maybe the next week, they’ll need three.
Good deeds
Doing good, however, is the key to living a more meaningful and happier existence. The ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle knew it was true, and modern research bears out the fact altruistic behaviours are associated with better wellbeing, health and longevity. In short, we feel good when we do good.
Kind Kids
Every parent wants happy kids. The easiest way to help kids attain happiness is to encourage them to be kind.
Many studies show that our kids want to be kind. They know it makes them happy! Research shows that children from as young as fourteen months want to help others achieve individual goals and cooperate with others to achieve shared goals. This desire to help is something they’re born with – even that child of yours who doesn’t seem to want to help anyone!
A recent landmark study showed even very young kids find helpful and kind acts to be intrinsically rewarding. Two year olds showed greater happiness when they gave treats to others, compared to when they received treats themselves.
Teaching Our Kids to Do Good
If kids want to help because it helps them feel great, it’s our job to help fulfill this natural inclination by guiding them to age-appropriate opportunities to do so.
Here are 5 ways to do just that:
- Role model helpfulness and kindness. Children and teenagers learn to be helpful and kind by copying the significant adults in their lives.
- Encourage them to perform small acts of kindness. Being kind, giving a compliment, helping to tidy up - these small acts are just as powerful and effective as larger tasks such as mowing the lawn for a neighbour.
- Make helping a family project. Get your kids involved when you take a meal to a family who have just had a new baby or visit a sick friend in the hospital.
- Be a good neighbour. Help your kids learn to keep an eye on others, whether it is a neighbour, or a boy on their sports team. Teaching your kids to notice what’s going on in the lives of people in their community promotes awareness and empathy.
- Be grateful. Expressing gratitude is one of the best ways to do good. In fact, nothing can improve your life (and the life of others) like gratitude.
Doing good deeds is what makes us human. It lifts burdens from others, and lifts us by activating the joyful part of our brains. Teaching your kids to do good is the best way to help them have lasting ‘feel good’ feelings. Of course, they should eat cake too. Even better, share it with a friend for a lasting feel-good effect.
Dr Justin Coulson