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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.
Covid Prayer
By Laura Kelly Fauncci
CONFIRMATION FOR GRADE 6 STUDENTS
Grade 6 parents, please check your Care Monkey email regarding information on Confirmation for Grade 6 students this year. Please email your responses to Therese Meggetto by Friday 4th September. Email: tmeggetto@dcsi.net.au
Jesus has a different message - that “life” is something quite other than accumulation of goodies, connections, honours, achievements or even years. Focus on accumulation to “save our lives”, is a waste of time. Jesus tells us that is to lose our lives. For just a moment Peter figured he’d been appointed general manager of the Messiah project! He couldn’t see beyond the (well intentioned) possibilities of the here and now, but Jesus had a radically different perspective.
When life is going swimmingly we sign God up to our plans, our achievements, our desires, our appetite for the sweet things of life. We encounter Him in family, friends, love, beauty, simple things beyond buying or selling. But even these are transient. Like Peter, we are in danger of getting carried away with ourselves; hoping for safer, less challenging, less awkward, painful and humiliating paths to salvation.
Fearlessly proclaiming the Kingdom of God is going to get Jesus into a lot of trouble, but that is his mission - and ours. Covid time causes us to reflect on this gospel (Matt 16:21-27). What is really important to us? What saves our life? How do we faithfully live our mission? Only preparedness to follow Jesus’ way, picking up our cross daily, proclaiming the Kingdom by our love will truly save our lives. Risking all for love of all saves us.
Deacon Mark Kelly
Due to stage 3 restrictions, there will be no public Masses for the near future.
SAINT ITA PAINTING
Local artist Trish Naus was commissioned to paint a picture of St Ita for our Administration area. The painting emphasises the love, warmth and care that Saint Ita exhibited throughout her life. We thank Trish for the many hours involved with producing this wonderful art piece and we will welcome parents into the front foyer area to have a look at the painting once Covid restrictions are eased.
As we move into the fourth week of Remote Schooling, it is timely to touch base with everyone in our learning community to let you know how we are traveling during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The first thing I would like to ask of all families, is that we find a moment for daily prayer. To anyone who has been significantly impacted by the Covid Pandemic. To all those families who have lost loved ones or someone close to them or to those who are suffering with the virus or from financial hardship, we pray that God will keep you safe in his care. We offer our thoughts and thanks to all our health workers who are at the front line of the response to this health emergency. Each day they place themselves at risk to support those in need. Keep them safe and protect them under your watchful eye. The number one priority for everyone in the St Ita’s community over the next 5 weeks is to stay safe and well.
Last term our children, families and teachers showed incredible resilience as they worked through remote schooling and we will need to step it up again during the coming weeks.
Is it tough on families? It most certainly is. I understand that there are many challenges around remote learning for students, families and teachers, however if we work to support one another, I am sure we can find opportunities and learning through the experiences and challenges we are currently facing.
The staff of St Ita’s have been simply incredible over the last 4 weeks preparing for and working through this second phase of Remote Learning. I am extremely confident that they will continue to work and plan together to see that the needs and well-being of every St Ita’s student is being met.
The core learning areas during Remote Learning are English, Maths and Religious Education. These three areas will have a priority focus in the weekly planning by teachers for students. Our specialist teachers will also provide learning opportunities and experiences for all students. It’s important students have a go at completing set work to the best of their ability.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER WITH REMOTE LEARNING
- There is no set schedule or time-frame for when learning needs to take place. All families have licence to facilitate the learning at home in a flexible way that best fits your child a’s and family needs.
- In terms of student workload, you decide how much your child needs to do each day. There is no set limit and judgements will not be made for students who do not complete every task that has been set. All we ask is that students have a go.
- Day-to-day learning times will vary for families and we want to assure all families that student-learning needs must fit into with what is best for your family dynamic. You the parents control this space.
- A simple working model for remote Learning would be; if a child was to start their learning at 9.00am with a couple of 30-minute recess and lunch breaks, the learning would most likely be finished around the early afternoon, 1.00pm - 2.00pm.
- The Remote Learning will continue to be a combination of paper based packages and digital formats, which are accessible to parents and students via the E-Learning portal or arrangements through your class teacher on Google Meet.
- Parents are not teachers and we do not expect you to be teachers. You are there to support and supervise your child’s learning. If you are, experiencing any challenges or if you are doing it tough, please contact your child’s teacher. They will give you all the support you need to assist you in these challenging times.
- If you need to talk to me at any time Monday – Friday please call school admin on 56237222. I will call you back as soon as possible but I would ask all parents to be patient as I may be unavailable due to daily Video Conferencing.
- For parents that are permitted workers and require your child to attend on-site remote learning, it is a requirement to complete the on-site intentions form each week.
HOW TO KEEP KIDS ACTIVE DURING REMOTE LEARNING
All kids’ sport in Australia has been abandoned for now, but that does not mean we have to let them go climb-the-walls-crazy. Family life has changed dramatically as a result of coronavirus containment measures. Weeknights and weekends spent ferrying kids to and from extra-curricular activities and sport are on hold indefinitely. So how do you redirect kids’ energy to activities they can enjoy from the safety of home during the COVID-19 lockdown?
“It’s a tough time for sport, but helping our kids to stay active – and being active ourselves – is just as important as ever,” says Sport Australia acting chief executive Rob Dalton.
How much physical activity do kids need each day?
Australian physical activity guidelines recommend children aged 5 to 12 get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day. “Sport and physical activity can contribute to making kids happier, healthier, more resilient and socially engaged,” says Rob. “There are numerous studies to show it can also impact positively on their other learning skills, including their academic education.”
Byron Dodds, of multi-sport program Ready Steady Go Kids, says sport helps kids develop their gross and fine motor skills, as well as social abilities such as resilience.
Why exercise is crucial in a world changed by coronavirus
Rob says staying active can be particularly therapeutic amid the uncertainty right now. “Sport and active games can provide an important balance, physically and mentally, for you and your children,” he says.
Byron says physical activity helps the brain cope better with stress and anxiety. “So making sure daily exercise comes into your routine in the current health crisis is crucial,” he says.
How parents can step up for their kids
Research shows eight in 10 kids don’t get the recommended hour of physical activity a day – but 77 per cent of children with an active parent are active themselves, says Rob. “You can be their most important sporting role model,” he says.
Byron says now is the perfect opportunity for parents to get out and play with their kids. “Shoot hoops with them, bowl them a cricket ball, kick the footy, learn a dance with them, practise those gymnastic or acrobatic tricks and do some strengthening,” he says.
Get creative in your own backyard. Make it easy and enticing
“Encourage them outside, put some sporting equipment where they will see and use it,” says Rob.
Get on board some wheels
“Get the kids out and about riding their bikes or scooters or using their skateboards/rollerblades in the driveway or up and down the road,” Byron says.
Turn your backyard into a sporting venue
“Set up a game of backyard cricket, play basketball, frisbee, throw and catch, jump on the trampoline, play piggy in the middle, kick a ball, chase bubbles, pull out the balls, bats, hula hoops, yoga or Pilates mats,” says Byron.
Mix it up and think outside the square
“Use balloons for balloon volleyball, tennis or soccer,” Byron says.
“Or build some obstacle courses the kids can do indoors or outdoors with household items to get them to crawl over and under things.
“Or have races in the backyard – relay races such as jumping, hopping, frog jumps, running backwards, walking sideways, or use a pillowslip and do sack races.”
Online programs to keep kids fit and active
While we are often trying to reduce the amount of time kids spend online, digital connections can also sometimes be our friend.
Here are some great resources to inspire movement among the kids:
- PE With Joe – AKA the Body Coach – are free 30-minute workouts for kids held at 9am weekdays UK time, which is 7pm AEST. Don’t worry if you miss the live workout – they are saved to YouTube so you can get the kids involved when it works for you.
- Cosmic Kids Yoga – help the kids find their Zen amid all this chaos with these fun yoga and mindfulness sessions.
- Sport Australia’s Tiny Trainer Challenges provide fun and creative ideas of how to keep children active and healthy at home.
- Sport Australia’s Playing for Life Activity Cards provide game-based activities and are easily adapted to play at home to help create a safe, inclusive and challenging environment for children.
- The Karma Class provides free breathing exercises, mindfulness activities and yoga classes designed for kids and family tips to remain calm, healthy and strong.
- Netfit Virtual Clinics is a collaboration between Netfit Netball and Netball Australia to deliver live and free netball clinics between 9am and 3pm.
- Personal trainer Sam Wood offers live workouts each day via Facebook, dedicating Tuesdays and Thursdays to kid-friendly routines.
- No Limits Basketball provides free daily drills and skills clinics at 6pm.
- Aussie Rules fans can check out the Footy at Home videos on YouTube for tips from their favourite footy stars.
- Ready Steady Go Kids are offering fun at home online clinics to promote gross motor fundamentals.
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.
SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS
The school administration office is available from 8.30am to 4 pm Monday to Friday. Please contact the office via telephone: 5623 7222 or email: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au. Out of hours messages or enquiries will be followed up on the next business day.
SCHOOL BUS 2021
For any families not already using the school bus and are considering using the school bus services next year, 2021, would you please register your intentions this week with Elisa Fitzsimmons, the Drouin school bus services co-ordinator. Elisa is located at Drouin Secondary College and can be contacted on email: Elisa.Fitzsimmons@education.vic.gov.au or phone: 5625 1002 EXT 383.
Buses are filling fast and at this stage all buses from Bunyip, Iona and Longwarry will have a waiting list however by registering your intentions, this will support the request for another bus being put into operation.Bus information & application forms are available below and from our school office if required.
Families already confirmed and using the bus services this year do not need to register again, however if you no longer require the bus service, please let Elisa know.
BOOK CLUB - Issue 6 out now
Please click on the picture below to access issue 6 of the Scholastic Book Club catalogue on-line.
Parents, for more details on how to order or to view previous issues visit Scholastic Book Club: