St Ita’s Catholic Primary School acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

MESSAGES FROM THE PRINCIPAL

MANAGING SCREEN TIME ARTICLE

It’s hard to know how to handle screen time in your home, when even expert bodies can’t agree on what an appropriate amount of screen time is. Earlier this year, Britain’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health released guidelines on screen time for the first time, but left limits largely up to families, stating "evidence is weak for a threshold to guide children and parents to the appropriate level of screen time." To arrive at this conclusion, the society analysed the abstracts of 940 different studies that focused on the impact of screen time on kids’ mental and physical health.

In contrast, the World Health Organisation’s review of dozens of screen time studies led it to announce in April its own guidelines of zero hours for kids under two and one hour or less for kids two to four. This advice is similar to that given by the Canadian Paediatric Society, with recommendations of one hour maximum for kids two to five and zero hours for those under two. This recommendation is endorsed by all of the experts we spoke with.

Warshawski recently saw a five-year-old boy whose tantrums and anger issues seemed to be linked to his heavy consumption of video games and YouTube. Eventually, his parents cut off the internet to the house, "There were no screens for anyone," he says. There was however, an “almost 180-degree improvement in behaviour because the child’s energy and thoughts and pattern were channelled into socialisation.”

While that was a fairly drastic move, for many families, unwanted behaviours that are being spurred on by screen time can be reduced by being more mindful about how everyone is interacting with their tech.

Madigan recommends that all households create a family media plan that establishes boundaries around screen time, including where and when they can be used. A few foundational rules should include no screens during meals or an hour before bedtime and to avoiding having them on as consistent background noise.

Before the screens get turned on, discuss exactly how long they’ll stay on and what content they’ll be airing. If need be, consider setting a timer as an "objective" party. Just make sure that if your kid is doing something, like playing a game, that requires a wrap-up period, you factor in some time for that.

Once those boundaries have been set, enforce them, "Consistency helps children know what to expect," says Madigan who explains that when, day after day, you turn off the screen at the agreed upon time, “It doesn’t come as a surprise to the child and you may see fewer behavioural outbursts as a result.”

You might also find yourself cringing at your kid’s behaviour because they are imitating actions and words they’re exposed to on screen. A way to mitigate that is to practice co-viewing, says Warshawski. “When you see things are unrealistic or anti-social, prompt the discussion about it,” says Warshawski. He encourages parents to keep a close eye on content in order to minimise the chance that your child will be consuming materials that don’t match your values.

When Heinl took away Lucas’ iPad, the first week or so was rough, complete with tantrums where Lucas screamed for the device. But despite her son’s demands, Heinl stayed calm and pushed through, “I knew it would be worth it in the end.” Now the iPad spends its mornings tucked away and a sense of cooperation has mostly returned to Heinl’s mornings thanks in part to an adjusted schedule that gives her the opportunity to have one-on-one time with her son over breakfast. Lucas does occasionally ask for the tablet but Heinl is staying firm; the iPad’s appearance is limited to around four hours a week and never before school.

KIDS WALKING HOME VIA THE REC RESERVE GATE

We have noticed an increase of children exiting school each day via the Drouin Rec Reserve gates and walking down through the park. If your child is a walker please make sure you have informed your child’s teacher in writing via a ClassDojo, email or written note. Any student walking needs to hug the fence line and stay off the roads to avoid car line pick up traffic.

FOOTBALL AT SCHOOL

Last week I had a chat with several Grade levels in relation to kids playing football at school and getting a little bit rough. The message I’ve given to kids is that school footy needs to be non-competitive and we don’t bump, sling tackle or charge kids when playing footy onsite. In the coming weeks we hope to take our 3-6’s out onto the Rec Reserve for a game that is properly umpired and we will look at doing the same for our 1-2’s.

COVID UPDATE

WATCH FOR SYMPTOMS

If your child is unwell, even with mild COVID-19 symptoms, you must keep your child at home until their symptoms resolve and get your child tested with a PCR test (nose and throat swab) or complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

If symptoms continue, your child should stay home and take another RAT or PCR test in 24 hours. If that test is also negative, your child may return to school if another diagnosis is confirmed (such as an underlying health condition or medication).

VACCINATIONS

All students and their families are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
Children aged 5 to 11 can now get vaccinated. Parents, guardians and carers are encouraged to book their child in for a vaccination at the first available opportunity.

TESTING

RATs will be provided to all staff and students at no charge. Schools will inform parents, guardians and carers on how these kits can be collected from the school.

Students and staff should take a RAT twice-weekly on the morning before attending school. Test kits will continue to be supplied by schools during this time.

HOUSEHOLD AND HOUSEHOLD-LIKE CONTACTS

Household and household-like contacts are no longer required to quarantine but are required to undertake the following additional safety measures in the seven (7) days that would have been their quarantine period:

Parents must;

1. notify the school if returning during their seven (7)-day period;
2. undertake daily rapid antigen testing five (5) times within the seven (7) days;
3. wear a face mask indoors (if aged eight (8) and above) unless a lawful exemption applies;
4. are not permitted to visit hospitals or care facilities unless an exemption applies.

Household and household-like contacts are still permitted to participate in school activities, including camps and excursions, as long as they wear a mask when indoors (if aged eight (8) and above or have a valid exception) and complete five (5) rapid antigen tests within the seven (7)-day period that would have been their quarantine period.

A household or household-like contact attending an off-site activity during this period must notify the school they are attending under these requirements.

If a student, parent, guardian or carer cannot comply with the additional safety measures at any time, they must:

1. quarantine immediately for the remainder of their seven (7)-day household contact period
2. get tested on Day one (1) (or as soon as possible) and on Day six (6) of their household contact period
3. not attend school until a negative Day six (6) test result is received.

COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES

If your child has no symptoms and there is a positive COVID-19 case in their household, class, year level or other grouping, your child can continue to attend school in line with Victorian Department of Health advice.
Staff and students who receive a positive RAT result must register it on the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form available on the Coronavirus Victoria website https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report as soon as possible.
Staff and students who receive a positive RAT or PCR test result must tell their school as soon as possible, and follow Victorian Department of Health advice.
Students who test positive to COVID-19 must isolate for seven (7) days and not attend school during that period.
Students who have recovered from COVID-19, are not required to get tested or isolate if they are re-exposed to a positive COVID-19 case within 12 weeks of ending their isolation period.
If more than 12 weeks have passed since their isolation period concluded, students must follow the relevant testing and isolation advice depending on the type of contact they are.
Schools will regularly communicate to parents, guardians and carers about the presence and impact of COVID-19 in their school community. Parents, guardians and carers should expect to be provided with details of any impacted grade, year level or other grouping.

ACTIVITIES

COVID-19 will continue to be considered in all activity risk assessments. Guidance will be provided to schools on applying appropriate safeguards across a range of activities, including school camps and excursions.
Parents, guardians and carers will be made aware of the risk of exposure and will need to provide their permission for their child’s participation in extra-curricular, out of school hours or off-site activities.

VISITORS

Visitors on school sites should be kept to a minimum to support essential school activities or student needs.
Visitors will be required to comply with COVIDSafe measures, including physical distancing requirements and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.
The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record-keeping is no longer required in school settings.
Parents, guardians, carers and other adult visitors are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine if not performing work or volunteering at the school.

VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS PERFORMING WORK AT A SCHOOL

Any visitor or volunteer performing work at a school must be fully vaccinated (boosted) (with three (3) doses) with an approved COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid exception to attend on-site for the purpose of working.
Visitors or volunteers working on school sites include, but are not limited to:

1. Parent and Friends Committee members
2. School Advisory Committee members
3. volunteers performing volunteer work at the school (for example, parent helpers and those participating in a school working bee outside of school time)
4. volunteers attending school camps or excursions.

Schools must collect, record and hold vaccination information for all workers, including visitors or volunteers performing work at a school whether inside or outside.

SCHOOL PHOTOS ARE BEING SENT HOME TODAY

School photos will be sent home with students today. Please check their school bags to make sure they are retrieved.

ST ITA'S DAY CONCERT - ANDREW CHINN

On Thursday 19^th May, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to share his songs with all our children. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “ An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. The concert will take place in our school hall at 2:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

WASPB COLOURS FREE DRESS DAY

Linking with the St Ita Day Concert on May 19th, student can dress up in the colours of our WSAPB values (purple, white, green, yellow and blue), for the cost of a gold coin donation. They can wear any combination of these colours.

PROJECT COMPASSION

We are in the process of finalising project compassion for this year, if you still have a box at home containing donations, please return these to the office as soon as possible.

RE SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

A reminder to all parents that our whole school Religious Education Planning day is on Friday 10^th June. There will be no school for students on this day as all teachers will be in team planning on this day.

SCHOOL FEES & CONCESSIONS

Term 1 & Term 2 fees are now due and payable.

If any families would like to set up a weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit schedule for school fees, please complete the Direct Debit Form below and return to the school office. For any assistance regarding calculations of payments, please contact us via email on: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

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.

If your current Health Care card is due to expire this year and your card is re-issued, please send a copy of your new card details to the office as soon as possible for the concession to be checked and applied for next year's fees, if not already done so.

2022 Direct Debit Form

2022 Direct Debit Form 671.20 KB

2022 CSEF Concession Form

2022 CSEF Concession Form 309.21 KB

BOOK REVIEWS

CONGRATULATIONS

Well done to all our Grade 3 and Grade 5 students who have begun working their way through NAPLAN national testing week. Great effort by all our teachers to get the kids ready for the testing schedule. I spoke with the kids before they started and they were all very positive and confident of delivering their best which is all we can ask of them.

AUSSIE OF THE MONTH AWARD

Dillon Jagoe needs a big round of applause for her outstanding work leading into Anzac Day. Dillion has been acknowledged for her outstanding fundraising by the Drouin branch of the RSL. Each year Dillon makes Anzac cookies and sells them in the local community to raise money for this wonderful group. You’ve done an amazing job Dillon and your local community is very grateful and proud.

LIBRARY NEWS

Teacher: Mrs Catherine McKenna

Email: cmckenna@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

LIBRARY CAPTAINS

Introducing the Library Captains….

Isabella, Jess, Holly & Rylee

The Library Captains experience leadership at St Ita’s and enjoy the responsibility of guiding, assisting and helping others. These students, who are avid readers and love stories, are selected to carry out many roles such as borrowing, sorting, re-shelving, giving book recommendations and implementing their new ideas into the library.

LIBRARY CLUB

Every Tuesday first half of lunch.

BOOK CLUB

Book Club: Thanks to the families who support our Book Club. Commission assists in purchasing new books for the library. The most recent issue will be delivered soon.

SPORTS NEWS

Sports Teacher: Hayley Roberts Sports Coordinator: Joseph Black

Email: hroberts@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au jblack@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

AUSKICK CLINIC

CROSS COUNTRY

Yesterday 19 students represented St Ita’s at the Division X Country at Chairo Christian School.

All students showed great school spirit and ran to the best of their abilities.

We had quite a few students finish in the top 20 for their age group which is a fantastic achievement.

A special mention to Jack Carbonneau in grade 6 who finished 2nd, Marley Nooy in grade 5 who finished 7th and Tilly Kensley in grade 5 who finished 9th.

Jack, Marley and Tilly will now compete at the regionals at Lardner Park. We wish them all the best!

CLASSROOM TEACHER

This week’s Staff profile is Miss Bronwyn Wallace.

PARISH NEWS

Love IS All there is!!

Mahatma Ghandi said, “If more Christians were like your Christ, there would be more Christians.” 2000 years after Christ, only 30% of the world’s population are Christians (over half of those are Catholics). Considering the astounding “Good News” we should be spreading and Jesus’ instruction to “baptise all nations in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit”, not overly impressive.

Do others see us as Christ-like disciples? Jesus tells us that it is “by this love you have for one another that everyone will know that you are my disciples.”(John 13:31-35). “All that matters is love, a love that is expressed most purely when we sacrifice ourselves for the well-being of others. When we love in this way we show that we are disciples of Jesus who laid down his life for us”. (St Paul’s Sunday Missal). Do we love like Him? Otherwise we’ll never spread the Good News.

Can others see in us a love, not merely of the “worthy” or those who love us, but the love Jesus showed for the least (even haters)? Love for young people off the rails, street people and addicts, homeless, rough sleepers, sufferers of domestic violence, trafficked humans, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, prisoners, dysfunctional families, those grieving at loss and dislocation, many indigenous people, disabled and ill brothers and sisters.

All humanity, especially the poor, ragged and disadvantaged are precious to Jesus, as well as the misguided, ignorant and plain sinful. He loves them all and calls us to do no less. Catholics today enjoy infinite opportunity for self-sacrificing love and plenty of ways for “sleeves rolled up” engagement.

Others can witness Jesus’ disciples faithfully self-sacrificing in our daily lives when we work with one or two of the many Catholic social service organisations. Don’t just think about it – do it!

Deacon Mark Kelly