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Dear Parents and Carers
In the longest running study on happiness out of Harvard, researchers determined the primary contributor to our happiness is the quality of the relationships in our lives. Relationships are the heart of wellbeing and the top predictor of a person’s longevity, happiness, and overall health.
Dr Bruce Perry, an American psychiatrist and professor, once said: “The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely [they] will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.”
We truly cannot ever underestimate the power of friendships for our children. Healthy, feel-good friendships can be the difference between kids flourishing or struggling at school. Or, the difference between healing or suffering, as noted in Dr Perry’s research. Or, the difference between a sense of belonging and loneliness. Deep, meaningful, connected friendships are game-changers in a child’s wellbeing, learning, happiness, and the trajectory of their lives.
When we know what to expect in our friendships, it’s much easier to understand and accept the ups and downs. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that we are now a URStrong School. The 4 Friendship Facts were developed by URStrong because it was noticed that children weren’t sure what was “normal” or common in their friendships. These 4 Friendship Facts are the foundation of a healthy, respectful friendship and apply to relationships throughout life. You might like to discuss these with your child over dinner this week and get the conversation started about healthy friendships.
- No friendship (or relationship) is perfect.
- Every friendship is different.
- Trust and respect are the two most important qualities in a friendship.
- Friendships change… and that’s ok!
Semester 2 Reports and Parent/Teacher Conferences
Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn (CECG) has communicated to schools informing them that general comments will not be required on the Semester 2, 2022 reports. A Semester Report will be sent home as in previous semesters providing A-E grading and attendance information. CECG’s position is to prioritise Parent/Teacher Conferences occurring during Term 4. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, their strengths, challenges, and future areas of focus. Our Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on November 28, 29 and 30 and we will provide booking advice in coming weeks.
We can’t wait to show off our learning! A reminder that we warmly invite parents, carers and families to our Inquiry Exhibition this Friday 4 November. Our Exhibition is a celebration of our learning and teaching in Humanities and Social Sciences. Students will present their inquiry journey and speak to visitors about their learning. Classrooms will be open from 2.00pm to 2.45pm and entry is through the Front Office. You are encouraged to maintain social distance wherever possible, and to stay home if you’re not feeling well. Parents are welcome to take their children home after their visit.
Building Update
Our refurbishment continues at pace. Windows and doors are in and looking very sleek, sheeting for walls is currently being installed, and we will soon be able to choose soft furnishing colours and occasional furniture. The temporary classroom on the K/1 playground is now ready for 4B to move into. We’re very thankful to Father Simon and the Parish for the use of Marian Hall over the last few terms.
May God bless you and your families this week.
Petra Cole
Principal (Acting)
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last week, we looked at triggers associated with parenting. This week Dr Siggie talks about how to respond appropriately to your child when you feel triggered.
What happens when you practise slowing down?
When you slow down you are able to listen to your body’s signals.
When you slow down you are giving yourself room to think.
You know what it feels like when you’re becoming frustrated and triggered. Your chest tightens, maybe your breath changes… you know how that feels. Slow down in order to notice these feelings and once you do, slow down again and breathe through them. If you’re not able to first slow down, you will miss these signals your body is giving you.
When you can think, you can thoughtfully respond instead of emotionally react.
What’s the difference between reacting and responding?
Reacting is immediate, emotionally charged and oftentimes out of control. Meanwhile, responding is thoughtful, reflective and focused on guidance. Slow down in order to give yourself the room you need to think, breathe and respond to your child.
Children are immediate and intense. That’s their nature. Oftentimes, parents feel they must respond to their child with the same level of intensity and immediacy. They don’t. You don’t. Take your time to respond to your child and make your decisions. Let your child know you “have to think about it and get back” to them. Model patience and mindfulness. Work to delay gratification.
Slowing down is tied to breathing. Don't underestimate the power of breathing.
Deep breathing (belly breathing) is an excellent way to help yourself stay calm and connected. And it's something you can do anytime, anywhere. When you feel yourself starting to get frustrated, overwhelmed or angry, stop what you're doing or saying and right there and then, slow down and begin some deep breathing. It's perfectly ok to do this in front of your children. In fact, it's a great technique to model for them. You can literally stop in place and tell yourself out loud: “Slow down and breathe.” Deep breathing is slow, steady and deliberate.
**Pick calm moments and practice breathing this way often so that when the tough moments come, you and your body already know what to do.**
Rachel Powell
Assistant Principal (Acting)
rachel.powell@cg.catholic.edu.au
Gospel Reading
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus stays at the house of Zacchaeus, the tax collector.
Background on the Gospel Reading
In Jesus' day, tax collectors were not popular people. They were collaborators with the Romans and were despised by many Jewish people. The tax system allowed them to charge more than what was required so that they could make a profit for themselves. Thus, they were considered sinners by their countrymen. Observers in the crowd that day grumble because Jesus dines with a sinner. Throughout Scripture, Jesus' choice of dinner companions set him apart from other observant Jews of his time. In first century, Jewish culture, to dine together was to show a bond of fellowship and peace among those at the table. Observant Jews did not generally dine with foreigners and sinners. Yet, Jesus chooses to honour the tax collector, Zacchaeus, by staying at his house.
Even before Jesus comes to his home, Zacchaeus shows himself to be someone in search of salvation. Zacchaeus, described as short in stature, climbs a tree in order to see Jesus. We know from Luke's description that Zacchaeus was no ordinary tax collector; he was, in fact, the chief tax collector and a person of some wealth. In his search for salvation, he humbled himself by making a spectacle of himself by climbing a tree.
Jesus recognizes the faith of this tax collector exhibited in his search for salvation and calls him down from the tree. In the hospitality he extends to Jesus and in his conversion of heart, Zacchaeus is raised up by Jesus as a model of salvation.
In today's Gospel, we see Jesus as a guest in the house of Zacchaeus. Talk about the various ways in which your family prepares when guests are expected in your home. Then read Luke 19:1-10. Observe that Zacchaeus had not prepared to be Jesus' host that day. And yet, he welcomed Jesus better than anyone else because of his change of heart.
The Parish Sacramental Team met last week to organise the calendar for the 2023 sacramental year. Please keep your eye out for the important dates in the coming weeks. The biggest change is that we will begin the year with an enrolment night for all sacraments. Only parents will need to attend this night and it will be purely focussed on the admin of enrolment. This allows for the sacramental evenings throughout the rest of the year to be focussed on faith formation between parent and child. We have also decided to trial twilight retreat evenings where the students receiving the sacraments across
the parish will come together to celebrate together on a Tuesday evening before they receive the sacrament. We will participate in prayer, reflection, games, Mass, and finish with dinner together. More detailed information to follow in the coming weeks.
Thank you for all your generous donations on Crazy Hair Day. We raised almost $400 for Catholic Missions Australia. The money raised will go directly to supporting a range of mission development programs in Ethiopia addressing malnutrition, the lack of access to education for young children, and the vulnerable position of women in society. There were certainly some wild, crazy and fabulous hair do’s.
Ruby competed in a Poomsea comp at her Tae Kwon Do school in Belconnen
(Korean Martial Arts Academy- KMAA) and she won a gold medal.
Dailen, Daniel and Marcus participated in Tennis ACT Spring Junior Green Ball League from 4 Sep to 30 Oct. The boys team (Belconnen team 1) played Campbell in the grand final and won.
School Fees
Fees are due by Week 5 (November 11) unless payment is being made by instalments. The Student Resource Levy within the Term Four School Fees will be reduced to reflect the costs normally incurred by the cancelled swimming program.
Please note: If paying by instalments you may need to amend your payment schedule.
Please contact the front office If you haven’t received your fees or you have any questions.
All families have received their log in details via email for our new Compass Parent Portal. The Compass Parent Portal is an online portal that allows you to interact with the school and access up-to-date information. Once you have your log-in credentials and download the app, you’ll be able to:
- Enter absence notes for your child
- Give consent for excursions
- View school reports
- Communicate with your child’s teacher
- Book parent-teacher interviews
- Receive communication from staff
If you didn’t receive log in details, please contact our Front Office (office.stmatts@cg.catholic.edu.au) or check your “junk” mailbox.
Click here to install Compass on Apple devices
Click here to install Compass on Android devices
When prompted: Search “St Matthew’s P” and then you’ll see “St Matthew’s Primary School – Page” as a drop down.
Happy birthday wishes to Daniel B, Audrey J, Summer W, Marie B, Joseph I, Lara E, Niamh M, Tobias N, Isaac W, Jude L, Christian M, Nicholas G, Daniel C, Hugh W, Aarav G, Sasha K, Piper W, Ava M and Violet M, who recently celebrated birthdays.
