TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO TREAT YOU -  LUKE 6:31

We began last year with this as our theme and a great deal was planned to enable our whole school community to reflect and act on what this would look like at St Peter’s. Then the world changed and for a major part of the year the focus of most of us was survival. Not life and death survival but day to day survival. Getting through with very different home, school and work expectations and requirements. It impacted many of us emotionally, physically and mentally and not everyone has come through it in a good place. 

We currently live with the shadow of COVID hanging over us and we know that at any point we could again enter into another lockdown. It is a shadow, but even with this shadow we are so lucky to live in Australia. Over the past week I spent time with different groups of people. Some who reflected that we are indeed lucky and some who were angry that everything could change. It reminded me again that not everyone is in a good emotional or mental space. Some responses were measured and reasonable but some were far from measured and far from reasonable.

I believe it is a challenge to stay in that measured and reasonable space. A challenge we should all focus on. There are many places where comments can be made including anonymous emails, facebook, whats app groups etc.  I would hope that all comments made by St Peter’s families in these spaces would be thoughtful, measured and reasonable. That all comments would reflect that we should all treat others as we would like to be treated. 

Being angry, frustrated or disappointed is okay. Placing these feelings on social media may make you feel better but it does not change anything. I am here at St Peter’s working with a very dedicated staff to do the best for our students and our community. If you are angry, frustrated or disappointed, tell me in a measured and reasonable way and I will listen and work with you to address your concerns. 

St Peter’s is an incredibly strong committed community and we need to do everything we can to continue to be that community for our children and each other.

STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

On Monday the 19th of April the staff were updated on our approach to Behaviour Management at St Peter’s. Louise Van Corler, our Student Wellbeing Leader, has provided a summary of what the Restorative approach to Behaviour Management looks like. It also covers some of what was shared with staff on the day.  

Restorative Approach to Behaviour Management

As most of you know St Peter’s works from a Restorative Framework in terms of behaviour management.  On the first day back this Term, school staff participated in a refresher course looking at the fundamentals of a Restorative Approach.

This approach explores the impact and purpose of behaviours with consideration of AFFECT.  A specific focus was on the Affect - Shame. Staff explored both the physical and social impact of shame and how to teach students how to understand their responses and behaviours.

Key facts about SHAME:

• Shame can be caused by embarrassment through humiliation

• When feeling Shame there is a physical response which means you can not lift your head

• It also impacts on a person's cognitive ability meaning they may not be able to explain why a behaviour happened. 

• Students (and adults) need time to process when they are feeling Shame.

• The compass of Shame highlights 4 key responses:

• Withdrawal

• Attack of Self

• Avoidance

• Attack on others

Staff will be implementing the strategies and processes of a Restorative Approach both inside and on the playground.

For more information on Restorative Approaches please click on the following link: Restorative Practices

TUTOR FUNDING

Post the COVID lockdown the State Government committed extra funding to schools to assist students whose learning was severely impacted by the lockdown. At St Peter’s we have used Literacy and Numeracy testing data from the beginning of the 2020 school year and compared it with Literacy and Numeracy testing data at the beginning of this year. We then identified students who did not show the same improvement levels compared to previous years and we will be providing these students with small group interventions with a teacher. This semester we are using this funding to focus on students in Year 3 to Year 6. We will continue to use the other existing intervention programs throughout the school but particularly in the Junior School to provide the necessary ongoing support for all our students.

ANZAC DAY

Last week and this week classes have spent time learning the significance of Anzacs and the commemoration that is Anzac Day. Our assembly this Friday, 30th April will include prayer and reflection honouring our Armed Services. 

WHOLE SCHOOL MASS

Last Friday the 23rd of April, we came together as a whole school community to celebrate Mass. This was the first time in over 12 months that we have been able to do this as previously we were unable to gather due to Covid. It was a wonderful celebration that was focused on the Resurrection of Jesus and was brilliantly led by students from 6KM. Thank you to those parents who attended. We look forward to now celebrating Mass as a whole school many times in the future.

GREEK EASTER

In many Orthdox faiths Easter is celebrated at a different time of the year than the Catholic Church and other Christian religions. This coming weekend many of our Greek families will be celebrating Easter. We wish them a very holy and happy celebration and a wonderful time with family.

MOTHER'S DAY STALL 

Thank you to our Parents and Friends who have organised The Mother’s Day stall. Gifts will be available for purchase on Friday, 7th May and students will head to the stall with their siblings. Gifts will cost between $1 and $6. As our Year One students will be on excursion on the 7th of May the Parents and Friends have organised for the Year One students and any siblings to attend the stall on the afternoon of Thursda,y 6th May.

MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST

Our Mother’s Day Breakfast is celebrated on Friday, 14th May. I have been asked why this day. The Friday before Mother’s day is used by many of our Secondary Schools and we do not want mums to have to choose. The Monday after Mother’s Day requires dads to be at school on Mother’s Day setting up the hall. This is why we celebrate mums with a breakfast a week after Mother’s Day.

Action for Mums

Save the date. Further details will be sent home after tonight’s Parents and Friends meeting.

Action for Dads

Save the date. Help will be needed in the setting up on Thursday night the 13th of May and in the preparing and serving of breakfast and cleaning up afterwards on Friday, 14th May. Further details will follow following tonight’s Parents and Friends Meeting. 

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Uniform purchase feedback  

I have been advised via email of a couple of challenges regarding the purchase of some Winter Uniforms. I have organised a meeting with a representative of our Uniform Shop, PSW, to discuss these concerns. If you are having any issues please email me at feedback@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au by the end of this week so I can add them to the agenda for my meeting.

School Hats - Reminder

This is the last week where school hats need to be worn at school until term three. 

Transition to Winter uniform- Reminder

The move from Summer Uniform to Winter Uniform takes place over the next week. What your children wear is up to you and will be dependent on weather and ability to purchase Winter Uniform. I have been made aware that some sizes are not yet available through our Uniform supplier, PSW. If that is the case then obviously whatever alternatives you can manage will be fine. The date for everyone to be in Winter Uniform is Monday, 3rd May. A given is that the Sports Uniform requires white socks not any other colour.

ENROLMENTS FOR FOUNDATION (PREP) 2022

If you know of neighbours or friends who have a child starting school in 2022 please let them know that school tours have been organised for Tuesday, 27th April - 6.00pm to 7.00pm and Saturday, 1st May 9.00am - 10.00am.

Current families with children already at St Peter’s can access an Enrolment Pack from the School Office.

WALK RIDE TO SCHOOL DAY

Walk and Ride to School days allow us to encourage students and families to focus on healthier ways of coming to school. A valuable side effect for us is the reduction of car traffic around school at pick up and drop off time. Some families take the chance to drop their children  further from school so they can walk, even if this is just 100 metres. This is obviously age dependent and within what families feel comfortable doing. This week Thursday, 29th April  is a Walk or Ride to School Day.

YEAR FIVE CAMP

Our Year Five students attend their Portsea camp this week. Thank you to the staff who have organised and supported this camp. I will be attending the camp Wednesday and Thursday. In my absence Mick Schinck will be Acting Principal.

DOGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

We have a number of children who have a fear of dogs, therefore dogs are not allowed on school grounds unless they are being carried. Exceptions to this are assistance dogs and assistance dogs in training.

NEXT COMMUNICATION

The next school newsletter will come home on Monday, 10th May. Information regarding the Mothers day breakfast will come home on Monday the 3rd of May.