Hello and welcome to the new school year.  I have met many new families at my Welcome Morning Tea on the first day of school, but would still like to connect with you. Please feel free to email me, or come and see me at Parent Café every Tuesday morning. Each week, Parent Café is set up under the trees in the junior school where you can have a cuppa and talk with me, as well as with other staff and parents. This week we had visitors from the Metro South SEQ Flood Mental Health Recovery Unit come to connect with families and talk out about the services offered to support any needs following natural disasters. For more information about what they offer, please see the attached brochure. 

Harmony Day – Friday 3 March 

Harmony Day is a special day for our school, with many conversations held in classrooms around diversity, inclusion, respect, and harmony.  We celebrate the day by having two special assemblies, with performances from each year level, Chamber Choir, and a very moving flag procession. This year we have 90 different countries represented at our school.  Please come and join in the celebration:

Jnr School Assembly (prep – year 2) at 9:15am

Followed by a Cultural Food Fair (bring a plate of food to share that represents your cultural background)

Senior School Assembly (year 3-6) at 12pm

Talking about School

It is so tempting to ask lots of questions of our children at after-school pick up, but often they will be hot (in these summer months), tired, possibly hungry, and unfortunately not very willing to talk about school. The most important thing in that moment is be welcoming with a friendly smile and a hug (if you can catch one) so that your children know you are happy to see them. It also reassures those who are feeling unsettled at drop off in the morning to know that you will be there for them in the afternoon.

Later at home, once everyone has settled and are ready to talk, ask simple questions about their day that require more than a one-word answer. Give your undivided attention when they share, be respectful, and use active listening techniques. I find that dinner time is a great opportunity for the whole family to take turns and share something about their day. A great conversation starter around the table is for everyone to share a “down” and an “up” from their day, which helps to normalise that each day brings all sorts of experiences, thoughts, and feelings.  It provides a way for the family to support each other through their ups and downs.

For more information and other questions to ask, check out the information provided at raisingchildren.net.au at: https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/connecting-communicating/communicating/talking-about-school

Blessings, Chappy Jenny
Email – jennifer.bennett@suchaplaincy.org.au
Facebook and Instagram – Community_Chaplain