Last Sunday’s Gospel...

The story of the Transfiguration gave the apostles, and us, a glimpse into the divine nature of Jesus.  They could see what He looked like. It also gave the human Jesus what He needed to be able to carry out what was to come – His rejection and crucifixion.

 Did you know...

The Stations of the Cross were made hundreds of years ago so all the people could follow what happened to Jesus. It was a pictorial telling of the story because most people couldn’t read.

 From the Principal...

We have planned our Pupil Free Days for this year. There are the fixed two at the end of the year as usual but these are the other two. The first is the last day of this term Thursday 1^st April. It will be our Staff Spirituality Day and all staff will be offsite that day including the office staff. I think it will be timely being Holy Thursday and will support staff wellbeing – they have had quite a lot to deal with this term with some teachers on leave as you know. Hopefully it will give you the chance to get ahead of the Easter traffic if you are planning to go away. The next will be the first day back – Monday 19^th April. That day will be about using leveled criteria, especially in the areas of reading and writing, so students get valuable feedback about where they are with their learning and where they need to go to next. On both of these days you will need to arrange care for your children.

 We have been notified of some issues with the Premier’s Reading Challenge registration at their end. All our students are registered but there is a delay in issuing usernames and passwords. As soon as we receive them, we will let you know.

 There seems to have been a problem with some grades not receiving their Curriculum Note for Term 1. I know the teachers did them because I read them all in the first couple of weeks of the year! The teachers are resending/reprinting as necessary. If you still don’t get one in the next few days, please let your classroom teacher know.

 We are participating in our 4 year Cyclic Review Process this term. It was supposed to be last year but was postponed. The purpose of the review is to reflect on the journey since the last review, think about where we are now based on data and then make plans for the future. A team from the Catholic Education Office that also includes key personnel from other schools – principals and assistant principals, oversees the process and makes recommendations from what we have said but also from their own analysis. I will keep you updated on the process as we go through it.

God Bless,

Michelle Rolfe

Principal

Since November 1991, the Brother Clarence Foundation has distributed $117,320 to 303 families in need.

We are extending an invitation to anyone interested in making a donation to the Foundation, to contact Gary Charlton the treasurer, at gcharlton@optusnet.com.au or the Secretary, Therese Barrington at brotherclarencefoundation@gmail.com   

Sleep and Primary School Children

                    Why sleep is important for children aged 5-11 years                     

When your child sleeps well, your child will be more settled, happy and ready for school the next day. Good-quality sleep helps your child concentrate, remember things, regulate emotions and behave well. This all helps your child learn well.

Getting enough sleep also strengthens your child’s immune system and reduces the risk of infection and illness.

Sleep: what children need

At 5-11 years, children need 9-11 hours sleep a night. For example, if your child wakes for school at 7 am and needs approximately 10 hours sleep per night, your child should be in bed before 9 pm.

Some children fall deeply asleep very quickly when they go to bed. Others sleep lightly, fidgeting and muttering for up to 20 minutes, before getting into deep sleep.

Children have different kinds of sleep during the night. The first few hours of sleep are usually the deepest. Most dreams happen in the second half of the night.

How to help children sleep well

A good night’s sleep is about getting to sleep, staying asleep and getting enough good-quality sleep. Here are some ideas that can help your child get the sleep they need.

Bedtime routine
A bedtime routine is very important at this age. It helps your child wind down from the day.

For example, a child who normally goes to bed at 7.30 might have a bedtime routine that looks like this:

• 6.45 pm: put on pyjamas, brush teeth, go to the toilet.
• 7.15 pm: quiet time in the bedroom with a book and a bedtime story or quiet chat.
• 7.30 pm: goodnight and lights out.

Relaxing before bed
After a big day at school, your child might still be thinking about the day’s events and worries. If your child’s mind is still busy at bedtime, it can cause a restless night or bad dreams.

You can help your child settle and relax for sleep by keeping activities quiet in the hour before bed. For example, you could play gentle music or read a story together. Making a bath part of your child’s bedtime routine can also help with relaxation.

Relaxing before bed also helps with better sleep for pre-teens and teenagers.

Good sleep habits
Your child might sleep better at night if they:

• keep regular sleep and wake times, even on the weekend
• turn computers, tablets and TV off an hour before bedtime
• have a quiet and dimly lit place to sleep
• get plenty of natural light during the day, especially in the morning
• avoid caffeine in tea, coffee, sports drinks and chocolate, especially in the late afternoon and evening.

To receive free individual support regarding your child and sleep please contact Parentline NSW at 1300130052 (9-9 pm weekdays, 4-9 pm weekends). 

References

El‐Sheikh, M., & Kelly, R.J. (2017). Family functioning and children’s sleep. Child Development Perspectives, 11(4), 264-269. doi: 10.1111/cdep.12243.

Jenni, O.G., & O’Connor, B.B. (2005). Children’s sleep: An interplay between culture and biology. Pediatrics, 115 (Supplement 1), 204-216. doi: 10.1542/peds.2004-0815B.

Matricciani, L., Paquet, C., Galland, B., Short, M., & Olds, T. (2019). Children’s sleep and health: A meta-review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 46, 136-150. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.04.011.

For phone assistance around your child and sleep please feel free to ring Parentline NSW at 1300130052. 

Catholiccare courses that could be of benefit:

 For children who may struggle with sleep due to anxiety

No Scaredy Cats Term 1

Thursday, 11 March 2021 10:00 AM

For Parents / Carers of children with anxiety

Parents and Carers are invited to share their experience of parenting children with anxiety. A supportive and safe learning environment is provided to help guide parents and carers to understand more about their child's needs and how they can support and encourage their children to nurture their anxiety.

Sessions: 3 x 2.5 hours weekly

Cost: $45

Thursday 11, 18, 25 Mar 10:00am-12:30pm

To enquire about enrolling in this course please email intakeservices@catholiccare.dow.org.au with your name, email address and phone number along with the course you wish to attend.

Campbelltown

Campbelltown

35a Cordeaux Street, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia

For children who may be challenging at bedtime. 

123 Magic and Emotion Coaching Term 2

Thursday, 03 June 2021 5:30 PM

For Parents/Carers of children aged 2-12 years

Parenting can test your patience especially if you find yourself frequently raising your voice to deal with challenging behaviour. It doesn't have to be this way though, learn easy and effective strategies to deal with difficult behaviours without having to raise your voice. Find out more by enrolling in our upcoming group '123 Magic and Emotion Coaching'.

3 x 2.5 hour sessions held weekly

Cost: $45

Thursday 3, 10, 17 Jun 5:30pm-8:00pm

To enquire about enrolling in this course please email intakeservices@catholiccare.dow.org.au with your name, email address and phone number along with the course you wish to attend.

Campbelltown

Campbelltown

35a Cordeaux Street, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia