No 16. Term 3 Week 4, 5th August 2020

Principal's News

Today, we find ourselves facing the reality of Stage 4 Lockdown, because of  the persistent Covid-19 health crisis. These restrictions which will be in effect for the next six weeks will impact us all differently and will create at least some anxiety in every one of us. At a minimum, we may feel fatigued and tired of the ongoing uncertainty and changes to our way of life. That is to be expected and normal under the circumstances.

But despite the uncertainties and frustration that comes with living in a pandemic, who we are at our core, has clearly not changed. From what I have seen thus far, as a faith community, our principles and behaviours toward each other are clearly guided by the teachings of our Lord and highlighted through these key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition:

• How we treat every life as important and worthy of protection.
• How we act as part of a school community, so all people can share and help each other.
• How we help make sure everyone is safe and healthy.
• How we help the poor, or those who may not have accesss to the supplies and services as easily as others, or a safe place to live, or a community that stands with them during such adversity.
• How we realise that work is important in God's plan for adults and their families, and that we ensure those jobs, especially the essential ones provide safe and fair conditions for their employees.
• How we treat each other, knowing that we are all brothers and sisters in God's family wherever we live and deserving of unconditional respect, despite varying viewpoints nd opinions.
• How we continue to remember that the world was made by God, so we must take care of all creation.

It is often said that the measure of a person is not who they are in easy times. It is when times get tough that we see who people are in their heart. I am so grateful to say that I am indeed heartened by the generous and kind nature of our children, their families and our staff. Despite the adversity of a stage four lockdown, I know we will be ok in the long run, because we have each other, God has our backs and we can only emerge from this trial stronger, more united and perhaps a few steps closer to realising the Kingdom of God here among us.

Jason Micallef, 

Principal

How to help kids stay safe online

Even if you are at home together, it is not possible to monitor your child’s online activities every second of the day. It is important to talk with them about online safety issues to help develop their critical thinking and ability to make good choices.

Top 10 tips to help protect your kids online

1. Build an open trusting relationship around technology
2. Co-view and co-play with your child online
3. Build good habits and help your child to develop digital intelligence and social and emotional skills
4. Empower your child — wherever possible, help them make wise decisions for themselves, rather than telling them what to do
5. Use devices in open areas of the home
6. Set time limits that balance time spent in front of screens with offline activities
7. Know the apps, games and social media sites your kids are using, making sure they are age-appropriate
8. Check the privacy settings on the games and apps your child is using
9. Use available technologies to set up parental controls on devices
10. Be alert to signs of distress and know where to go for more advice and support.

Sacramental Family Workshops

First Reconciliation Family Activity Night

It was wonderful to be able to share some time together online last week during our First Reconciliation Family Workshop. Facilitated by Michele a Presentation nun, the children and their parents worked through some reflective conversations about the meaning and purpose behind this Holy Sacrament. We would like to thank our three groups who managed to ensure they could be online on time and participate as enthusistically as they did.

First Eucharist Faily Activity Night

Our next Sacramental Activity event will be for our students preparing to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for the first time. Families of these students will need to register for and attend one of the following sessions via Google Meet.

• Monday August 10 at 5pm
• Monday August 10 at 7pm
• Tuesday August 10 at 7pm.

Information about how to register for your session has been sent to you via Care Monkey.

Surviving and thriving during the lockdown

Lockdown is hard. It hurts our kids and it’s a drain on parents.

The first time was tricky. There were challenges. For some, it was horrible. But most of us managed ok and got through it.

This time it’s different. The pressure is higher. The demands are greater. The children are more oppositional. The home learning stretch will be longer. There’s work stress, family stress, and stress about being stressed!

While we can’t click our fingers and make it magically disappear, there are real strategies that parents and children can rely on to not just survive, but thrive – even in a far-too-long lockdown. They’re simple ideas that you can start on right away.

Join Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s most trusted parenting specialists, as he shares 4 secrets to make it through the pain of the winter COVID-19 Victorian lockdown. By the end of this FREE webinar, you’ll:

• Feel reassured, with less stress and pressure around your kids, their schooling, and life
• Have concrete strategies you can start on immediately to make your family happier
• Know how to be on the same page as your partner
• Be able to develop habits and practices that will ensure your children – and YOU – can get your daily work done, even while everyone is stuck at home.

St. Kevin's is proud to endorse this free event to support our families through this challenging time. To sign up for the free webinar with Dr. Justin Coulson, click the link below.

Countdown to 100 days of school for our Preps!

Not long now! This time next week we will be getting ready to congratualte our Preps on the achievement of this significant milestone.

So much has happened in this very different kind of year that it seems fitting that we make this an extra special occasion to congratulate them and lift their spirits.

Temporary closure of retail stores

We are still able to operate for online orders, which can be placed through our online store at the following link: http://store.beleza.com.au

To account for the forced closure of our stores, we will be offering 50% off for shipping costs for orders across Victoria. Please be advised that due to restrictions placed on manufacturing, there may be some delays to placed orders. We will work to communicate these to you as soon as possible, should they occur.

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding over the recent months. We wish you all the best for the coming weeks and hope you all stay safe. We look forward to seeing you back in store as soon as we can.

School Fees

It is with great honour and gratitude that we extend a huge thank you to all the families who have been making payments toward their school fees and / or finalised their accounts for this year. It is particularly humbling that despite the pandemic and all it's challenges, many families have chosen to increase their payments and support our school. 

Of-course we are acutely aware that not all families will be in a strong enough financial position to consider their school fee payments at this time. Especially in light of the fact that many parents and carers will find themselves out of work becasue of the lockdown. If you are experiencing financial hardship and have not already contacted us please do so, so that we can find a mutually beneficial arrangement. With all the other pressures of life in a pandemic, school fees should not be one of those. Naturally, your circumstances will be treated with discretion and your privacy assured.

Beyond Blue have put together some tips to help people take care of their mental health in this time. 

Here they are:   

• Remind yourself that this is a temporary period of isolation
• Remember that your effort is helping others in the community
• Stay connected with friends, family and colleagues via email, social media, or phone
• Engage in healthy activities that you enjoy and find relaxing
• Keep regular sleep routines and eat healthy foods
• Try to maintain physical activity
• For those working from home, try to maintain a healthy balance by allocating specific work hours, and taking regular break
• Avoid news and social media if you find it distressing

And if you need someone to talk to, call:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• QLife on 1800 184 527

Masks for St. Kevins

As you would all know, it is now mandatory for all Victorians over the age of twelve to wear a mask whenever we leave our homes. So we figured... why not make sure members of our school community are the coolest looking mask wearers around? So, check them out! This fashionable  accesory will be an essential addition to every young person's (and maybe not so young) wardrobe. Available by the end of next week (hopefully), they will sell for the incredibly cheap price of $7! Stay tuned for how you can get yours soon!

Attendance During Remote Learning

Even though schools are engaged in Remote and Flexible Learning, we are still required to record student absence and engagement in learning. Therefore it is vital that children log into their class Google Meets at 9am, to find out about the day ahead and show up for any clinic group they are assigned to be a part of. An attempt at all assigned tasks also provides valuable evidence that a student is actively participating in the day's learning tasks and can then be marked as present for the day. 

Technical problems are sometimes a reality of remote and flexible learning and in these cases we recommend communicating with your child's teacher to explain the circumstances and seek assistance. 

As always, parents are encouraged to use good judgement about whether or not a student should fully participate in the day's activities. These are unusual and difficult circumstances and should you as a parent decide that it is in your child's or family's best interest to step away for a period of time, that is totally ok. We all need to take a break sometimes. All we ask is that this is communicated via email or the SZapp, so that we know what is happening and not worry.

Camp Australia, National Science Week

By popular demand, National Science Week is coming to OSHC!

From Monday 17^th August – Friday 21^st August, National Science Week is back in OSHC. Science week is all about connecting your child with the wonders of science, the magic of cause and effect, the excitement of experimentation and, above all, the importance of teamwork.

See what’s planned for National Science Week:

It’s FREE to Register. (and if you want to use OSHC, you first need to register).

Register at pp.campaustralia.com.au/account/login. Once registered, it’s easy to make and manage your bookings online via our Parent Portal.

Visit our blog for helpful information and fun activities.

New articles are added each week for parents and cover various topics to help families. Visit the blog here: https://campaustralia.com.au/blog