It was so good to hear the news that the lockdown was ending. I couldn’t wait to be at the gate this morning to greet the girls on their return!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful Barbreck staff who always give their best to the girls. I know it was not easy teaching face-to-face one day and then online the next. The results achieved are a testament to their professionalism and dedication to the girls. We were able to continue to deliver our full timetable of lessons for the week, ensuring girls maintained their learning progress throughout the lockdown period.

The teachers also came in to supervise the girls of Authorised Workers onsite at school, which was an extraordinary effort! Congratulations and thank you.

Thank you also to our wonderful parents who worked with their girls, guiding and supporting them throughout the lockdown period. I know that must have been incredibly difficult while continuing to do your own work too. This was greatly appreciated by all of us.

Reports

The reports are in their final stages of editing and will be available from the portal on Monday 22 June. We will inform parents when they become available on that day.

The week that was at Barbreck

They say a picture paints a thousand words, so there will be many words spoken after viewing the new Blue Ribbon segment – ‘The Week that was at Barbreck’ each week. It is our aim to provide parents a glimpse into the many activities the girls participate in each week across Years Prep-6, by creating a pictorial representation each week using video and photographs. There could be learning activities, action shots, interviews, competitions and much more included each week. We are hoping this will become a popular and much-loved viewing segment. Watch this space!!

Year 6 – ‘The Week that was’ Media Team

A team of girls is needed to help capture ‘The Week That Was’ at Barbreck in photos and film each week and learn how to assemble it together into a presentation that will be part of the Barbreck Blue Ribbon each week. Training will be provided for this team by the Marketing Department.

Girls who are keen to be part of this group are encouraged to contact me via email or see me on their return.

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The Need for Quality Time to Connect

More and more we are becoming increasingly busy, especially during pressure times such as this lockdown period. We are striving to fit work, housework, supervising learning and dealing with a myriad of other issues in a day. These types of days often lead to people disconnecting with others, particularly family. While a day here or there is unavoidable, it is important that we take a moment to audit how often this is happening, as it may have a lasting and negative impact on the family.

It is essential for children to feel connected to their family; it provides them with stability, a strong sense of who they are and that they are valued. Behaviours that can impact connections with the family are:

• Spending less quality time with the family. Quality time is defined as time when you are present, in the moment and actively listening and participating in the conversation or activity with no other distractions.
• Being on your phone most of the time.
• Your children are talking to you and you are not listening to them. This often looks like a child talking ‘at’ you and you are not really listening to them or responding appropriately.
• Having separate meal times. Meals are a wonderful time for the family to really connect and hear about each other’s days.
• Giving less time for games, discussions, finding out how they are feeling/coping.

Behaviours for strengthening connections:

• Set aside time for talking and listening to each other. Family meals can be a great time to do this.
• Turn off phones, computers and televisions when you and your child are spending quality time together (unless it is watching something together). This shows that you’re completely focused on them.
• Talk about everyday things as you go through your day. This helps them learn about the world around them and see things through your eyes.
• Include them in knowing about your day; this gives you and them the opportunity to talk about their day.
• Be open to talking about all kinds of feelings such a happiness, sadness, hope, disappointment. This supports your child develop a ‘feelings vocabulary’ and lets them know these feelings are experienced by everyone and are a part of life. It also enables you to celebrate with them or offer them strategies that you have used when experiencing disappointments. It also lets them know you are open to talking about issues and that they can come to you when they have a problem and that you are there to help. This builds trust and strengthens the connection.

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Out of School Hours Care

St Catherine’s School offers an Out of School Hours Care program to all ELC and Junior School families. The program is implemented by our provider ‘After the Bell’, and operates within the ELC building. Parents are reminded that if you need to use the Before School Care or After School Care service, registrations need to be made in advance with ‘After the Bell’. Please allow up to five business days for your registration to be processed before your child can begin attending the program. Registration is free. All families are encouraged to register so that you can use this service in the event that you are unable to pick up your child.

Before School Care – 7.00am to 8.45am

After School Care – 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Registrations can be completed via the ‘After the Bell’ website.

Please phone 9758 6744 for all enquiries.