GLASSHOUSE PERFORMANCE

Our performance is quickly approaching …. only 4 weeks to go! Practices at school continue the process of getting ready for this exciting school activity. A reminder to please carefully check the note that has come home to you for requirements on costumes and props. If there are any questions around this please speak to the teachers involved for advice ahead of time to ensure success. 

RESILIENCE BUILDING

We hear a lot about building our children’s resilience, and we know it is really important for them to be able to manage bouncing back after a disappointment or setback and grow in confidence for future challenges. There are plenty of pieces of advice out there, but I came across a short video this week that has three simple things that we can focus on with our children that could be of use in this area. 

VISIT FROM CONSTABLE WENDY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND YEARS 5 AND 6

On Wednesday,  Police Liaison Officer, Constable Wendy Hudson, visited our school as she does each year to speak with students in Kindergarten, Year 5 and 6 about areas of responsibility they have to keep themselves and others safe. In Kindergarten, it was about knowing how to be safe in the community, which followed on well from their Bravehearts visit the day before.

It was sobering for our Year 5 and 6 students to hear about the significance of choices they can make and the consequences that result from poor choices. There were some hard hitting messages that Wendy wants children to listen to and follow, with frustration in giving clear messages to children in her visits and then seeing that a number have not taken their learning on board, evident in them being delivered the consequences by police later on. These are some of the same frustrations that schools experience, largely related to the misuse of the internet and devices. 

Key messages that all parents and children must know:

Cyber Bullying includes misuse with intent to harrass and intimidate others through text messaging, phone calls, emails, web creations and all social media. Cyber bullying can now inflict a 2 year jail term and from the age of 10 any child can be arrested and charged with crimes including the areas below.

Social Media sites including, and not limited to, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Tick Toc are for people above 13 years of age. Anyone who has one of these accounts has ticked that they have read and understood the conditions of use, which clearly state that children need to be 13 years and over. If parents are giving permission for these to be used under the age of 13, they must have access to and check their children’s accounts at least weekly. Between the ages of consent by parents to have these accounts and 18 years of age, children have to understand that this is the responsibility of their parent and do not have the right to hide this from them. From the age of 10, children can be arrested and charged with serious misuse.  

Pictures Online that are sent or posted can be accessed over a long period of time and even if deleted are able to be found and used by anyone. Any pictures including nudity that are forwarded is considered a crime. Sending and forwarding photos of any person under the age of 18 can carry jail time and can also affect a long term ‘digital signature’, criminal record etc.

Online Gaming is increasingly violent. There has been an increase in the volume of reported cases to police where children have become violent towards their parents and carers for trying to manage the amount of gaming they do. This is a reportable offence for children aged 10 and over, and can lead to criminal charges. All children need to only speak to and allow into their chats etc, known friends during gaming sessions. Unknown “friends” can be adults posing as children to seek personal information. Children must never give passwords or personal details to anyone.

Graffiti laws have changed significantly. Any person who uses spray paint, textas, stickers, writing on toilet doors, carving into trees and other property without the owner’s permission in writing is commiting a crime. If caught they will be sent directly to court. It is illegal for a person under the age of 18 to carry spray paint or graffiti textas and they can be charged on the spot.

ST AGNES' FEAST DAY

St Joseph's Primary School is hosting St Agnes' Feast Day this Sunday 25th August at 5:00pm at St Agnes' Church. All are welcome to sing and participate in a combination of all schools youth music. There will be supper afterwards.

GROWING MINDS GARDEN WORKING BEE

We are so excited to finally be starting our work on the Food Forest. Our Sustainability Team have been planning and preparing and are ready to go tomorrow! Please join us if you can spare a bit of time to get this initiative off the ground (or maybe I should say into the ground). We start at 9:00am and will be going until we are finished. Please bring any tools that may have to make this a productive day. Photos will be in the newsletter next week.

COLOUR RUN

Another great event quickly approaching ….. only 2 weeks away! Our P&F have been working away behind the scenes on the preparation for our Colour Run on 6th September. We would greatly appreciate your support where you are able; filling bottles and bags with the coloured powder next Thursday 29th August from 2:00 - 3:00pm near the Primary COLA, setting up the obstacle course on the afternoon before and supporting the organisation on the day. We are pleased to let you know that our aim in raising funds is to purchase new shade tents in our sport house colours for any events that we have at school and in the community and to provide shade and shelter for students. Our goal is $12,000 but of course if we raise more, this will assist in this aim that benefits our whole school community.  

BOOK WEEK 

We engaged in some themes and practices around reading as a lifelong skill that supports all other learning this week. We played it a little lower key as we will have our major celebrations of Book Week in Term 4, when we will be joining it with National Grandparents Day. Don’t forget to save the date for Friday 25th October and remind grandparents and other friends who would love to be part of this to check if they will be able to make it. 

BRAVEHEARTS K-2 'DITTO'S KEEP SAFE ADVENTURE SHOW' - CHILD PROTECTION

On Tuesday this week our K-2 students enjoyed a visit from ‘Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show’. Some of our friends from our Parish preschools also joined us for the morning. Our students had a great time and we hope that they shared with you what they learned about being safe and knowing how to seek help if they feel unsafe. The Activity Books provided by Bravehearts for our students will help to start the conversation with them about this very important topic. 

Tess Koning

Principal