Dear Parents and Guardians,

Today, the school was a wash of yellow as we recognise R U, OK? Day. Today's important message is to ask, "Are you OK?" and encourage someone to take their first step and reach out for help. It's not just about September—every day counts! Let's create a positive culture that gets people communicating, connecting, and improving the overall health and well-being of others.

We say farewell to Hope Hughie, who is taking a position at Woodside Primary for Term Four. We thank Hope for her time at St Mary’s and wish her all the best.

As we approach the end of the term, I want to acknowledge our students' hard work and dedication. Their commitment to learning and perseverance have been truly inspiring, and it's important to celebrate their progress.

Our students' success is a collective achievement, and your support as parents is invaluable. Your involvement, encouragement, and the values you instil at home are not just helpful but instrumental in helping your child thrive academically and personally. You are an integral part of their educational journey.

A strong partnership between school and home is vital to fostering an environment where children can excel. Thank you for your support and working with us to create a nurturing and productive learning experience for all our students.

I wish you a wonderful break and look forward to continued success in the next term!

Maria

PRAYER FOR 'R U OK?' DAY

I pray that you will experience God's peace today.

May his unfailing love and mercy take away all your fears and reassure you that everything will be okay.

He is with you always. Amen.

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthdays this fortnight and over the school holidays. We hope you all have a wonderful day.

Ashton Reakes - 18th September

Mia Labajo - 28th September

Inara Girton 29th September

Olivia Becker - 2nd October

Addison Bainbridge - 3rd October

Abigail Griffiths - 15th October

Leeroy Griffin - 17th October

Have you had a feeling that someone you know or care about isn’t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves. Trust that gut instinct and act on it. Learn more about the signs IN THIS VIDEO and when it's time to ask R U OK?  

By starting a conversation and commenting on the changes you’ve noticed, you could help that family member, friend or workmate open up. If they say they are not OK, you can follow our conversation steps to show them they’re supported and help them find strategies to better manage the load. If they are OK, that person will know you’re someone who cares enough to ask.

Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents/Carers,

Following on from our newsletter and the Positive Peer Relationships news, we will have a look at what empathy is and how important a skill it is to develop in children to assist them build positive relationships.

You may have heard the saying, “Before you criticise or judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes.” This quote is all about empathy. Empathy is the ability to be aware of the feelings of others and imagine what it might be like to be in their position (or in their shoes).

Empathy is a key ingredient in positive friendships and relationships. It reduces conflict and misunderstandings and leads to helping behaviour, kindness, and even greater success in life in general.

Like any skill, empathy can be taught and developed in children. Here are some general strategies to help teach your children empathy:

Model empathy.

Any time you want to teach a skill to a child, it’s important to model it yourself. This way, the child understands what empathy looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Plus, it’s easier to teach a skill that you’ve already mastered yourself.

Remember to model empathy even when you’re upset with or giving consequences to your child. This reinforces the idea that empathy can and should be used even when you’re feeling disappointed, hurt, or angry. The more children receive empathy, the more likely they are to offer it to others.

Discuss emotions.

Talk openly about emotions rather than dismissing or burying them. Let’s say your child is scared of the dark. Instead of saying, “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” explore the child’s feelings: “Are you scared of the dark? What scares you about the dark?”

If your child doesn’t like another child, don’t immediately say, “That’s wrong,” but ask why the child feels that way. This can lead to a discussion about the other child’s actions and why the child might be acting that way (e.g., They just moved to a new school and are feeling angry because they miss their old school and their friends).

Never punish a child for feeling sad or angry. Make it clear that all emotions are welcome, and learn to manage them in a healthy way through discussion and reflection.

Help out at home, in the community, or globally.

Helping others develop kindness and caring. It can also give children the opportunity to interact with people of diverse backgrounds, ages, and circumstances, making it easier to show empathy for all people.

Praise empathetic behaviour.

When your child shows empathy for others, praise the behaviour. Focusing on and encouraging empathetic behaviour encourages more of it in the future.

Make the praise specific: “You brought your sister a Band-Aid for her scraped knee so she could feel better. That was so kind and helpful!”

We incorporate the above strategies in our everyday teaching and in the activities we do at school, such as Crazy Sock Day. These activities let our students know that there are many people in the world who do not have the things we have, such as fresh water and adequate shelter. They teach empathy and gratitude for what we do have and let our students know that we can help make other people’s lives better.

If you would like some age-specific strategies for teaching your children empathy, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader