Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School NEWSLETTER PO Box 40030, Casuarina, NT. 0811 | email: [email protected]| website: www.holyspiritnt.catholic.edu.au | Ph. 08 8927 3411 | Fax: 08 8927 9791 Principal’s Reflection 11 September, 2019 Week 8, Term 3 Reflection Dear Families, Catholic Education Week is currently being celebrated across all eighteen Catholic schools in the Northern Territory. It is an opportunity for all Catholic schools to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos. A reminder that this Friday is a school closure day as all teaching staff will be attending a Catholic Identity Professional Development Day. The theme for this year is “The Catholic Church in Australia: Exploring Identity and Mission” with Professor Br. David Hall fms. Every parent wants the best for their children, especially at school. Schools are generally safe places, staffed by teachers who have the best interests of the students at heart. However, things can go wrong from time to time. Difficulties with learning, conflict and peer rejection can be a part of school life for some children, particularly at this time of the year as we enter into the ‘build up’. If your child has an issue at school, it is important that you communicate your concerns with your child’s teacher, myself or a member of the leadership team as soon as possible. Dealing with the issue promptly and in a positive way makes a huge difference to your child’s resilience, self-esteem and future relationships with teachers and peers. Older children often express concerns that they will be teased if parents speak with the teacher. They prefer that parents don’t speak with anyone at all. It has been my experience both personally and professionally that when the matter is not addressed, things don’t improve; in fact they often get worse. Please be assured that staff at Holy Spirit will always deal with your concerns confidentially and sensitively to ensure issues are resolved. Our goal is to work in partnership with families to ensure the best possible outcomes for all students. Michael Grose provides some excellent suggestions for parents in helping children take responsibility for their problems without excuses. 1. Stay calm and rational. It’s natural as a parent to protect or defend your children, particularly when you think that they’ve been treated unfairly. But it is best not to act when you are full of emotion. Take your time to think about how you can help your child. 2. Get all the facts. Kids are faulty observers and often only see one side of a story. They sometimes can’t see that they may have contributed to a dispute or said something that may have upset a teacher. It’s the parent’s job to help kids process what happened so that they understand their role in a situation. Ask good questions to help the full story emerge. 3. Assess whether to go to school or not. Kids, like adults, benefit from telling their story to a trusted source. Problems can often be dealt with by talking through an issue, and giving kids some coping tips. If your child has a problem that they can’t solve themselves, or you think adult intervention may be needed, please consider the following: Going through the right channels. Approach the school calmly, going through the school office, or directly to your child’s teacher. 4. Looking for solutions rather than blame. Keep the discussion focused on what’s best for your child. Listen to your teacher’s viewpoint and value their perspective. 5. Staying in touch. Be realistic and remember that some problems can’t be solved to your satisfaction and won’t be resolved straight away. Be prepared to work with your child’s teacher for the long-term. Parenting is easy when things are going well, but testing when children experience difficulty. Taking a long-term, reflective view is often the best approach when your child experiences difficulty at school. God bless you all and keep you safe, Mr. Simon Duffy Principal “Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said: How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh.” - Luke 6:20-21
