Dear Families,

We hope you're all enjoying the journey through term four as much as we are? Our students and teachers have been diving headfirst into a world of exciting learning experiences. Speaking of which, our learning expos have been nothing short of amazing, and we can't thank you enough for your enthusiastic participation.

We genuinely appreciate your cooperation in signing in at the front office for these expos, as it's a vital child safety requirement, ensuring everyone can enjoy these events with peace of mind.

You might have already heard your child chat about the assessment tasks they're tackling. These tasks are like treasure maps for our teachers, helping them chart your child's progress in the realms of Math and English. Coupled with other evidence they collect along the way, these tasks provide a valuable blueprint for your child's forthcoming school reports, which will be ready for you at the end of this term.

On Monday our new Foundation students for 2024 attended for their first play visit and parent information session. It's always so special to begin this transition process.

Looking forward to seeing many of you at remaining expos and our sports days later in the term.

Kind Regards,

Sarah Chappell
Professional Learning Leader

All Saints Day and Halloween

The Galilee (Foundation) and Ephesus (Year 2) Communities collaborated for Mass this week. It was lovely to see so many parents able to come and celebrate with the students.

Father Denis explored Halloween and All Saints Day at the Mass and opened up the meaning of the word, Halloween. Many people do not know the origin of this word and it has taken to mean different things for different people. The truth of the matter is that Halloween and the trick-or-treating spooky tradition, is a mixture of pagan and Christian traditions. It’s a fun rabbit hole to go down to find out the reason why Halloween is what it is today!

The first part of the word, ‘Hallow’, actually means Holy. In old English language, All Hallows Eve is basically contracted to Halloween, or in other words, the night before All Saints Day. It is the celebration of all the Saints (holy people) who have gone to heaven. They are holy, not because they are exceptional people by themselves, but because they have found God’s strength and love to guide them to greatness. The Lord’s prayer is a great way to remember the meaning of the word Hallow, as we say it in the opening sentence – “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name”. In this way, we are recognising that God’s name is holy.

Sometimes we can forget the meaning of words, particular words that come from an old language or that are not used in their original context anymore. Language and meaning change over time. It’s helpful to be reminded of origins and context to find the key message within language.

Year 1 had a great time learning about chemical science where we discovered that everything in the world was made up of chemicals. We explored chemical reactions and physical changes.

Children are frequently exposed to distressing news through the 24-hour news cycle and social media. These experiences can provoke anxiety, especially in young minds still forming their worldviews. Parents and caregivers should be mindful of overexposure to such content as it can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. Children’s responses to trauma can vary, from being strong emotional reactions to being indifferent. It can leave an emotional imprint that can affect a child's behaviour and perception of danger.

Children need reassurance about their safety as they navigate uncertain times. Tailor conversations to your child's age and emotional maturity. Younger children benefit from simplified explanations focusing on peace, empathy, and cooperation, whilst older children can delve into historical events, root causes of conflict, and the complexities of international relations.

Before discussing these topics with your child, it is also important to assess your own emotions and comfort level. By staying calm and providing physical comfort will help your child regulate their own emotions. In challenging times, compassionate adults play a crucial role in helping children cope with anxiety and providing hope and understanding in our complex world.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to tackle this difficult topic and helping children understand there is still hope in our complex world.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:

https://cranbourneeast.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-discussing-war-conflict