The Way Weekly Update I Friday 23 July 2021

I am writing this to you at the end of Week 2 of Blended Learning Online.

I hope that things are going well with your family and that you are navigating the lockdown. I wanted to bring an encouraging message to you about the progress of staff and students. 

Firstly, I wanted to highlight Pyjama day and the amazing uptake of students of that event. While holding an event like Pyjama day will present some challenges, we are really encouraging students to take the opportunity to think about people in need at this time. You can see what some of our students got up to in the article below.

To continue the fun, next Friday we will celebrate Green and Gold Day. This could be an opportunity for families to show their support for Australian Athletes participating in the Olympic Games. Please share with us what that looks like for your family by emailing [email protected]

There is such excellent and thought-provoking work happening around the Junior School at the moment. Some examples of this include:

• Prep students making a musical instrument out of recycled materials and then singing a song that demonstrates their creative and critical thinking skills
• Students in Kindergarten giving a scientific description of how things move
• Year 6 answering the questions: Why can understanding your identity be so confusing in this world and explaining how knowing you’re a child of God is so comforting! One student even answered question one by saying that 'social media makes us feel so insecure even though we are actually totally fine.'

I wanted to sign off by saying hang in there, we are all in this together!

The new restrictions imposed, to limit the spread of the Covid-19 Delta strain, is impacting on all of us differently.

We are aware that many of our families are located in the LGA where severe restrictions applied. Consequently, some of our parents are struggling to balance work, child care and self-care.

These conditions can contribute to everything feeling more emotionally charged. It is easy for parents to disagree on issues like the level of access children can have to screens or the importance of all college tasks being completed before they can play online games. Many parents are finding it hard to navigate the complicated process of agreeing on rules.

I want to remind you that conflict is a natural part of relationships. When children see how you resolve your conflict they learn valuable life skills including negotiation and problem solving.

Plan and Prepare

Often you find yourselves reacting to situations and each other which can be prevented if you invest in some planning. Find a neutral, calm time to talk through disagreements on rules before your children are in front of you.

Work through Emotions First

It can be useful to say something like” I feel emotional because I am stressed about meeting this deadline and supervising the kids with their learning” It is useful for your partner to understand where you are coming from and it can assist with making your planning less emotionally charged.

Separate Relationship Issues from Parenting Decisions

Relationship issues can easily impact on parenting decision and make it harder to agree and easier for the conversation to end in a fight. It is useful to set boundaries about what is and what is not out of bounds when you talk about parenting.

Remember these are challenging times and you don’t have to do this on your own.

To read more, click on this link: https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/looking-after-yourself/communication-conflict/conflict-management-for-parents

Mrs Jacoline Petersen
Director of Student Counselling

Last week Year 4 and 5 French students celebrated Bastille Day by immersing themselves in French culture.

Bastille Day, the French National holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison, which took place on 14th July 1979 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Students learned about the history of this day and were challenged to complete fun French activities such as making the Eiffel Tower, cooking crepes, recreating a French artwork or character and playing traditional French games.

Mrs Viviana Morris
Junior School Teacher 

Our Subject Selection website for students in Year 8 and Year 10 is now live!

We are always looking at new and innovative ways that we can assist our students and parents.  At this time of year we would have had some time with the students in the Auditorium to talk through the subjects on offer as well as a parent information session.  So we have been working hard on creating two new platforms for Subject Selection.  This is a great way for our students and families to have a look at the subjects on offer and read about them. 

You can log on by going to thac.online and using the password 'thaconline'.

This will be followed by a live webinar on Thursday 29 July.

Australia is turning Green & Gold on Friday 30th July, in support of the Australian Olympic Team so let's do the same at the College.

Get your green and gold ready, as we wear our sporting colours on Friday 30th July, in support of the Australian Olympic Team.

‘Green & Gold Day’ is for everyone! It doesn’t matter who you are, your sporting ability or your background, we believe sport has the power to unite us all.

Green and Gold Day is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements.

As a College, let's come together and celebrate our athletes, who are representing us so proudly over in Tokyo.

We will send more information early next week with more details and ways to get involved.

#TokyoTogether

Mrs Sharon Evans
P-6 Sports Coordinator 

Are you an essential worker and need to have your child onsite?
The College has staff onsite each day to assist in supervising students of essential workers. It is important to register if your child/ren need to attend so that we can plan for staffing.

Register your child for onsite learning

Below is some important information if you are brining your child to the College for this supervision:

Junior School Requirements (Prep to Year 6)

• Junior School students will need to be dropped at Gate 17 on Southern Cross Drive (near Kindergarten playground) from 7.45am to 8.20am
• Students will be working through their online learning throughout the day. Please send your child with headphones.
• Students will have their recess and lunch during normal break times in the IRC forecourt. There is no Canteen Service so please ensure your child has their food packed.
• Students can wear either their formal or sports uniform on any of the days they are attending.
• At 2.30pm, students can be collected at Gate 17. Please collect your student by no later than 3.00pm unless attending After College Care.

Senior School Students (Years 7-12)

• Senior School students will enter via Gate 3 and proceed directly to the IRC (N Block Library) at 7.55am.
• Masks will need to be worn indoors at all times, unless an appropriate exemption applies. If your child is catching a bus to College, they will also need to be wearing this whilst travelling to and from College.
• Students will be working through their online learning throughout the day. A fully charged device and headphones will be required.
• Students will have their recess and lunch during normal break times in the IRC forecourt. There is no Canteen Service so please ensure your child has their food packed.
• Students can wear either their formal or sports uniform on any of the days they are attending.
• At 2.35pm, students can be picked up in the N block Carpark. Please collect your student by no later than 3:00pm.

COVID Requirements

• If your child or a member of your household has the mildest of symptoms, please get that person tested immediately. Whilst awaiting the result of anyone in your families, your child or children must NOT attend College.
• If a member of your household has been advised that they are a close contact as defined by NSW Health, please do not send your child to College.
• If a member of your household is a casual contact as defined by NSW Health, please ensure that person gets tested immediately and await a negative result before sending your child or children to the College.