St Patrick’s Primary School

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

A few fun Beachathon Photos from last Friday!

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a wonderfully full and exciting week of learning and engagement we have had at St Pat's this week.

NAIDOC DAY after a long wait and two postponements we are so pleased with our celebration and learning for NAIDOC day today. A big thank you to Mrs Franco and to Brytan and Chantelle our Aboriginal Education Workers for all the planning and organising for the day to be so successful. Thank you to the parents and to the Bega High students and teachers for their great support on the day.

Our fourth 'Big Steps' program yesterday was a happy morning of learning and engagement for many of the 2023 Kinder students. The theme of the morning was 'Create It!' with the children responding to a picture book text with art and dance. Thank you Mrs Mac, Mrs Banks & Mrs Tarlinton for a great Big Steps program this year. The Kinder students enrolled at St Pat's for next year will enjoy 3 Kinderstart morning sessions later in the term.

Boys / Girls Program Yesterday our 4 session program for Year 3-6 Boys and Girls commenced. We welcomed back Tony Nassar who facilitates the boys program. The girls program is facilitated by Mrs Bateman, Mrs Wiley and Mrs Carracher. The program is designed around aspects of the PDHPE curriculum and learning about self, relationships, emotions and growing up. In week 4, 6 and 8 the students will continue this program.

Centredness Term 4 can often bring many joys and also many worries both for children, and for us as adults. We can all work on developing the skills and patterns of behaviour of being centred. As Michael Licenblat defines it 'Centredness is having a clear mind and calm body that is free of distraction or tension, regardless of what is happening around you. Centredness gives you the mental clarity and emotional control to get the job done without engaging in an emotional battle.' He goes on to give some tips to build Centredness, these include:

1. Monitor spikes - There will be some point in a tense situation, conversation or event that will set you off and cause a spike in your emotional reaction. Sort of like when a dog sees another dog and they kick into action. Notice what triggers a spike in your emotional reaction. Sometimes, at particular times of the day (like when you are tired) you are more vulnerable to ‘spike’.

2. Slow down - When you become emotional everything goes faster because of the increase of adrenaline in your bloodstream. This makes you more impulsive and prone to making unnecessary errors. When the pressure heats up, deliberately slow down your decision making speed.

3. Breathe out - Tension, anxiety, anger and shock force you to hold your breath, which reduces the amount of air getting into your lungs. This creates stress in your body and increases anxiety. Your breathing rate, pattern and depth directly influences your emotions. As emotion builds up, allow your breathing to exhale and feel the tension dissipate.

Try practicing these tips and teaching your children!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Blessings