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Dear parents, students and friends
Feeling a little wobbly? Me too!
As we settle back into the new normal at school many of us, staff and students are feeling a little wobbly. When we are feeling a little overwhelmed, tired and emotional we get wobbly. In children that often shows as being sensitive, being quiet or even getting loud and angry. In adults we feel like we are paddling hard but not getting anywhere, that we aren't heard or appreciated or just exhausted.
It is important we talk to our children about what happens behind our mask. Let them know when we are tired and how we make a decision to behave in a caring, loving or patient way when our feelings inside make us want to cry, scream or bang something. Often children don't understand that you can make a decision about your behaviour and think others just 'get it' and that they don't. When we make it visible for children they begin to understand how emotions can drive behaviour but don't always have to.
Congratulations to those who follow Richmond and the Melbourne Storm. They were both great games over the weekend. I'm looking forward to watching the beautiful horses running next Tuesday for a very different Melbourne Cup. I hope you and your family have a restful long weekend. Staff are working hard on school reports during this time.
We take e-Safety very seriously at STAPS. Please remind your children to:
- Only talk to people you know.
- Communicate respectfully, the same way you would in person.
- Remember to follow guidelines given to you by teachers and parents.
- Check the recommended age of any sites you are using.
- Go through the posters below for some tips.
Just a few reminders regarding Halloween to our school community if you elect to trick or treat this Halloween, we need to be reminded to stay safe.
Here is some following information from DHHS regarding Halloween.
The following actions are recommended:
• If you have any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) get tested and stay at home. By staying at home this Halloween, you help to keep your friends, family and community safe.
• Wear a face mask with your costume, but remember that a costume mask that is part of your Halloween costume is not a substitute for a face mask. Consider making your own mask and decorating it.
• Keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and people you don’t live with. This means no hugging or kissing when greeting people. Don’t share food or drinks.
In addition, it is safer not to hand out lollies or treats to trick-or-treaters this Halloween. This is because the virus can spread on surfaces, including food or packaging.
Under current restrictions traditional trick or treating where you knock on someone’s door is not permitted.
If you can’t resist handing out lollies this year you can do so by having candy available outside of your home.
• Don’t use communal bowls for lollies or treats. Putting lollies in a shared bowl will mean everyone is touching the same food and surfaces which isn’t safe.
• Instead, put individually wrapped lollies or treats in bags for non-contact collection.
• Place bags on your fence, at your front gate or outside your home for collection.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing the bags or individually wrapped lollies or treats.
Further information on how to stay safe this Halloween is available on the DHHS website. www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/halloween-update-covid-19-october-27-2020
Thank you.
Safe Around Schools Name the Character Competition – Closes Friday 30th October
Safe Around Schools – Name the Character Competition – Closes Friday 30th October.
Help the City of Casey’s Safe Around Schools characters and go in the draw to win a $50 voucher!
Open to Primary School kids aged 5 - 13, there are eight different characters to name and eight vouchers up for grabs.
Each character has a unique way of getting to school and always practices safety on their journey.
The competition is open from Wednesday 14 October to Friday 30 October.
Please find attached a copy of the Entry Form. The Entry Form can be completed by students and lodged by parents/carers on our Casey Conversations Page https://conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/safe-around-schools.
Day for Daniel - Casual Clothes Day
'Day for Daniel.'
Friday 30th October
All students and Staff from St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Primary School are encouraged to wear red to raise awareness of Child Safety.
We would like all students to come to school tomorrow in casual clothes, but with a splash of red! This could be a red hair tie, t-shirt shoes etc.