What an amazing start we have had to the new school year had at Columba. I am hopeful the Christmas break was kind to families and that many memories were created.

Our main goal this year is to build on the work we did in 2022 in maintaining a welcoming and inclusive learning community. We want parents to be a key component to the learning journey for their children. At Columba we will continue to work on maintaining high standards in our classrooms and through the school, as well as continuing our work in the teaching of literacy and maths. I know that you will all be a big support in helping us live out our mantra of creating learning environments which are Challenging, Curious and Courageous.

A welcome out to all our new students and families who have settled in so well to the routines of school. Your kids have made an amazing start and have turned up for their first few days excited and eager to learn.

BIG WELCOME TO THE COLUMBA FAMILY

I would like to formerly welcome one new Columba staff member for the 2023 school year, Shae Forster, who will be working the the 3/4 and 5/6 classroom 3 days a week. 

A reminder to all in our learning community that Columba is first and foremost, a Catholic primary school and we are about the development of the whole child; spiritually, academically, physically, emotionally and socially. We seek to prepare all our students for a life beyond school and we want to support all our students to develop the skills to be active and connected, life-long learners.

Could I please ask the following of all our Columba parents?

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S FAITH JOURNEY WHILST AT COLUMBA

Please embrace us as a Catholic School of action. Make an effort to attend Mass with your child on weekends. Make an effort to pray to God each day with your child. Make an effort to support your child in their Sacramental journey. Make an effort to use Christ as a role model to your children.

SHOW YOUR CHILD THAT YOU VALUE EDUCATION

It really helps if you show interest in your child’s learning. For example, when you see your child after school, ask them for 3 positives about their day. What they have learned today? What did they do in class? What did they do during play? Don’t be shrugged off too easily; deep down, even if they roll their eyes, they will be grateful you care enough to ask, and recalling what they learnt will help them remember it in future. Do your best to attend every school event relevant to them and most importantly please ensure that your child is at school on time for the beginning of each day. At Columba everyday of learning counts for our kids.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER AND BUILD A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP

Let us know how things are for you and your child, especially through your child’s class teacher or our Deputy Principal or Principal. It is particularly important for us to know if concerns arise, so that we can work with you to help your child. When parents, students and teachers work together, the young people benefit significantly and the learning partnership should create a wonderful year of learning and growth.

ALWAYS DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY WHEN ENTERING OUR SCHOOL

Please adhere to an 8km speed limit within our school when dropping off and picking up. We will publish the correct procedures for both our carlines in this newsletter. I ask that everyone is patient and kind to each other in the morning at when picking up their children. While it seems like a time of chaos, the end of day pick-up is in fact a well oiled machine and almost all children and parents have completed drop off by 3:35 (15 minutes). 

SCHOOL CROSSINGS

If your child uses the crossing, please remind them to only cross the road at the crossings. We have had soe near missed over the years and only when children are not using the correct crossings. 

The transition back to school each year is challenging for many families. But some children and teens feel so much emotional distress that they may repeatedly balk at attending school or staying there — a problem known as school refusal, or school avoidance if it occurs consistently. Ways to identify school refusal and tips on responding to it quickly are described below.

What is school refusal?

Shifting from a more relaxed summer routine to early wake-ups, hours in class, and dreaded homework makes many students feel mildly anxious or cranky during the early weeks of a new school year. For some students, however, school feels so difficult and overwhelming that they experience significant, distressing anxiety around attending and staying in school. To relieve this anxiety, a child or teen may begin to avoid school.

School refusal can take many forms. It can include behaviours like frequently struggling to arrive at school on time, leaving before the school day ends, or not attending school at all. Headaches, fatigue, stomach aches, and other physical symptoms of anxiety may make it hard to get off to school in the morning or make it feel necessary to leave early.

School avoidance allows a child or teen to escape distressing aspects of the school day, which provides immediate short-term relief. However, when a student continues to miss school, returning can feel harder and harder as they fall behind academically and start to feel socially disconnected from classmates and teachers. Additionally, the child doesn’t get the chance to learn that it’s possible to handle school-related anxiety and cope with any challenges the school day brings. This can keep them stuck in a vicious cycle of school avoidance.

What can parents do to help stop the cycle of school refusal?

Step in quickly

Missed schoolwork and social experiences snowball, making school avoidance a problem that grows larger and more difficult to control as it rolls along. Be on the lookout for any difficulties your child might have around attending school on time and staying for the full day. If the problem lasts more than a day or two, step in.

Help identify issues

Try to find out why your child is avoiding school. Gently ask, “What is making school feel hard?” Is your child struggling socially or being bullied? Afraid of having a panic attack in the classroom? Worried about their academic performance or public speaking? Fearful of being separated from her parents for a full day?

Communicate and collaborate

Your child’s school is a key partner in combating school avoidance. Contact the school guidance counsellor, psychologist, or social worker to share what you know about why your child is struggling to attend school. The more information the school has about why school avoidance is occurring, the better they will be able to help you. Collaboratively problem-solve with your child and the school by identifying small steps that can help your child gradually face what they are avoiding at school. Let’s say fear about speaking in front of the class is a problem. A child might be permitted to give speeches one-on-one to a teacher, then to their teacher and a few peers, and gradually work up to speaking in front of the class.

Be firm about school

Be empathetic but firm that your child or teen must attend school. Tell them you are confident they can face their fears. Let your child know that while physical symptoms of anxiety, such as stomach aches, headaches, and fatigue, are certainly unpleasant, they are not dangerous. Generally, children should only stay home from school for fever, vomiting, gastro symptoms or a few other reasons. It’s important for anxious children and teens to learn that they can persevere and do what they need to do even when experiencing physical anxiety, just as adults must in their own jobs. Physical symptoms often ease up as the school day progresses and children face their fears. Learning this firsthand can empower a child.

Make staying home boring

Is there anything about the out-of-school environment that makes it extra tempting to stay home? Make home as school-like as possible. No unfettered access to screens of any kind and no sleeping or lounging in bed unless genuinely sick. Be clear that if your child or teen does not attend school, you will be collecting all screens and/or turning off data and home wifi. Then follow through! Ask the school to send work for your child to complete during the day.

School avoidance is a serious problem that can worsen rapidly. Work closely with your child’s school. It’s also a good idea to consult with a licensed mental health professional who specialises in child anxiety and can support you in helping your child or teen re-engage in school. Ask the school guidance counsellor or your paediatrician to refer you to an expert. Additionally, your paediatrician may want to schedule a visit to rule out health problems.

By Julia Martin Burch PhD, Harvard University

INFORM AND EMPOWER DIGITAL SAFETY PROGRAM

In 2023 our students will again be participating in the Inform & Empower digital safety & wellbeing program. This means that your child/children will be tuning in to live streamed incursions (with their teachers) every term that focus on healthy and safe digital habits. The incursion content is all written and delivered by qualified teachers who are endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider.

These sessions aim to help children better navigate the online world and become more aware, clever, brave and kind. They will focus on topics including navigating unwanted contact, cyberbullying, help-seeking strategies, unsafe content, balancing screen time with "green time" and sharing personal information. While Foundation (Kinder/Prep) students do not participate in live streamed sessions, they will be exploring the basics of the online world through guided activities.

You, the parents and carers, will also be given resources to support conversations with your children at home. You will receive a concise “tip sheet” each term that outlines what your child learned about in class and how you might open up these important conversations.

STUDENT SURVEYS

In Years 3-6, Inform & Empower will invite students to complete anonymous surveys asking them about their digital habits. No identifying information, such as name or school, is collected. This survey is optional. You or your child may choose to opt out at any stage, please inform the school if you do not wish your child to complete these surveys. Questions examples include: What online games do you like to play? How many hours do you spend online each day/week? What are the best/worst things about the internet? The survey data will be used by Inform and Empower to help improve their programs and may be published online.

As a school, participation in this digital safety and wellbeing program forms part of our ongoing commitment to child safety.

Thank you all for contributing to such a wonderful start to learning in 2023. 

Take Care

Andrew Greco

Columba Principal