2024, Term 4, Week 4

Principal Message

Dear Families,

What a wonderful school we have!!!!

Last week we had Book Week with an array of activities, Book Parade and Grandparents and Friends Day. It was wonderful to see so many visitors in our school.
A BIG THANK YOU to all those volunteers who have helped out with the many events recently conducted. In particular to those families who donated food for our Grandparents/ Friends Day and the Yr 4 parents who coordinated and helped out on the day.

Yesterday our Kindergarten students travelled to Fingal for a day of "Dolphin Dreaming". Today we had a Yr 2 iPad induction day, whereby families were given an opportunity to learn and discuss how we use iPads in the classroom. Next week we have our 2025 Kindergarten Orientation Days, followed by our School Talent Quest and "Conversation and Coffee" session both on Friday. This is an opportunity to come along and discuss with either myself and members of the school leadership team, all things school and education - ALL WELCOME! 

This Sunday we have our School / Parish Mass at 7.30a.m. at the St's Mary and Ambrose Catholic Church, Pottsville.
We have many events scheduled for the next few weeks, please be sure to keep abreast of these events by viewing our school calendar!

This Year is St Ambrose's 10th Anniversary. To celebrate this milestone we have a number of fantastic events planned - these include a "helicopter" arrival, colour run, and Feast Day celebrations!!!

Next week school reports will be issued to all families and these will be followed with an opportunity to speak with your child's teacher if you wish.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Regards,

Brian Laybutt
Principal

Term 4 Friday Assembly and Peer Support Calendar

Amber's Piano Skills on Display - Good News Story

Amber, in Year 6, will be performing a piano solo at the Sydney Opera House as part of her Suzuki music tuition and accomplishments. Additionally, Amber was recently accepted into the Youth Music Venture Southern Cross University band program, playing keyboard. She has been rehearsing with her band and mentors on Wednesday nights on the Gold Coast for the past term. All bands in the program will be performing for the public in early December on the Gold Coast, hosted by TripleM radio.

Congratulations Amber, we are all very proud of your achievements!

Coffee and Conversation - Friday 15th Nov

Coffee and Conversation - Friday 15th Nov

Casual meeting with Principal and  Leadership Team
Friday 15th November @ the school from 9am - 10am

This casual meeting is an opportunity for families to raise concerns, have suggestions, want clarification or just a chat!

Come by yourself or with others! ALL WELCOME (Toddlers also!)

Please RSVP - Wed 13th November  sapot@lism.catholic.edu.au or  6676 0099

Classroom Showcase

Year 5 Assembly

School Parish Mass

We would love to see you at the School/Parish Mass this SUNDAY  10^th November STS MARY & AMBROSE CHURCH, POTTSVILLE

SCHOOL FAMILY/ PARISH MASS CELEBRATION 7:30am

We hope to see many St Ambrose families at this Mass celebration.

At this Mass celebration staff from St Ambrose will be attending to the ministry duties and there will be children’s liturgy.

Grandparents and Friends Liturgy

We celebrated a lovely prayer liturgy in the Church last Friday morning for Grandparents and Friends Day. Thank you to all the wonderful people who joined us is our Church. A big thank you to our year 6 students who lead the prayers and readings and our Church choir who sung beautifully.

 Some of our students who enjoy leading the singing at Mass with Mrs Mathews

Exuro Retreat

On Tuesday 29th October a small number of our Year 5 students attended this Retreat Day with students in Year 5 from other schools in our dioceses.                                   

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day observed on November 11th each year, is a day of honoring and remembering the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty, particularly those who fought and died during World War I. It was originally called Armistice Day, marking the armistice signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, which ended the fighting on the Western Front.

The day has since expanded to commemorate all military personnel who have lost their lives in conflicts worldwide.The day serves as a solemn occasion to reflect on the sacrifices made by military personnel, honor their bravery, and reaffirm the importance of peace.

Parish Newsletter

St Ambrose Has Talent

Mission Month

Student Reports

This Wednesday School Reports will be issued to all families. These are a Progress Report and not a Semester Report and reflect your child’s learning and understanding to this point in time. Attached is information to assist Parents/Carers in understanding the report. There have been minimal changes since the Student Reports sent out in Term 2. 

Following the reports, interview times will be made available in Compass if you wish to meet with your child’s class teacher. Note, interviews are not compulsory. 

The following guidelines are in place regarding Parent / Teacher interviews:

• If you have questions/queries/concerns regarding your child’s report please make an appointment.
• Teachers have already met with many parents to discuss their child’s progress. Therefore, if you have already had a meeting, there is no need to schedule another, as your child's teacher has provided you with the most recent information about your child.
• If you are happy with your child's progress, for example, as evidenced through the school report, discussions with your child, Seesaw work samples or having attended the "showcase" afternoons -  a parent / teacher interview may not be necessary.
  
• If the teacher is concerned or wants to speak with you regarding your child’s progress they will contact you so as to ensure an appointment is made.

Is your child returning in 2025?

It is the time of the year where we begin planning classes and staffing for 2025. To assist with preparation, we need to know who is NOT returning to St Ambrose next year. Information is sought for any student who will not be returning in 2025.

Please advise in writing your plans and details on sapot@lism.catholic.edu.au or contact us on 02 66760099 as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance.

A Festive Craft Club in Term 4

Help your Child Identify their Support Network

In the event that your child experiences an online incident (whether as a target, instigator, or bystander), it's crucial for them to know they have adults they can talk to. Ensure that they understand they can seek help and support, no matter the situation. Take this opportunity to remind them that nothing is too bad to prevent them from reaching out for assistance.

You might like to watch this short 3-minute video about what a Safety Network is. This video helps children to understand the many reasons why they may talk to someone in their safety network and remind them that “unsafe” can be in the online environment or face-to-face. You may choose to use the worksheet from the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. 

Online ‘friends’

When it comes to online "friends” take the time to talk to your child about being cautious with whom they chat and message online, emphasising the importance of not meeting "online friends" in person. Read together the resource from esafety kids Things to watch out for with online friends.

Secrets

Additionally, help your child understand the difference between safe and unsafe secrets. Explain that safe secrets include things like surprise birthday parties that everyone knows about except for one person or gifts that will be opened at a special occasion. However, it's essential to teach them the safety rules regarding secrets that are not safe to keep from trusted adults, such as any kind of touch, presents or favours from others, rude photos or movies, someone asking for their photo, discussions about private areas of the body, or anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.

By actively engaging in these discussions and activities, you can help your child develop a stronger understanding of their support network, online safety, and the difference between safe and unsafe secrets.

There are books that you can read to help your child understand about secrets. Here are some examples. 

• Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept read by Debra Byrne
• Do You Have a Secret? By Jennifer Moore-Malinos

Monitor your child’s online activities. Negative interactions can lead to school avoidance.

Monitoring your child’s online activities is a crucial aspect of parenting in the digital age, and it can indeed play a role in addressing and preventing issues like school avoidance. Here are some reasons why monitoring online activities is important and how it can help prevent negative interactions that may contribute to school avoidance:

• Early Detection of Issues. Regular monitoring allows you to detect any early signs of negative online interactions, such as cyberbullying or social media conflicts. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent them from escalating and negatively impacting your child's well-being.

• Understanding Social Dynamics. By staying informed about your child's online interactions, you gain insights into their social dynamics and relationships. Understanding the online environment helps you identify positive and negative influences on your child's emotional and social wellbeing.

• Communication and Trust. Open communication about online activities fosters trust between you and your child. When children know that their online experiences are open for discussion, they are more likely to share concerns or challenges they may be facing.

• Setting Boundaries. Establishing clear expectations and boundaries for online behaviour is essential. By monitoring your child's activities, you can ensure that they are adhering to these boundaries and engaging in positive online interactions.

• Providing Guidance on Conflict Resolution. If negative interactions do occur, use them as teachable moments to guide your child on conflict resolution and appropriate ways to handle disagreements. This skill is valuable both online and offline.

By actively engaging in their digital world, you can create a safer online environment and contribute to their emotional and social resilience.