St Peters Lutheran School Newsletter

One of the most important areas that schools should be focussed on is that of well-being.  More than ever we are looking at ways to combat the seeming growth of mental health issues in our world. Anxiety and depression loom as significant issues for our society.  Schools are such critical places for addressing this as much of a child’s time in their formative years is spent in and around school communities.  A few months ago, SPLS staff did a little self-audit of how we address well-being in the culture and programs of our school. These are some of them (in no particular order) - The buddy program, leadership, class and whole school meeting (ie student voice), restorative practices, class support coordinators, differentiating the curriculum to allow for learning differences, using the Keeping Safe Curriculum, positive relationships between staff, students and parents, Parents & Friends, a focus on special needs, providing special interest groups in a variety of ways, ELC to school connections, community events and many more. What would you add?

Each year our Year 4-7 students complete a (state-wide) survey focused on well-being. The results show that SPLS students do well in this area as we compare our results across the state. You can read the results on our website http://www.stpeterslutheran.sa.edu.au/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Wellbeing-and-Engagement-Collection-Survey-2019.pdf

While we believe that well-being is a strength of our school, we have identified it as an ongoing and significant area that we need to make even stronger and have included it as one of the pillars of the strategic plan – it puts the ‘W’ into G.R.O.W.

We have a God who is very interested in our well-being also. In fact, it is in a way all he is concerned about.  That each person can know that because of who’s we are (ie his), we can rest in the knowledge that no matter what is going on in our lives, what others think about us, we are loved and cared for by the one who made us, loves us and saves us. This is a wonderful thing for our daily well-being but also, and more importantly, for our eternal well-being.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

Mark Rathjen
Principal

You may have noticed that recently we have begun to use Instagram. Our three main social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) are important ways for us share information and tell stories about our school. They are linked and so what you see on one medium you should see on another, so no need to check them all.  If you use one or more of these mediums, please ‘like’ and ‘share’ the posts as this is another very effective way to help tell the wider community about our school.

As Week 5 is Book Week for 2019, it’s a great time to think about reading at home.

Reading with your child is one of the most important activities you can do! Here are some tips to make this a special and meaningful activity with your child.

• Be yourself. Involve children in everyday conversations.
• Read aloud to children. It helps them to learn the language of books and will encourage them to enjoy books and reading.
• Talk about books, read together and make reading an enjoyable, shared activity.
• Make sure there is a wide range of reading material for your child at home, both fiction and non-fiction.
• It is important to read to your child in your home language if your first language is not English.
• Experience shows that using your home language will help your child to learn to read in English.
• Try not to let television or technology intrude on reading time. Make a special time for reading with your child, away from interruption.
• Listen to your child read every day, even for a short time.
• Give books as treats and presents.

(From NSW Department of Education and Training website)

Here is a list of excellent read aloud books for you to start reading with younger children:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Green Eggs and Ham

Goodnight Moon

Oh the Places You’ll Go

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Here is a list of excellent read aloud chapter books for you to start reading with children:

Charlotte’s Webb

Matilda

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe

Holes

In addition to this, have a look out for the display of Children’s Book Council Award nominees and winners in the Resource Centre this week, kindly put together by Mrs Smith.

Have fun reading together with your children!

Bronwyn Wilson
PYP Coordinator

Notices will be emailed to families next week. 

If your child is unable to locate a missing item please speak to their class teacher first as the item could be a classroom reader.  If it is a library book they will redirect you to Mrs Smith in the library.

Thank you for helping us all with this task.

Delivery is expected by the end of this week.

Nominations for Term 4 Out of School Hours Sport will be open next Monday 26 August. Please keep a watchful eye out for the Skoolbag item notifying families of the link to the online form.

PARENTS PLEASE BE PROMPT WITH YOUR CHILD'S REQUEST FOR TERM 4.  

There is no guarantee of a team going ahead and/or your child's participation if nominations are received late. This is necessary as deadlines, with associations, for team nominations are fast approaching.