Year 6 Media Ministry

Hello, we are the new Media Ministry. Our names are Ruby, Mia, Aaliyah and Liam.

Hello, I am Mia and I adore homework and learning (especially Mathematics, English and Science). I am delighted to write the bulletin in the Media Ministry, and I embrace the opportunity to assist writing the newsletter.

Hi, I am Ruby Overton and I am in the Media Ministry this term. I like to play a lot of sport and enjoy learning new things and having fun with all my friends.

Hi, I’m Aaliyah. I love playing sports like netball and occasionally rugby. I enjoy learning because Mrs. Turner teaches us. And I love making friends and playing with them.

Hi, I’m Liam. I like playing sport. The sports I play are soccer (my favourite), cricket (my second favourite) and swimming squad (I only do it to stay fit). I also like to go to the skate park on my scooter and go to dirt tracks on my BMX.

On James Street people at this school are going through the car bays without checking who is coming in and out, therefore, endangering the students. So, for your safety we encourage you to go around the car park and ask the duty teacher to go across safely and with consideration and don’t go through the staff parking bay while coming to school. Thank you. 

As the Athletics Carnival is in week eight, the students of St Michael’s are practicing for this event. Games such as tunnel ball, baton in the bucket and many other games will feature at the Carnival, and we are striving to achieve new goals that will allow us to win the games. In Physical Education, children will also be practicing their sprinting, which is a vital event in the Carnival. This regime will begin until the Carnival in Week Eight. Good Luck to all the participants! 

Congrats to all the Reconciliation candidates. All the candidates have had their sins forgiven by God and walk anew in God’s presence. Please congratulate the candidates as they complete yet another step in their religious journey.  

Assemblies are back and we have a new award called the Art Award. The Art Award has a new topic every week, this week’s topic is effort. The Art Award looks like a golden paintbrush, set upon a small slab of navy marble. Last week Year Five won the award and that topic was behaviour. 

We have had a fun and educational week here at St Michael’s and cannot wait for next week! 

From the Media Ministry

School Social Worker Message

At the Gonski Institute for Education, we are committed to helping every child reach their full potential, educationally and in life. We also recognise that parents and caregivers play a crucial role in a child’s learning and development journey.
 
A set of parent guides has been developed to support parents through a range of issues related to their child’s education.  The guides combine translated research with practical tips for parents and carers to use with their own child. Topics range from digital device use, to social and emotional skills, play and transitioning to high school, among others.

The guides can be accessed at the following link:

 https://www.gie.unsw.edu.au/research/parent-and-caregiver-resources

Is your child getting enough sleep? Here are some tips from Michael Grose….

Regularity and routine are the agents of sleep. It takes discipline to adhere to and commitment to making sleep a high priority. Helping kids understand how their body clock works, assisting them to work out their optimal bedtime and putting lifestyle habits in place can help them get the sleep they need to maximise their learning, wellbeing, development and overall performance. Here are some tips to help:

Understand the body clock Sleep is regulated by a 24-hour body clock that manages the secretion of melatonin to send us to sleep and cortisol to wake us up. This amazing body clock is reset every day when light first hits our retinas. Sleep in late and the clock goes out of synch. When your child works with the rhythms of their body’s 24-hour clock they will give themselves the optimal chance for sleep success.

The sleep-wake cycle for teenagers is delayed by up to two hours. That is, they are sleepy later and awake later than when they were children. Melatonin, which makes them sleepy, is secreted as late as 11.00pm for some young people, which makes the time before bed-time a sleepless zone. Cortisol, the chemical that wakes them up is released at close to 8.00am for many teens. If this is the case, your young person’s brain wants to be asleep when they need to be awake for school.

Stick to sleep recommendations  The Raising Children’s Network recommends between 11-13 hours sleep per night for young children, 10-11 hours for primary school children and 8-10 hours for secondary school-aged kids. As every child is different, you may notice that your child needs more or less sleep than is recommended.

Develop good sleep hygiene habits

• Start a regular bedtime routine at least 45 minutes out from bedtime to help kids get ready for sleep.
• Eat and exercise at the right time. Sleep likes a relaxed body and a calm nervous system, so schedule exercise and active movement before mealtimes.
• Create a sleep sanctuary. Restrict bedrooms to sleep and relaxation quarters and find other places in the house for time out and reflection, school work and active play.
• Keep bedrooms cave-like. A child’s bedroom should be cave-like – that is, dark, cool and free from electronic devices. Darkness encourages melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake patterns.
• Get up at a regular time. For optimal sleep, bed and wake up times need to be as regular as possible.

Sleep is a critical component of enhancing a child’s wellbeing, learning, development and overall performance. Helping your child to get enough quality sleep will ensure that their brain and body are being used at full capacity.