Annette Jacobs
Tuckshop Convenor

Getting Back into Routine

Welcome back to another exciting term at PoP! Term 4 is always a joyous term with swimming, discos, Gala Days, presentation events and Christmas activities. There is so much to fit into a short term, and it always goes so fast! Having all of these experiences and getting through to the end can be exhausting, but establishing a good routine can see our children finish the year with happiness and success.

Coming back to school is a time when we are compelled to get back into a routine. A recent article from the Melbourne Child Psychology and School Psychology Services discussed the importance of routine in childhood. The article focused on ‘rituals’ and how they help our children to have a sense of security and set them up for good habits and life skills. Psychologist Dani Kaufman was recently quoted as saying ‘Building routines with your children helps them to feel safe.  They know what to expect when they go home, and it provides them with clear boundaries, expectations, and consistency.’

In what some researchers have described as an ‘epidemic of anxiety’, the predictability and familiarity that comes with routine offers the perfect ‘safe space’ that children need. While school and home provide a form of routine, each day is filled with uncertainties. Therefore, establishing routines can assist children during challenging times to navigate the unpredictability.

While change is a learning opportunity, it can also be stressful for children. A normal routine brings comfort and consistency to a child’s life. With all the changes that occur each day at school and home, the consistency you incorporate into the situation will help our children to feel safe and know what to expect. Not only is routine helpful in making our children feel safe, it’s also fundamental in the development of good habits.

Some parts of your family routine will already be there—such as mealtimes and sleep times. When a child knows what to expect and notices regular family activities, they begin to understand what’s important. This strengthens shared values, beliefs and interests.

One of the easiest ways to make new habits stick is by pairing them with other rituals that are already in place, says Gretchen Rubin, author of Better than Before, a book that looks at the science of habit creation. So, whatever habits you would like to add to your child’s routine, frame them around the ones that are already there. For example, if you’d like them to start cleaning their room once a day, have it become the ritual before dinner time. If you’d like reading to be part of the daily routine, incorporate it before bedtime. The key to making good habits stick is to do them regularly. Because when the child, and other family members know what to expect, stress and anxiety are reduced.

To get started, pick a new ritual, and stick with it. Make it simple, make it fun, and don’t add too many new activities to your routine at once. It’s much easier to commit to one new activity at a time; adding too many changes to the mix will be overwhelming and make you and your child less likely to stick to the schedule.

At home, is the easiest place to learn long-term behaviours, and to understand the concepts of consequences, boundaries, and rewards.

So, keep ritual and routine in place wherever and whenever you can, to make the constantly changing nature of growing up as safe, predictable, and easy for your child as possible (and making your life a little easier while they’re at it).

Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services, P.M. (2016) The importance of routine in childhood, Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services. Available at: https://www.melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/the-importance-of-routine-in-childhood/ (Accessed: October 9, 2022).

Blessings,

Coreta Lennon
Deputy Head of Campus – Junior

Take Time to Reflect

The concept that we hope our young people can learn in the final term of 2022 is ‘reflection’. To embed reflection into our lives is a daily practice, that is not only about finding space and time to reflect, but is also about what prompts we use to help us look within ourselves, and above to something greater than us.

There are many resources and ways that we hope to guide our young people to reflect upon their learning goals and achievements, decisions they have made in their relationships with others, how they have used and developed their God-given talents and strengths in service to others and the wider community.

I invite parents to Take 5 with your son or daughter over the next month to help them find their learnings, joys, disappointments and growth so they can end their school year well in 2022 and be prepared for discussions that will take place at school.

We do encourage you to record these events and dates on your TLC calendar. We look forward to these events and experiences that celebrate the year that has been in the Middle and Senior School and gives us all the opportunity to finish the year with joy and hope.

Year 10 Camp

It has been great to see our Year 10s enjoy the challenges of their Camp Maroochydore this week, and grow in greater connections with each other. From outdoor walks to dragonboat racing, to hearing local Indigenous elders speak about our relationship to country, and engaging in team-work challenges; our young people learn more about who they are and who they are becoming as a community as they venture into their Year 11 journey.

Elevate Education Study Skills Seminar Series

Our Year 11 and 12s engaged in a practical study skills session from Elevate Education in Week 1. This session was part of the seminar series that focused on managing exams and getting across the finishing line. Our Year 11 and 12s had an exam period in Term 3, and this session helped them reflect on what is working well for them, improvements they can make and applying new strategies. We wish our Year 12s every blessing as they start their revision and study program in Week 3 in preparation for the final external examinations.

Our Year 9s Return from Mt Binga

We welcomed our Year 9s back to School this term after a month at Mt Binga, and it has been a delight to hear their stories, highlights and growth through challenge. Many students have shared with me how much they miss Mt Binga and the opportunities that they had each day to be living in community with each other, the staff at Mt Binga, and living on the land. We are thankful again to every parent/caregiver for entrusting the vision of this outdoor education experience to leaders in Lutheran Schools before us, and hope that you see the transformation that we have in the hearts and minds of our young people through Mt Binga.

Subject Preferences for Year 9 and 10 for 2023

We thank parents and students who will be in Year 9 and 10 for 2023 for your support this week in coming along to information sessions about subject offerings. Information about making subject preferences online through web preferences has been given to students and need to be finalised by Monday 17 October 9:00am. If you have any questions please contact Year 8 and 9 Coordinators, Julie Grosas (Careers Coordinator), Jonathan Klupp (Deputy Head of Campus) or Sarah Hoff-Zweck (Head of Campus) at the College.

We wish our students, parents, and staff every blessing for Term 4 and pray to God for wisdom and discernment as our young people enter a time of reflection, hope and peace as they conclude a year of learning and accomplishment of their personal goals and development here with us at Prince of Peace.

Careers @ PoP

Term 4

As the ‘official’ Careers Education program wraps up for Year 10, we are continuing in this class time with a unit on service learning. To better understand their vocation, students need to understand themselves, and fit that with what the world needs. Research on service learning suggests that both identity and knowledge of the world are expanded through service learning experiences.

This Service Learning unit for Year 10’s is a flexible student-centred program that provides students with an opportunity to develop empathy and compassion through meaningful and active citizenship. It will enable students to demonstrate competencies in critical thinking, problem solving, communication, self-reflection and community; these are all skills that are also valuable in the workplace.

Some of the activities happening this term range from groups working with Year 5’s, community art installations, working with the grounds-men, beautifying the school, fundraising and even a group who give up their Sunday afternoons to volunteer with the Brisbane Paralympic Football Programs, and many others that I have not listed. All students have selected purposeful activities that not only demonstrate skills, but also are appreciating what it means to be a part of a community.

It is exciting to see how these projects will evolve over the next few weeks and into the future.

Blessings,

Mrs Julie Grosas
Careers and VET Leader

Junior Campus Music News

Arts Night—Tuesday 25 October (Week 4)

All Year 4-6 students, parents and caregivers are invited to our ‘Arts Night’.  There will be some displays of work created during Term 3, also performances from The Upper Primary Choir, Junior String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble and soloists. We will see a special dance item from our newly formed dance troupe, a play in Spanish and special guest performance from our Senior College band “The Amplifers”.

This event will be held in The Shed from 5:45pm to view artwork and the concert will begin at 6pm.

College Cultural Awards

As the College Awards are being finalised, we realise that there are many students who participate in cultural activities outside of school.  This may include performances in dance schools, choirs, theatre companies, art competitions and eisteddfods.  The Cultural Awards are either Excellence or Honours.  These two awards will be based on commitment, reliability and advocacy within the College as well as the arts in the wider community.

If you feel your child meets the criteria, please use the link previously sent via SEQTA to inform us of any extra-curricular activities your child has been involved in this year before Friday October 21, 2022.

Classroom Music

Our Year 6 unit this term is titled “The Final Countdown:  Let’s play some games”.  For many students, after 6 years and 3 terms together, this is our final countdown.  Only a few lessons remaining before they head off to the big wide world (of middle school).  So we’re revisiting our learning by playing some favourite games over the last years.  Doggie Doggie is a clear favourite.  They’ll also be working on a project to create their musical theme park, designed to encourage them to research their favourite genre of music and then present it in any media they like.  Previous years have seen creations in Lego, Paddlepops and even Minecraft.

Carols—26 November

There is a combined Carols evening between our church and school communities on Saturday 26 November.  The Junior Campus choirs will be presenting several songs throughout the evening.  Further information to come.

Carols (take 2)—2 December

The Junior Campus Choirs have been invited to perform a 20min bracket of songs and carols at the Hills District Christmas Carols in the Park on Saturday 2 December.

Even though it’s the day after the College closes, if you’re available it’s a lovely way to end the year and celebrate the season.

• George Willmore Park, 52 Ferny Hills Way, Ferny Hills
• Choir performing at approx. 5:30pm (to be confirmed)
• Solo performance by Mrs Cudney herself later in the evening

Sherree Cudney
Junior Campus Music

The Arts @ Junior Campus

We are looking for ways to celebrate our students’ contributions to the community in The Arts—whether it be music (Instrumental or choral), visual art, dance, drama, speech, theatre or media arts.

Has your child received an award or participated in a local, national or even international competition? Are they involved in a show or performance coming up? Let us know and send relevant photos and details so we can celebrate them together.

Rebecca Rees
Primary Arts Specialist