Helping Students Cope
Resilience in the face of adversity isn’t a fixed personality trait. Resilience is an ability we can help our students build. This is an important fact for children who suffer from a serious illness or experience a grievous loss or setback.
What are the best ways that parents can support traumatised children?
- Tell them they are loved and are not alone. Children need to hear this over and over again.
- Show them that they matter. This is the question children ask as they grow up: Do I make a difference to others? Do other people notice me, care about me and rely on me? When young people think that they don’t matter, they’re more likely to engage in self-destructive and antisocial activities, or simply withdraw.
- Companionship. Parents and other adults can make a difference simply by walking alongside troubled children and listening with undivided attention, forming warm relationships, communicating openly and allowing children to talk about their thoughts and fears.
- Discuss coping mechanisms. These can include understanding that:
- It’s okay to be sad and take a break from any activity and cry.
- It’s okay to be happy and laugh.
- It’s okay to be angry and jealous of friends and relatives who are not suffering.
- It’s okay to say to anyone that we do not want to talk about it now.
- It’s okay to ask for help.
- Establish positive rituals. This could be something like a family dinnertime practice of each person sharing the best and worst moments of the day—the things that made them sad and those that made them grateful.
- Embrace family history. Having a sense of their roots builds children’s sense of mattering, of being connected to something larger than themselves. This includes knowing where their parents and grandparents grew up, what their childhoods were like and how the family fared in good times and bad.
- Keep memories alive. Remembering a loved one who has been lost builds mental health and even physical health over time.
Acknowledgement: “How to Build Resilient Kids, Even After a Loss” by Sheryl Sandberg in The New York Times, April 24, 2017
Blessings
Simon Hughes
Head of College
Athlete’s Foot $100 Vouchers Giveaway – Lucky Winners!
Congratulations to these lucky winners who were randomly chosen for our Athlete’s Foot $100 Vouchers Giveaway.
Labuschagne family (in Year 7 and Year 9)
Flook family (in Year 1)
Courage
Where does courage come from? And how do you get it when you need it? This week we have been looking at the meaning of courage and acknowledging those in our community who appear fearless in the face of the storm.
It is an interesting thing to think about… being fearless. Through my reading of late it is clear to me that it is not the absence of fear, but the presence of fear that makes one fearless. Okay, now before you think I’ve completely lost the plot here, let’s take a minute to think about this.
Courage is defined as the ability to do something that frightens one. In essence, fear, is inextricably linked to courage. You see, one cannot be courageous without first being fearful. Without fear, there is no need for courage. I have been privileged to observe a vast number of new students enter our community during the last four weeks. Each student and their family met with me at our enrolment interview and I asked each one of them, ‘How are you feeling?’ One by one they each replied, nervous, a little scared and a little excited. Each young person had some trepidation in starting fresh, in a new place, with new people. Each one has shown courage in stepping into PoP. I take my hat off to them all for their courage, determination and efforts.
This week, as we each face our own fears, big or small, let us remember where true courage comes from. Remember the small boy David, who faced the giant Goliath, his courage did not come from within himself, but rather from a deep and trusting faith in God. It was in God’s name, with God as his shield, that he overcame Goliath. Know that God is with you. He is beside you, in front of you, behind you. Look to Him when fear takes hold. He will steady you.
Missing in Action!
While the daytime weather has been simply superb, the cooler winter mornings continue in the South East. Add to this the ‘EKKA winds’ (which are yet to arrive) and we have the perfect conditions for lost jumpers and jackets. As a parent, I often marvel at how my children seem to comfortably de-sock on the coolest of evenings and wander around on the cold tiles wearing shorts and t-shirts—sending shivers up my spine. I also know that there are some things I must insist on for their own well-being.
The same is said for sending children to school in their uniforms. We understand that parents need to protect little bodies from the chilling winds that can blow through schools. Please encourage your children to rug up on cool days. We encourage the use of clothing items such as singlets, spencers and short sleeved shirts under school uniforms which assist greatly in keeping chests warm.
If for any reason your child has lost their school jumper or sports jacket, and requires wearing a non-uniform item for the day, please send an accompanying note with them for their class teacher. Please contact the school if you have any questions. Our staff are very mindful of picking up lost items as we understand the value they carry with them. To assist us in returning items to you as quickly as possible, please label all uniform items clearly. Stay warm!
Social Media Safety
Throughout the past week, Mrs Schmidt and I have been speaking with students and families around the importance of our own privacy, and that of others. We have been reminding students that their image, as captured through photos and videos, should be carefully protected. Importantly, we have also been speaking about the responsibility we have when dealing with other people’s images/videos, such as our friends.
I have included for you, a link to the eSafety Guide and Parent Support pages from the eSafety Commissioner’s website. This site contains a wealth of knowledge and resources for parents and teachers to assist in keeping our young people safe. I encourage all families to take a careful look through this site and give consideration to the information contained there.
eSafety Guide: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide
Parent eSafety page: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
Children’s eSafety page: https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids
Katrina Valencia
Head of Junior Campus
Academic Awards
I am not sure how many of you drive down Timms Road from Queens Road? I have driven that route several times a day for many years—and I can’t help but feel like something has changed. I cannot honestly tell you what has changed, but something is certainly different. In a similar way, 2020 is leaving many of us feeling like things around us are different, and is a time to be grateful and aware of the blessings we do have.
Last week was an opportunity to recognise the efforts of our students and their Semester 1 achievements. In this very challenging year, our students have demonstrated remarkable resilience and tenacity.
Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions, we could not include parents in the presentations, but we took many photos. Due to the new Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance (SATE) system, changes were made to reporting in Year 11 and 12, which subsequently resulted in changes to the criteria for our Excellence and Honour Awards for Year 11 and 12. The new criteria is:
Academic Honours – 86% or higher in 3 subjects
Academic Excellence – 86% or higher in the best 5 subjects
Congratulations to our Academic Award recipients:
Semester 1 2020 Awards
Academic Honours Award 7-10
Year 7 – Ashleigh Bleckwehl, Jai Bressan, Jessica Deb, Keely Fraser, Sienna Gardner, Rhys Griffin, Georgia Locke, Grace McGregor, Elliot Schmidtchen, Anuksha Sengupta, Lily Stokes (Neumann), Bella Turner, Hannah Vayro, Eesha Verso, Zabelle Warriner-Banner
Year 8 – Lucas Cantarella, Ryan Eaglestone, Ella Forbes, Marijela Furlong, Aidan Gardso, Abbi Hewitt, Ryan Pustolla, Charlotte Scott, Dylan Turley, Harry Valencia, Elijah Walsh
Year 9 – Keira Andretzke, Ella Bunn, Natalie Gardso, Elsie Long, Jade McDermid, Cayley Savage, Xavier Sivyer
Year 10 – Molly Hennessey, Lauren Horswill, Andrew Klimenko, Talitha Montgomery, Tyler Noakes, Sienna Quirk, Alexander Schmidtchen, Holly Strachan, Jacob Williams, Zachary Williams
Academic Honours Award 11-12
Year 11 – Samuel Short, Jarvis Sivyer, Gabrielle Waverley-Smith
Year 12 – Georgia Manwaring, Lucinda Peterson, Anna Weckert
Academic Excellence Award 7-10
Year 7 – Isaac Chen, Jacob Howard-Taylor, Lara Savaille, Erin Scott, Chloe Selwood, Amelia Swift, Samuel Tweedale, Emily Warburton, Amelia Watkins
Year 8 – Flynn Bohan, Alana Bomgaars, Tara Bowman, Jasmine Everitt, Freya Forbes-Schutz, Ellen Hamilton, Alexis Hulcombe, Nathan Lilly, Mercedes McIver, Chloe Noon, Abigail Tay, Jemah Wiseman, Annika Wolfe
Year 9 – Patrick Austin, Indiana Brown, Jonas Forbes-Schutz, Katrina Paul, Frances Smith, Mikayla Swift, Phoebe Tobin
Year 10 – Declan Cook, Elsie Corlis, Ashleigh Eaglestone, Rosina Floriani, Georgia Glentworth, Austin Haines, Jordan Muduioa, Heidi Noon, Josie Swift, Isabelle Till, Mackenna Tom
Academic Excellence Award 11-12
Year 11 – Abby Newton
Year 12 – Olivia Cooper, Lucas Eaglestone, Kaitlyn Flynn, Sabina Oppelaar, Katie Steele, Alexander Trixner
Subject Selection
An email went home this week detailing the subject selection process for Year 9, 10 and 11 for 2021. We have created a series of information clips about the process and about the Year 11 subjects. There will be an opportunity for some Subject Selection Q & A on the 11 August. Bookings are essential to ensure that we are able to maintain our COVID-safe plan. Please use the booking link in the email we recently distributed. We look forward to discussing future options with parents and students.
Michelle Nisbet
Head of Senior Campus
Junior Campus Sport
Three weeks into our nine-week program, and PoP Junior Campus students have raised $9.549.22! Also, our leading individual fundraisers are closing in on $1000! Remember, it’s not too late to begin fundraising—go to https://www.jumprope.org.au/parents
Cody in Year 5, and Jesse in Year 1 have been skipping in memory of their baby brother Sam, you can read their story in this article on the Heart Foundation website »
Please also enjoy these videos of some of our Year 6 students skipping during PE this week:
Northern District Hockey Representatives
On Tuesday 28 July, Kaelan Harvey and Harrison Falk were selected in the Northern District Schools’ 10-12 years hockey team. This is an especially impressive achievement as both boys are 10 years old. Also, Chai Harvey and Kirra Harvey trialed for the girls team.
On Tuesday, an expression of interest was emailed to all Junior and Senior Campus parents asking if their child/ren would like to represent PoP in the Term 4 Arana Junior Touch Competition. Training times will be announced soon, and will begin next week for the Junior Campus, and in Week 5 for the Senior Campus.
Game Times: Wednesday afternoons/evenings—first games at 4pm
Season Dates: 14 Oct – 2 Dec 2020
Cost: $80 for the eight game season
Age Groups: (Separate boys and girls teams)
- 8 years & under (born 2012/2013/2014)
- 10 years & under (born 2010-2011)
- 12 years & under (born 2008-2009)
- 14 years & under (born 2006-2007)
- 16 years & under (born 2004-2005)
Possible training times: at this stage, possibly Fridays during school time, lunchtimes (Junior Campus only) or Thursdays straight after school. Please email Mr Darren Lawrance with any questions or expressions of interest.
Darren Lawrance
Junior Campus PE and Sport
During our COVID19 lock down, some of our talented students took part in the Lutheran Virtual Choir to help bolster our community’s spirits. We are proud of their dedication and engagement in this project and are eager to share it with you. A special thank-you to Ms Linda Brady, Senior Campus Music Teacher, and Mrs Sharon Grimes and Miss Chanel Siddall for making this possible. Enjoy.
Prince of Peace Tennis
Join the Hotshots program at the Junior Campus for the remainder of Term 3 2020. Time for sessions at Prince of Peace are 7:30am Tuesday and the cost is $17 per session.
Sign up to the Pure Tennis Academy here.
Prince of Peace Kindy Fundraiser
Kindy is having a Family Photo fundraiser and we are inviting anyone who would like to book a session. Please click here and use the password raisefunds, then scroll down to the Prince of Peace Kindergarten tab and you can book a time. Money raised is going to the upgrading of the bush area.
Uniform Shop News
Welcome to all our new families—our Prince of Peace uniform shop is located on the Junior Campus under the Year 1 and 2 building. Please park opposite reception and follow the signs downstairs to the shop. We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays 8.00am to 10.00am until further notice. Orders can be placed by email through the College website using the link on the Uniform Shop Page, or at anytime from The School Locker Website.
Label it – Don’t Lose it: Plain white iron-on labels are available for $6.95 for a pack of 40 labels. Please ensure that your child’s track jackets, pants and pullovers are named—large handwriting on the white lining is recommended, and white name labels on dark fabrics (eg pullovers) are easier to read. Winter items are often removed during the middle of the day and can easily be misplaced—clear labeling makes it possible to return items to the correct owner.
Headphones: We have quality Verbatim headphones with volume control for $11.95 and with additional microphone for $12.95. These are very useful for at-home learning, Zoom meetings, and online gaming—we have them in the campus store or you can order them online. We also have Logitech wireless mice with a variety of eye-catching cartoon designs for $29.95.
Second Hand: If you wish to buy or sell second hand uniforms, please visit our very active PoP Second Hand Uniform Buy & Sell Facebook group