Talking to your Child

One of the easiest ways we can support our children is the simple act of talking to them.  From the moment a child is born, they want to communicate. As parents and educators, we play a vital role in fostering and enhancing these abilities. Engaging in regular conversations with your child helps them build a strong foundation in language skills. The more words they hear and use, the more their vocabulary expands, enhancing their reading, writing, and comprehension skills.

Conversation is a powerful tool for building social and emotional intelligence in children. When you engage in meaningful conversations with your child, you provide them with opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings.  Children are naturally curious, and conversation fuels their thirst for knowledge. When you talk to your child, you encourage their inquisitive nature and stimulate their imagination.

 Tips when Talking to your Child

Active Listening: Show genuine interest in what your child has to say. This encourages them to express themselves openly and honestly.

Open-Ended Questions: Instead of asking yes/no questions, encourage your child to elaborate by asking questions that require thoughtful responses.

Storytelling: Share stories from your own life or read books together, stimulating their imagination and language skills.

Remember, every word you exchange with your child is a step towards their development.

Feast Day Saint Mary MacKillop.

On Tuesday, 8th August, was the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop. St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, was an Australian nun who was born in Melbourne. She is the patron saint of Australia. She truly embodies the spirit of one of her mottos 'Never see a need without doing something about it,' a motto that urges us to take action when we encounter challenges and opportunities to make the world a better place. We are reminded that each of us are able help others by our kindness, generosity, and selflessness, striving to create a community where each action, no matter how small, can make a big difference in someone’s life.

School Student Broadband Initiative 

To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, the Australian Government is working with NBN Co to provide up to 30,000 families with no internet at home free NBN for 12 months. To be eligible, families with school age children can be nominated by participating schools if they do not currently have NBN and do not possess the means to have NBN. If you believe you may be eligible please contact the office.

Carpark Crosswalk

Can I please ask that if you are parking in the Church carpark that you are using the crosswalk to enter school. There are many parents and children who are cutting across the driveway. Using this crosswalk is not only safe but teaches children the safe way to cross a road.

NAIDOC Week 

Although NAIOC week is celebrated over the Term 2 school holidays at Good Shepherd we have celebrated it this week. NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories. This week students have engaged with their buddy class to participate in activities. On Friday morning we had a special NAIDOC week assembly where our school band performed.

God Bless

Nic Gaglia

Principal