Dear Parents,

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, we recently had what is called an Annual School Visit (ASV) from Catholic Schools Office (CSO) staff and the Diocesan Shared Services leaders.  As part of this day, several CSO staff visited classrooms and spoke with groups of children about the school and their learning.  Their observations and the children’s’ comments were then shared with us.

A common theme that came through from the children, is that life is challenging as they have a lot on in their lives and it’s difficult to juggle everything and this is leading to simmering anxiety and stress.  The panel said they recognised that often they are the ones wanting more or to do more as this is how they grow and develop but they were also expressing that they wanted more time and space for themselves.  As a result of this we, as a staff, are making a more concerted effort to ensure that throughout the week we are building in more moments for mindfulness.  We ask that you do the same with your children.  They do not need to have every minute of their lives planned and organised.

The Importance of Downtime for Children

Downtime for kids is unstructured time where they can relax, recharge, and engage in activities of their own choosing without external direction. It's essential for their cognitive development, emotional well-being, and creativity. Downtime allows children to process information, regulate emotions, and develop essential life skills like problem-solving and independence. 

Benefits of Downtime:-

• 
  Cognitive Development: Downtime allows children's brains to consolidate memories, which is crucial for learning and retention.
• Emotional Regulation: It helps children manage stress, process emotions, and prevent burnout.
• Creativity and Imagination: Unstructured play during downtime fosters creativity, imagination, and self-discovery.
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Downtime provides opportunities for children to explore, experiment, and learn to make their own choices. 
• Independence: It allows children to pursue their interests and passions autonomously. 
• Reduced Stress: Downtime helps kids step away from obligations and find time for relaxation, reducing stress levels. 

A little boredom isn’t a bad thing—it actually sparks imagination and problem-solving. By protecting quiet, unstructured time in their week, we help children feel more balanced, happy, and ready to learn. Regular unscheduled time helps maintain mental health and supports balanced achievement.

Sometimes, saying no to one more activity is a gift. Let’s remember that being busy isn’t always better—and that rest is part of healthy growth.

Practical Tips for Parents:

• Assess total weekly activity load—prioritise sleep and one "do-nothing" afternoon.
• Watch for signs of stress: irritability, mood swings, exhaustion.
• Discuss with your child. Ask how they feel, not just how they perform.

Why not take a look at this Cleveland Clinic article that talks about how relying too heavily on structured calendars may deprive children of essential downtime needed to thrive.

Council of Catholic School Parents

Did you know that there is group of parent volunteers across NSW and Canberra  who provide leadership, advocacy and support to all parents and carers of students in Catholic schools in dioceses in NSW and the Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn, and represent their interests at state and national level?  This council of Catholic school parent offers support and resources to families and schools as well as interested in engaging with fellow parents.  Check out their website

Next week they are offering two free parent workshops facilitated by Michelle Mitchell. At the Parenting Tweens session, she uses the results from her recent survey of more than 2000 parents and tweens, as well as 20 years’ experience working with families, to help trusted adults capitalise on the years between 9 and 12.

For the Parenting Teens session she will offer parenting insights into the developing brain which will guide a discussion about effective communication, setting healthy boundaries, managing emotionally charged moments and championing strengths.

PARENTING TWEENS: WHAT KIDS NEED NOW, BEFORE THE TEEN YEARS

For parents and carers of primary school students 8+

Tuesday 24 June  7pm - 8pm

Register here

PARENTING TEENS: STAYING CONNECTED THROUGH THE TEEN YEARS

Parents of high school kids 12+

Wednesday 25 June 7pm - 8pm

Register here

CELEBRATE! Choirs at the Civic

Last Wednesday, our school choir took part in the Celebrate! Choirs event at the Civic Theatre—and what a performance it was! While all the schools involved gave truly impressive performances, we couldn’t help but feel that our choir was something extra special.

Our girls sang beautifully in tune, kept perfectly in sync with their body percussion, and radiated joy and enthusiasm throughout their performance. It was clear to everyone just how much they love what they do.

A huge thank you to all the choir members for giving up their break times to rehearse, and to Mrs Butler for her musical expertise and dedication in preparing the group to such a high standard and to Mrs Roberts for her support on the day, as well. We are incredibly proud of what they achieved.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s event—and hopefully to seeing an even bigger choir, with some boys joining the fun too!

Uniforms

Recently, there have been some requests made for the students to wear long sleeve t-shirts under their uniforms during the colder weather.  We would recommend singlets or camisoles, as they provide great warmth but are not too excessive, as you need to consider that all classrooms have air conditioning and children can get easily overheated.  If your children wear a camisole, singlet or long sleeve t-shirt it needs to be white or flesh coloured if it’s going under the white shirts and a light colour under the boys’ shirts. We ask that these undergarments are not to be visible and that there are to be no long sleeve t-shirts worn under the sports polo shirts, please.

Enrolment Opportunities for 2025 and Kindergarten 2026

We currently have some vacancies available for this school year, across various year groups, and are happy to accept mid-year enrolments. If you know any families considering a move—whether inside or outside our catchment area—please encourage them to contact us for more information.

Additionally, offers for Kindergarten 2026 places have been sent out. If you know anyone still looking for a Kindergarten spot for next year, we have some spaces available and would love to hear from them.

Please feel free to reach out to our school office for enrolment details.

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming parent-teacher meetings.  If you haven’t booked in a time please do so as soon as possible.

Enjoy your weekend and some downtime with your children,

Karen
Principal