Dear Parents and Carers,
Today we welcomed a small group of new children to St Benedict’s. They were nervous and excited. It was lovely to watch how the parents who were experiencing this for a second or third time were feeling so relaxed about their child beginning school. Many children who begin school these days have already experienced more than just pre-school. They have often spent time in long day care as well and are quite used to meeting and playing with new children. We’re looking forward to a fun year of learning with our new community members in 2021.

Fran Tomadini will be teaching Kindergarten at St Benedict’s next year. Other teachers for other classes will be determined shortly.

As we welcome our new students and they begin the next part of their schooling journey, it is the perfect opportunity to consider some tips for helping our children with their learning.

You are your child’s very first teacher and you can continue to help them learn, right throughout their schooling. Here are some tips:

Praise effort and achievement
Your child thrives on authentic encouragement and praise. This increases their self-esteem and confidence, which can help them to do better at school. Encourage your child with genuine, positive feedback about their effort and achievements.

Have high expectations
Talk about realistic goals with your child and help them to set their own goals. If they have a setback, encourage your child to learn from their errors and move on.

Active listening
You can encourage most reluctant talkers to engage in conversation simply by listening to them. Use techniques that encourage further discussion, such as eye contact, posture and mirroring.

Make learning fun
Learning is more than just studying textbooks. You can help your child with numeracy and literacy by playing games, talking and reading together. As your child gets older, you can still play games (such as board games and cards), talk to them about books and films, and discuss news and current affairs with them.

Strengthen the communication lines between you and your child’s teachers
Both you and your child’s teachers want your child to reach their learning potential. Foster a strong relationship with your child’s teachers through respectful communication and by engaging in school activities.

Thank you for your ongoing care and partnership in your child’s learning.

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal