Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

Well done everyone, we have made it to week 10! The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and more importantly, the playgrounds have reopened! It’s making the school holidays look achievable. 

On behalf of the staff of St Michael’s I want to thank you all for your support during this term, we know at times it hasn’t been easy and finding the balance between your work and supporting the children’s learning may have felt overwhelming at times. We appreciate all you have done.

What to do in isolation in the School Holidays

Leisha Wray

While some states in Australia have returned to school, others are still in school holidays. Since children have already been home in isolation for some time, and parents are searching for ideas on how to cope during holidays. Read on for plenty of activities to keep boredom away from toddlers to teens.

How often have you said you "haven’t got time” to do (something)… And if you now find you have time on your hands, you could be feeling overwhelmed and lost. Now is a great time to invest quality time.

Think of your childhood and those experiences that stand out. Use these to guide you for activities. I recall making gingerbread people with my grandmother, so this could be great bonding with my child now. My grandfather tried to teach me chess, not my strong point, but I know the basic rules to pass on.

My child loves board games, and yet at eight-years-old had never played the traditional version of Monopoly until last Sunday. His excitement at this game, and that it took up an entire rainy afternoon is a joy I will remember from this time of restrictions.

I also recall learning how to sand, stain and varnish a piece of furniture with my father, I still own it 30 odd years later.  My mother I can thank for teaching me countless favourite recipes made together, many are my own child's favourite to this day, and often serve as the "comfort food" when we need to mend.

We all learn from the experiences of our life. And this pandemic is shaping history right before our eyes. It is a period in time our children will remember. As a parent, I want it to be remembered for the good memories, not the tough stuff. I hope you do too.

If you are struggling for activities, distractions, or fulfilling pursuits for your children, below are some inspirations for you.

Toddler/ Preschool

• Playdough
• Playing “shops”
• Duplo
• Wooden puzzles
• Learning nursery rhymes
• Spend time on a swing
• Pizzas – Use a flatbread, and prepare cut capsicum, mushrooms and grated cheese and ask children to decorate the pizza
• Sandpit play
• The Imagination Treeis a crafting site from babies through to school age.
• Scopesuggest some fun things to do for sensory play

Primary

• Building an indoor cubby or outside tepee
• Scavenger hunts
• Puzzles, Card games and board games
• Gardening or pick and press flowers
• Paper plane making – turn it into a competition
• Build a marble run from round materials
• Thinklum coding and robotics school offer Online Coding School Holidays Camps for Kids
• Hewlett Packardare offering free printables 
• Build a Domino trail
• Indoor treasure hunt
• Scavenger hunt in your yard – Nature Play SAhave some resources to use for scavenger hunts and outdoor play
• Make Sock puppets – a few socks, big buttons, needle and thread or glue, then put on a play
• Chalk art –draw, write, on concrete – your driveway, a path – share a positive message with your neighbourhood
• Go fishing (check on the latest regulations for this, you may not be able)
• Listen as David Walliams narrates some of his stories from “The Worlds Worst Children”Series (free during COVID-19)
• LIttle Scribehave free educational activities for literacy
• School on TV with ABC TV
• Make a kite and fly it
• Play frisbee
• Let off some energy with Totem tennis
• Bounce on a trampoline
• Some areas, local sports clubs are offering virtual sports camps. Ideas information Officers can help you source virtual sports too.

Teen

Encourage teens to unplug from devices

• Life skills like cooking if not already mastered, now is a great time to share the load
• Try renovating a piece of furniture
• Do a crossword or sudoku puzzle
• Home manicure and paint nails
• Take the time out for a home spa with face masks, exfoliators and letting your skin breathe without makeup
• Learn calligraphy
• Sew a garment or reversible bag – check online for a pattern
• Learn a language – try Duolingo
• Creative photography portraits or still life
• Create something with a 3D printer
• Try Yoga or Pilates.
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The Whole Family

• Encourage outdoor time in your backyard, skipping, shooting basketball hoops, playing tennis against a wall
• A picnic in your yard. The blanket, the thermos, and picnic food. You could also try this indoors
• Camp in your backyard – pitch the tent, build a campfire, cook damper and toast marshmallows
• Keep a gratitude diary, or take photos to record your gratitude moments
• For example, if you are using isolation to repaint a room. Older children (that understand not to do this every day) can draw artwork on the wall before you paint
• Plant a garden
• Wash the car - have fun getting wet
• Keep a gratitude diary, or take photos to record your gratitude moments. this can be done individually or as a group
• A treasure trove of online games and puzzles can be accessed at Crazy games.

https://www.ideas.org.au/blog/what-to-do-in-isolation-in-the-school-holidays.html

As per the fee letter sent to families on 6th April 2020, Important Message about School Fees, there will not be an automatic reduction in school fees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

School fees are an essential portion of resources for the operation of our school and assist our leaders and staff to enhance curriculum and teaching programs.  Therefore, we are asking, for those who can, to continue to support the school financially.

If you have concerns about your financial situation, please contact Maria Churton, School Administration Officer at office@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child(ren)’s education at our school to continue.

Cancellation of Student Activities

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic school camps for the remainder of 2020 have been cancelled. This includes the Gr 3, 4 and 6 camps. Swimming programs (Gr 3-6) scheduled for term 3 have also been cancelled. Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) will continue to monitor the advice of the Victorian Government to ensure that the health and safety of staff and students remains the highest priority. This may mean that swimming programs and excursions remain suspended during Term 4, 2020.

Credits for camps and the Gr 3-6 swimming program have been applied to fee accounts. Further credits will be applied as activities are cancelled. If this credit results in your fee account being overpaid a refund may be requested. Such requests must be submitted in writing, via email to office@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu, from the responsible fee payer and include the bank details for the refund. Alternatively the credit can be applied against 2021 school fees.

Remote Learning - Religion

During Week 9 the children worked on the Creation Story from the Book of Genesis.
God worked for 6 days forming different parts of the world. On the seventh day, God looked at all he had done and rested: he was happy with what he saw.

Here are some of the Creation pictures that were completed by the Foundation children:

Answer from last week:

2.5 kg = 2500 g
2500 ÷ 375 = 6.66
Alex will need to buy 7 packets of ham to make enough sandwiches for his team.