12 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Hello Swan Reach,

Congratulations to all involved with Ski for Life, directly and indirectly. The foundation focusses on raising community awareness and understanding about mental health, suicide intervention and building resilience, particularly in rural areas. This parallels SRAS’s WeMatter endeavour to promote mental health and wellbeing, assist students experiencing difficulties, connecting families with support services and building resilient learners and citizens.

SRAS staff and students joined the Ski for Life teams at the reserve to welcome them to our community and support their challenge. Thank you to Mrs Hayley Griffiths for sharing her family’s backstory about tough times and her encouraging words about holding onto hope, applying resilience (loads of it!) and support of families, friends and services throughout difficult times.

Her message was reiterated by Ben (Ski for life participant who has lost over 95% of his vision), who for a second year, shared his insight into triumphing over diversity through resilience. He shared that resilience was in 3 parts; Attitude, Behaviour and Social Groups. He emphasised that all 3 are in an individual’s control and achievable. The Ski for Life teams where most grateful of our and the Progress Association’s support, as there are many stops they encounter with no community support or acknowledgement. Well done SRAS community.

POSITIVE SCHOOL IMAGE

Fostering positive relationships with families is a key component of our WeMatter initiative. SRAS continues to host community events and improve how we engage with families and the community, and are grateful for your support – thank you. Together we’ve embraced a plethora of opportunities, including; 3-Way Conferences, Amalgamation, Music Strategy Trial, WeMatter Launch and Reconciliation Event, Big Breakfast, Principal Tours, Whole School Transition, VET at Berri, Revamped Sports Days and Swimming Carnivals; Traffic Lights; Parent Child Mother Goose; and the list goes on!

SRAS is proud of its collaborations with families to build a positive school community for ALL. Despite so many positives there are some concerns. In particular how the rapidity with which falsity travels - “falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after it,” wrote Swift in 1710. As evident from the quote, this truth has existed for centuries. Recent studies into the same phenomena into online applications showed that, “falsehood diffused farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth in all categories of information.”

SRAS encourages all community members to seek clarity from leadership and staff when hearing about potentially negative school news. Confidentiality needs for ALL families and students may prevent specific details being available to you but SRAS will certainly assist in highlighting any untruths or distorted facts so you may be better informed – WeMatter.

General Information

RESILIENCE

10 Strategies to help kids develop resilience

Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’ from life’s difficulties. For many young people it is vital to help them develop resilience strategies that promote well-being and develop coping mechanisms. Many resilient teenagers are seen as resourceful and are emotionally and mentally balanced.

Andrew Fuller is a clinical psychologist and chairperson of the Mental Health & Wellbeing of Young People not-for-proft educational seminars by Generation Next. He describes resilience as “the happy knack of being able to bungy jump through the pitfalls of life – to rise above adversity and obstacles.”

Tips for building resilience in children*

1. Make connections

Teach children how to make friends and develop empathy. Encourage them to be a friend in order to get friends. At school, watch to make sure that one child is not being isolated. Connecting with people provides social support and strengthens resilience.

2. Teach children to help others

Children who may feel helpless can be empowered by helping others. Ask for help with a task they can master. At school, brainstorm with children about ways they can help others.

3. Daily routine

Following a routine can be comforting to children, especially younger children who crave structure in their lives. Encourage children to develop their own routines.

4. Take a breaks

Although it is important to stick to routines, endlessly worrying can be counter-productive. Show children how to focus on something besides what’s worrying them.

5. Self-care for children

Teach child the importance of making time to eat properly, groom themselves, exercise and rest. Children need ‘down time’ to relax, so make sure that not all free time is filled with a scheduled activity.

6. Goals

Teach children to set reasonable goals and move toward them one step at a time. Moving toward that goal and receiving praise for doing so will focus children on what they have accomplished.

7. Nurture a positive self-view

Help children remember ways that they have successfully handled hardships in the past and how this can help them handle future challenges. Help children learn to trust themselves to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.

8. Be optimistic

Even when children are facing very painful events, help them look at the situation in a broader context. A positive outlook enables children to see the good things in life and keep going even in the hardest times.

9. Self-discovery

Change and tough times are often when children learn the most about themselves. Help children to see that this is a good time to find out “what they are made of.” Change can be scary for young people, help them to see that change is part of life.

10. Make home a safe haven

In high school, taunting and bullying can intensify – home should be a haven, especially as your teen encounters more freedoms and choices and looks to home to be a constant, safe and emotionally secure place in his or her life.

Mr John Robertson
Principal

EARLY CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATION REQUIREMENTS

From January 2020, early childhood services are required to keep immunisation records for children. Parents and guardians with children enrolled in a government early childhood service (eg Preschool, rural care, occasional care, family day care or respite care service) will be asked to provide approved immunisation records for their child. Please contact the school if you have questions or concerns.

Meningococcal Vaccination

Important information for parents and students re Meningococcal Vaccination

The free Meningococcal B catch-up program has been extended until 29th February 2020 for young adults, who were aged 17 to less than 21 years when the program started on 1 February 2019.

The Meningococcal ACWY is offered through the school program to 14 -16 year olds in year 10 however students aged 15 to less than 20 years of age who have not received the vaccine are able to access this vaccine through an ongoing GP and council clinic program.

The Meningococcal ACWY and Meningococcal B vaccines are available from GPs or your local council immunisation service for students who missed the opportunity at school to access these free vaccines.

From January to November 2019 there were 26 cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported in South Australia, compared to 30 cases recorded at the same time last year. Of the 26 cases in 2019, 18 have been serogroup B, four serogroup Y, and four serogroup W.

Ref; SA Health Media release 21 November 219

Help put a stop to this devastating disease.

Students or parents may phone HAIMS 8152 0363 if they have any questions relating to this notice.

PARENTS & FRIENDS NEWS

Parents and Friends are fired up and ready to go for Sports Day tomorrow. Thank you to those families who pre-ordered lunches. There will be a limited amount of hamburgers available on the day plus drinks and ice creams.

Prices will be:

Hamburgers $4
Soft drinks and water $2
Chocolate Paddle Pops $1.50

Keep an eye on our Facebook page to keep up to date (Swan Reach Area School Parents and Friends).

We will be looking for a couple of extra pairs of hands so if you want to get involved this is the perfect way. We look forward to Sports Day.

Mardi Le Brun
Parents and Friends
Secretary

SWAN REACH AREA SCHOOL SPORTS DAY

Reminder to all families and community members that we have the 2020 SRAS Sports Day tomorrow, March 13th. Although temperatures will be on the slightly warm side, I am extremely excited for a huge day of fun, participation and competition. Yesterday, we were lucky enough to experience all of this, with an amazing morning for the combined 3000m/1000m event. Incredibly, we had over 30 participants compete in the new 1000m option, designed to enhance participation among students. It was great to see even reception students have the opportunity to compete in this event. Congratulations to Bill Hall for winning the 1000m event and Olivia Griffiths for winning the 1000m girls event. The 3000m event saw nine competitors battle it out over the 7 ½ lap journey. Congratulations to Michael Trezise Donald for winning the 3000m open boys event and Jazzy Challenor for winning the 3000m open girls event. I look forward to many more great contests come tomorrow! Thank you parents/carers for ensuring your child comes to school tomorrow with a hat and water bottle. We certainly don’t want anyone getting sunburnt or dehydrated. Thank you again to Parents and Friends for providing us all with lunch tomorrow. I’m sure everyone who has pre-ordered is in for a delicious treat. A massive thank you to all of the parents, carers and family members who have volunteered their time to help marshal tomorrow. I sincerely appreciate your help – the sports day simply wouldn’t run without you. I kindly ask that any marshals who have volunteered tomorrow to meet at the announcer’s tent at 9am tomorrow morning for briefing. The first event, the open 1500m kicks off at 9:10am. See you all tomorrow. Go Murray Eagles and Mallee Kangaroos!

Mr Jayden Coleman
Sports Coordinator

SKI FOR LIFE

Once again the school and community came together to support the Ski for Life cause and our local team, “Walkers on the Water”. The SRC had a fundraiser on Tuesday 3rd March, where students had the opportunity to throw wet sponges at staff, guess the lolly jar and purchase slushies. SRC raised just over $200 which was presented to the team on Friday. Thank you to all staff and students for your involvement and help on these days. It is very important that we continue to raise awareness and encourage the conversations to support mental health, well-being and suicide prevention.

The SRC on Friday

SRC Fundraiser

Ski For Life 2020

Miss Rohie Griffiths
Teacher

SCHOOL LUNCH ORDERS

We thank the Swan Reach General Store for supplying lunch orders for the school. The menu and ordering details are below. Please note there are no lunch orders available on Wednesdays.

SRAS WEBSITE

The Swan Reach Area School website is where you can find all the school information including the newsletter, forms and polices. Please visit the link below:

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

Due Date for the next Newsletter is 10:00am, Tuesday 24th March, 2020. The newsletter is distributed via the SZApp and school website. Printed copies are still available upon request.

Articles can be emailed to dl.0423.info@schools.sa.edu.au clearly marked in the subject box as Newsletter, faxed to 8570 2325 or delivered to the library/front office. Due to the way the Newsletter is now being set up, not all photos are included in the print copy, however there are several photo galleries included online and via the SZApp.

PLAYGROUP

Swan Reach Playgroup at SRAS Early Learning Centre. Every Tuesday during term time 10am-12pm. All children birth to school age are welcome for indoor and outdoor play. Please wear sun-smart clothing, bring a hat, water bottle and fruit/veg to share for healthy snack time. $2 per session, per family.

Contact Katie at the school on 8570 2053.

P-CMG

Parent Mother Goose sessions will return to Swan Reach in the Early Learning Centre on Tuesday Week 4, 18th February 2020; 10:30 – 11:30, then odd school weeks thereafter. PCMG is a chance to get out of the house for babies and toddlers and their carers. Bond with your children and have fun using the power of songs, rhymes and stories. Trained facilitators lead a relaxed session for parents and children with a play and coffee n chat after. Sessions are free and there is no booking involved!

Coming Events 2020

Community Notice Board

Kids Club

3:15pm-4:30pm FRIDAY 27th March 2020, at the Swan Reach Lutheran Hall. For Reception to Year 7 students. Cost $1. Enquiries Phone Taryn 0427 702 377 or Kristy 0438 857 721.

Easter Fair

River Run to the Reach and Street Party