News

This year students in technology have rotated through various units, learning about digital technology.

Our learning diversity team has been actively supporting all students to be able to participate, including flying drones.

Here are a few photos of Hayden C and Ben B flying their drones.

During Inflame for Term 4, a large number of students have been showing their artistic flare in arts and crafts.  Some prefer to sketch on personal drawing pads, others prefer to be more technical while using software and online tools to make graphical designs, while all enjoy a good colouring experience.

We even have an author currently creating one of their first stories! The many forms of expressions that have popped up in the arts and crafts space have both astounded us at the College and made us all the more prideful of our students’ abilities and interests.

A growth mindset is the belief that one’s abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and input from others.  It is the opposite of a fixed mindset, which is the belief that one’s abilities and intelligence are innate and cannot be changed.

As a parent you have a responsibility to promote a growth mindset in your children because it can have a powerful impact on their beliefs and achievements.  Here are some reasons why:

• Promotes effort over innate ability: Praising children for working hard promotes a growth mindset, which sends a message that the child’s effort is what led them to success.  In contrast, praising kids for being smart promotes a fixed mindset, which sends a message that their accomplishments are trait-based and tied to something innate.
• Encourages learning from mistakes: When parents talk positively about making mistakes, kids start to think of mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.  This can help children develop resilience and a willingness to take risks.
• Increases motivation and achievement: When children learn that their brains physically change with effort, it leads to increased motivation and achievement.  They understand that they have control over growing their brains through the actions they take, which is empowering.
• Leads to greater persistence: Children tend to be more persistent when their parents have a growth mindset.  They understand that challenges and failure framed as learning opportunities can help them become smarter, and that struggling and working on a challenge or setback is good for the brain’s neurological growth.
• Improves learning outcomes: Research shows that a growth mindset furnishes many lifelong advantages, such as improving learning outcomes and offsetting stress.

To promote a growth mindset, parents can give process praise, talk about the brain, accept mistakes as learning opportunities, and understand the role of emotions in learning.

Here are some specific ways parents can instil a growth mindset:

• Recognise your own mindset: Be mindful of your own thinking and of the messages you send with your words and actions.
• Praise the process: Praising kids for working hard suggests that effort is what leads to success, while focusing on the process helps them see how their effort leads to success.
• Model learning from failure: When parents talk positively about making mistakes, kids start to think of mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.
• Encourage risk, failure, and learning from mistakes: Failure teaches resiliency, so it’s important to encourage children to take risks and learn from their mistakes.
• Talk to youth about famous people’s failures: Sharing stories of famous people who failed before succeeding can help children understand that failure is a natural part of the learning process.
• Encourage and model positive self-talk: Saying statements like “Mistakes help me learn better” and “I can always improve, so I’ll keep trying” can help children develop a growth mindset.

Overall, promoting a growth mindset can help children develop resilience, persistence, and a willingness to take risks, which can lead to greater achievement and success in life.

This week our beach inflame group braved the rain and spent the morning at Lakes Beach walking, playing and drawing in the sand.

Here are some photos showcasing some of the fun that was had by all.

We would like to acknowledge the following students Hope, Cahill, Josh, Sam, Dom and Tali (former student) who on Saturday 28th October assisted with the Bunnings BBQ.  The students volunteered their time to assist with fundraising and supporting Variety – The Children’s Charity.

We thank you all for the time you spent helping out on the day.  Collectively they worked together well under pressure.

Children are frequently exposed to distressing news through the 24-hour news cycle and social media. These experiences can provoke anxiety, especially in young minds still forming their worldviews.  Parents and caregivers should be mindful of overexposure to such content as it can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. Children’s responses to trauma can vary, from being strong emotional reactions to being indifferent. It can leave an emotional imprint that can affect a child’s behaviour and perception of danger.

Children need reassurance about their safety as they navigate uncertain times. Tailor conversations to your child’s age and emotional maturity. Younger children benefit from simplified explanations focusing on peace, empathy, and cooperation, while older children can delve into historical events, root causes of conflict, and the complexities of international relations.

Before discussing these topics with your child, it is also important to assess your own emotions and comfort level. By staying calm and providing physical comfort will help your child regulate their own emotions. In challenging times, compassionate adults play a crucial role in helping children cope with anxiety and providing hope and understanding in our complex world.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to tackle this difficult topic and helping children understand there is still hope in our complex world. Please take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://sbccdbb.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-discussing-war-conflict