Welcome to St Mary's Parish Primary School

Dear Parents and Friends, Last Saturday, members of the MaD Committee spent the day installing wheel stops, painting directional signs, installing safety bollards and painting pedestrian crossings. All these measures are as a response to last year’s parent survey on Car park safety and ongoing deliberations by the School Advisory Board. In complying with Duty of Care matters, it is important that our immediate physical environment is safe for our students. I sincerely thank each member of MaD who gave of their time and expertise so that we have enhanced safety measures. It is now up to each driver entering the property to adhere to safety requirements as lines and bollards will not keep our children safe unless we are all committed to doing the right thing. Please: • Only allow your child to exit on the driver’s side of the car when using the Oval Drop Off/Pick Up • Drive at the recommended speed of 5 kmh • Do not queue at the William Street gate for pick up time • Park in designated areas • Only park in Disabled Spaces if you hold a Disabled Sticker • Do not use the area in front of the Admin Building for morning Drop Off or afternoon Pick Up UNDERSTANDING AUTISM In our world today, and in our school and for that case, in every other school or place that people are found, there are people who live with Autism or Aspergers. This is not a disease, but a sensory condition that can have a huge impact on how people with these conditions are able to navigate through life. How others understand, respond to and respect the nature of Autism, makes a big difference to those who live with Autism and their families. In the last edition of the Candela, I wrote about developing Resilience in our children, an extremely important capability if we want our children to live with confidence and successfully meet the challenges that they will experience in their lives. I would like to think that as a community, we can all come to understand, be considerate of and develop some personal resilience when challenged with the inevitable “meltdown” or so called “poor behaviour” that accompanies Autism. The following article written by Megan Griffo explains the basics of Autism and includes some firsthand comments from those who live with Autism. “Why are you freaking out?” “Calm down.” “That child having a tantrum just needs some discipline.” “What a brat!” “What a weirdo.” “People on the autism spectrum and their loved ones, unfortunately hear phrases like these every day. Why? Because they often experience sensory overload when too much sensory stimulus is occurring at once. It can be triggered by a crowded room, a TV turned up too loud, strong aromas, fluorescent lighting — or a hundred other things. It’s also associated with diagnoses like sensory processing disorder (SPD), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder and more, although anyone can experience it. Often, a meltdown is the only way to relieve the building tension of sensory overload. The outsider may perceive this as throwing a tantrum. Let’s get a few things clear: a meltdown is not the same as a tantrum, and people who experience meltdowns do not choose to break down. Every person has different techniques for preventing or getting through meltdowns. Different coping mechanisms work for different people. What universally doesn’t work? Judgmental stares, pointing and especially comments. But we’re not trying to call you out if you’ve ever mistaken a meltdown for a tantrum — we’re just here to help you understand the difference.” Megan Griffo First Hand Experiences “I feel trapped. I have a weird tension in my head or my arms I want to get out. Everything around me suddenly feels extremely real like I’ve just come out of the water, I feel all sorts of emotions all at once and I want to run away from them all. I lose sight of what is socially appropriate and start to say things I either don’t mean or something I’ve wanted to say deep down. Whenever that happens I end up hurting someone or confusing everyone. People think because I ‘only’ have Asperger’s I shouldn’t be able to have meltdowns, but I am. I know they’re not as “destructive” or as “obvious” compared to a meltdown my brother would have, but I’m still capable of having them. People tell me to ‘calm down,’ which only makes me feel more frustrated because I already know that. Once the meltdown is ‘over,’ I can’t explain to others why it happened because it isn’t until later at night (or later than that) when I realize it was a meltdown. By the time I come to the conclusion, it’s too late. Others would have forgotten what happened or wouldn’t care. Either way I end up looking like some sort of ‘attention seeker.’” — Chi “It feels like all the pressure that has built up in me (like a fizzy drink) explodes, and you can’t stop, and you lose control until all the pressure is out, and then you sleep to regain strength.” — Lauren H. Autism is a real thing for those who live with it each day. For these people, please try to understand how life is from their perspective. ST. VINNIE’S SLEEP OUT The St. Vinnie’s Diamond Valley Sleep Out will be held on Saturday 15 July at Watermarc Greensborough. Representing St. Mary’s at this event, which is being held to raise awareness of the hardship those in our community endure due to a lack of resources and to raise funds to provide them financial support, are Peter McKenna (parent and co-leader of MaD), Sally Kerr (Yr. 6K teacher) and Amanda Greig (Prep GC teacher). As a school community, we aim, through our sponsorship of Peter, Sally and Amanda, to raise $1500. To help raise funds for this community appeal, St. Mary’s will be having a Pyjama Day on Thursday 29 June when all students are invited to wear their Pyjamas to school and to make a gold coin donation. Students, give up one lunch order, a week’s pocket money or a weekend treat to donate and help out. As the aim is to raise as much as possible, we would also ask for parent donations. These can be brought to the office or sent with your child on the day. If you wish to obtain a receipt for tax deduction, donate at https://vinniescommunitysleepout.gofundraise.com.au and click on Peter McKenna, St. Mary’s Primary School – Donate or go to the following link for Amanda Greig https://vinniescommunitysleepout.gofundraise.com.au/page/mrsgreig All funds will go to the same cause. FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART Our Mass planned for tomorrow, Friday 23 June to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart, has been moved to Friday 30 June. This is due to our Football, Soccer and Softball Teams making it to the District Finals which are to be played tomorrow. Traditionally it is on the Feast of the Sacred Heart that we open our hearts to think of others in need. In doing so, we ask families to donate non-perishable items of food that can be used to assist those who need our love and support. Items of particular need are cereal, long life milk, canned fruit, canned baked beans and spaghetti, pasta, tinned tomatoes, tea, coffee, Milo, fruit juice, canned soup, dry biscuits, rice and tinned tuna etc. If you are able, please send your donation to your child’s class. YR. 7 ENROLMENT TO CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL 2019 Parents of students currently in Yr. 5 are required to lodge an application by August 25 for your child to commence Yr. 7 in 2019. Offer of places will then be made on 13 October. This is the first year this new process has been in place. Regards, Helen