This Sunday is Father’s Day. Fathers play an important role in the development of their child/ren. A child’s mental health and wellbeing is enhanced when fathers take a strong interest in their development and learning.

Be You, a professional learning website created by Beyond Blue, explains why fathers play an important role in a child’s mental health and wellbeing.

As a significant adult, a connected father may, for example, help increase a child or young person’s happiness and confidence, and reduce feelings of fear and guilt, emotional distress and upset.

Children and young people whose fathers are emotionally involved (for instance, acknowledging their child or young person’s feelings and helping them deal with difficult times), are more likely to feel emotionally connected themselves and have more positive relationships with other children and young people. They’re more likely to embrace turn-taking and sharing, and likely to behave less aggressively towards their peers. 

When dads are affectionate and helpful, children and young people are more likely to get on well with their siblings. When they’re involved in their child or young person’s everyday activities (for example, eating meals together, reading and helping with homework), children and young people also tend to have fewer behaviour difficulties and better social skills.

Babies whose fathers are involved in their care are more likely to feel connected to them as a parent, and, therefore, be better able to handle new and unfamiliar situations, to manage stressful situations, and are more curious and eager to explore their environment.

Children and young people benefit from quality interactions, where fathers engage and bond with them.

Young children who receive lots of affection from their dad should have a more secure relationship with him. Fathers can give children a person to trust, to bond with and feel secure around. Boys who feel connected with their dads often have more self-control, while girls connected with their dads often have strong feelings of being confident and capable, and have a positive sense of identity.

Fathers also parent their child in different ways from other family members – for example, dads can provide special experiences through rough-and-tumble play, which helps develop children’s physical abilities and helps them to manage new and exciting experiences. Good father-child relationships in early childhood are also associated with good relationships between fathers and children in adolescence.

I would like to wish all the fathers and father figures in our St Patrick’s school community a fabulous Father’s Day and thank you all for the guidance and support you provide to your child.

St Patrick’s School Disco

The P & F Committee are in the process of organising our 2024 school disco. This has been a fabulous event and fundraiser over the past few years, and I look forward to this year’s event. Tickets for the disco are available to purchase via CDF Pay.   

We will require parent helpers on the evening to provide supervision and help with catering. It would be great if some dads were able to help out, especially at the Year 3 – 6 disco.

Mental Health in Primary Schools Leader

As mentioned in the last edition of the newsletter, Alyce Tait, our Mental Health in Primary Schools Leader, has gone on maternity leave. Over the past few weeks, we have gone through the process of finding her replacement and I am pleased to announce that Kate Wheeler will be taking over the role. Kate is our current Languages (Auslan) teacher and has a passion for supporting children with their mental health and wellbeing. We are fortunate to have such a suitable replacement for Alyce and look forward to Kate supporting students and staff around their mental health.

Child Protection Week

Next week is Child Protection Week and Safeguarding Sunday. Child Safety Week is a national campaign held each year to raise awareness of child abuse prevention in our communities. In 2024, the overarching message, “Every child in every community needs a fair go,” will be complemented by the theme, “Every conversation matters.”

Conversations are powerful tools in our parishes for keeping children and young people safe and well. These dialogues help us understand issues, craft solutions, value community knowledge, and build children’s understanding and social connections.

Let us, as a parish community, use this theme to explore and discuss the many ways that conversations matter for children, young people, and their families. Together, we can ensure that every child and young person in our community feels valued, heard, and safe.

Child Protection Week is an important time for us to consider how we, as adults, can address issues affecting children and young people, and how we can make a difference.

In the Catholic Church, Child Protection Week is highlighted through Safeguarding Sunday, which this year falls on the 8^th September. On Safeguarding Sunday, we recognise and apologise to those who have been abused, their families and supporters, from the harm done by priests, religious, and lay people within Church settings. Rebuilding trust and confidence in the Church requires constant work and vigilance, and on Safeguarding Sunday, we recommit ourselves to safe practices and protocols to create and maintain safe environments for all people.

Together, through awareness, conversation, and prayer, we can build a safer, more supportive community for our children and young people.

Gippsland’s Biggest PJ Day

Next Friday, 6^th September we will be celebrating Gippsland’s Biggest PJ Day. All students are encouraged to wear PJ’s on this day for a gold coin donation. Gippsland’s Biggest PJ Day is an initiative by the community group, A Better Life for Foster Kids, to raise money, grow awareness and collect donated goods for children in out of home care.

Pupil Free Day 

Monday 9^th September is a pupil free day for all students. On this day, staff will be involved in professional learning, and we are fortunate to have psychologist, Tegan McKay, presenting on co-regulation and anxiety for a part of the day. We look forward to this professional learning day and hope that you enjoy a long weekend together as a family.

Kind regards,

Joel