Reducing Anxiety at the Start of a School Year
Going back to school after a long break can be an anxious time for a child, even in the calmest of years. New classes, teachers, and students, as well as the increased uncertainty of the pandemic all have potential to pile up and create fear of the unknown. We add to that additional uncertainties for many students caused by the damaging weather over the weekend, or, for some families even real damage and loss, and it can make for an even more heightened time of worry for our children. Here are some strategies that may help you and your child work through the messy start of the school year and lead to a more positive experience.
Validate Their Anxiety
Letting your child know that you appreciate and understand that they may be anxious about the return to school is important validation for your child and helps them feel safe and secure.
Help Them Prepare
Discuss what to expect with your child and help them understand school procedures and safety measures. Ask them what they are looking forward to and check in regularly in the first weeks.
Focus on the Positives
Talk about the friends and teachers that your child will be seeing again after the long break and reassure your child that they will soon feel comfortable in their new routines.
Limit Expressing Your Expectations
You may need to limit conversations about your expectations for the year—especially academic ones. It may only add to your child’s anxiety now and you will have plenty of time to discuss these during the year.
Don’t Add to the Pressure
Remember that working through the change takes up a lot of energy, so your child may become tired, and a bit more grumpy than usual. Make sure they have plenty of free time to relax and play after school while they settle into the year.
Look After Yourself
The long break and the uncertainty that comes with the current pandemic and what to expect in the future has taken a toll on parents as well. You need to ensure that you have a break and care for your own well being if you are going to be the calm positive carer your child needs. Flexibility is going to be a necessity in the coming months, and you will need to ensure that you maintain your resilience as you care for your child and your family.
We are blessed at Prince of Peace to have a wonderful and supportive community. If you, or your child have been impacted by the weather over the weekend, or your child is showing signs of anxiety for any other reason, please just touch base with their teacher so we are able to look at ways to help support them and their learning through this time.
Acknowledgement: Anxious Kids, 2019, by Michael Grosser and Dr Jodi Richardson
Blessings,
Simon Hughes
Head of College
Spotlight on New Staff
In upcoming editions of POPCORN we will this segment focusing on our new staff who started in 2022, getting to know them a little better with a few quick-fire questions.
Rebecca Belton — Administration Assistant Junior Campus
What have the first weeks at PoP been like for you?
The first weeks at PoP have been so amazing, I have felt so comfortable and at ease.
Everyone has been so welcoming and warm, I feel like I am where I am meant to be. The students are wonderful and a pleasure to be around.
What’s something most people would not guess about you?
I am a mother to twin boys. The twins were born eight weeks premature and I nearly lost one of them at birth, so I am thankful every day for my boys that are now 14 years old.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would be Penang curry chicken with coconut rice, I love Thai food.
Danielle Moore — English Teacher at Middle & Senior Campus
What have the first few weeks at PoP been like for you?
Not unlike everyone else, the first half of Term 1 for me has been challenging and different, but I’ve also had many reasons to be thankful. My PC class, SF1, have been a great help sharing their knowledge of PoP with me. The staff here are unfailingly nice and very supportive, and the students in my classes make me smile and laugh much more often than they make me frown.
What’s something that most people might not guess about you?
I have a Master of Applied Linguistics majoring in Teaching English as a Second or Other Language, and I love gardening and playing computer games—though I don’t get nearly enough time to do either!
When am I the happiest?
I am happiest when I’m having fun with my husband and our two children—they are only very young and (almost) everything they do is adorable.
Pretty Blessed
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
What’s going on in our world? War and tension and political agendas. COVID politics and floods. What is going on? Shouldn’t we have a world that seems to be a little more at peace? A world where we care a little more? A world that is just easier? After all are we not more intelligent now as a society than in the middle-ages? So why is there so much struggle and hurt and hatred and anger and frustration?
We are told to have resilience and to have a positive mindset and to keep giving of ourselves. There are so many demands each and every day, and then when we do not feel as positive as we are told we need to feel, we are often hit with guilt. Heaped on by ourselves. Questions of why am I not coping, am I normal, why don’t others struggle like I am… can arise leaving you feeling, well, not too special, not too blessed.
What is happening in your own life right at this moment? Do you feel that the world events are weighing heavy on your soul? Maybe you are right in the middle of your own personal storm as you read this and your own floodwaters are rising? Maybe you are burdened by the guilt of failing in your own life, or sin. Perhaps you are grieving with the world or with your own situation.
Last time we heard of resting in Jesus who leads us to the place of peace in Him. He calls to you to refresh your soul with His healing word. Know the truth that in Him you will find rest for your souls.
Do you know that Jesus knows you so well? Do you know that He knows every anxious thought and every fear? He knows your struggles, He knows your dreams, your goals, your ideas—He knows you.
Do not fear then in everything that you face each day, for Jesus has redeemed you—He has washed away all your sins and He is making all things new. He has called you by name, yes you, for you are His.
When you find yourself in the storms of life know that you are called by name over and over again. Jesus calls to out to encourage you, to heal, to give rest and to refresh you. Listen to His voice and you will never be the same again. You will find your strength renewed. You are chosen, you are loved, you are blessed, so in turn you can bless others. Be at peace then in this world today for Jesus knows your name.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Mark Gierus
College Pastor
Let’s Lean on God
Like many people, I spent time over the weekend viewing the many news reports that detailed tragic events; lives lost in flooded waterways, homes destroyed, families evacuated, Russian tanks invading Ukraine and somewhere in the mess was a COVID report. There is no doubt that these events have been tragic and heart breaking for so many.
So, how can we help? Where is the hope when so many of these situations seem overwhelming? It is my hope that in these times, you will notice God’s love and care in your lives. The neighbour that brings a meal. The kind words that speak encouragement. The helping hands that clean or move boxes. The listening ear of a friend. All of these remind me that God has got this, and He has you firmly wrapped in his love.
During these tough times, and the tough times that are to come, I encourage you to lean on God, lean on the people He has placed in our lives and lean on us at the College too.
Traffic Update
A big THANK YOU to those who have slowed down on the way in and on the way out of the Junior Campus. It makes my heart sing that our community is looking out for children and adults.
Please remember that if the traffic is queuing to get into the Junior Campus that driving on the wrong side of the road and passing this traffic is extremely dangerous. Please pass this message onto anyone that picks up or drops off your child so we can ensure that everyone is safe.
In classrooms today, teachers and students spent some time reflecting on Ash Wednesday as we begin that time of the church year called Lent.
Our Ministry and Outreach Captains, and other Year 6 Leaders were involved in assisting teachers as we were reminded once again that Jesus loves us so much despite our faults and failings.
It is always our hope that children and families will come to know that they are loved, forgiven and perfectly restored in Jesus.
How good was Tuckshop?
A quick look at the happy faces at lunch time two weeks ago could only mean one thing—Tuckshop Day! It is amazing how food creates joy and brings people together. I think it is very important to note the extraordinary efforts our parents make to organise, cook and serve our students with a healthy and delicious tuckshop service.
These meals are cooked from scratch, filled with hidden goodness and lovingly packed and served to our children. I know this takes a great deal of effort and care, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Annette Jacobs and her team for continuing this food ministry to our students. As a parent I was always very grateful for the ‘day off’ lunches. Thank you!
Anne-Marie Schmidt
Head of Junior Campus
Growing with Gratitude Program
During this time of unpredictability and instability the mental and emotional wellbeing of our children is paramount. At Prince of Peace, we ensure that the wellbeing of our students is at the forefront of all that we do. Our Growing with Gratitude Program allows our students to flourish in an optimal learning environment. Just like a skill in sport, resilience can be practiced. The key to learning new skills and in-turn developing positive habits is time allocation (allocating time to practice), conscious practice (providing students with the opportunity to practice) and consistency (regular practice over a long period of time).
The following has been adapted from the GWG Grit Guide found on the grit.growingwithgratitude.com.au website.
Growing with Gratitude uses the acronym G.R.I.T
G — Growth Mindset
R — Resilience
I — Inner-Self
T — Try Hard Rule
Growth Mindset
Students could already be good at something, but a growth mindset encourages them to become even better. On the flip side, if they are not good at something, instead of giving up, a growth mindset teaches students to ask questions such as—what can I try that’s different? Who can I ask for help? Can I try a different strategy?
We want students to keep asking themselves—“how can I get better?” And then keep practicing.
Resilience
Resilience is bouncing back when things don’t go the way we’d like or as planned. These setbacks are often unexpected.
In such situations, students have the opportunity to step up and be a leader. They could encourage others around them to bounce back and they could take action and demonstrate to others what it means to bounce back.
Students will develop the confidence to know, no matter how big or small the setback, things will be okay if they NEVER GIVE UP!
Inner-Self
Inner-Self is understanding how we are feeling. This is also known as self-awareness. Sometimes we will feel positive emotions such as—feeling happy or excited. Other times we may feel negative emotions such as—feeling sad, mad, or frustrated and there is nothing wrong with that. We are people, it’s going to happen.
However, it’s important for students to know what do to if they are feeling sad, mad, or frustrated. Growing With Gratitude, teachers, family, and friends can teach young people different ways to help improve their mood, but they are the only one who can do it. This is called ownership. Students will learn positive self-talk. What they tell themselves in their own mind is a key to grow grit.
Try Hard Rule
Self-Talk is a key part of the Try Hard Rule. Self-Talk used in the right way can help students overcome challenges and grow grit. Instead of saying to themselves, “this is too hard” they will learn to say “this is hard and I love it, I am going to keep trying because I love to do things that are hard”.
What does it feel like to do something hard? It can be challenging for young people. How does it feel after doing something hard? It’s likely students will feel proud and want to keep challenging themselves and others to do things that are hard.
For more information on this program, please go to https://www.growingwithgratitude.com.au/ or if you would like to know how it is integrated into our programs, please contact your child’s teacher.
Coreta Lennon
Deputy Head of Junior Campus
Junior Campus Recycling Scheme
Prince of Peace is excited to be partnering with The Exchange Shed Jimboomba for the second year.
By partnering with them, and Containers for Change, we have been able to reduce container litter, increase recycling efforts and raise much needed funds for community groups.
In Term 1 of 2022 we will be supporting Kids Helpline.
How it works
Collect a bag from the small blue bin at the Prep carpark, fill the bag with eligible containers and drop the bag back in front of your child’s class sign at the Prep carpark.
The class who recycles the most containers this term will receive a pizza party thanks to Megan from the Exchange Shed.
Bebras Challenge 2022
Bebras is an international initiative aiming to promote Informatics and Computational Thinking among students. Started in 2004 by Professor Valentina Dagiene from the University of Vilnius, ‘Bebras’ is Lithuanian for beaver. This refers to their collaborative nature and strong work ethic.
The Bebras international community has now grown to include 60 countries with over 2.9 million students participating worldwide!
Bebras Australia began in 2014 and is now administered through CSIRO Digital Careers. In Australia, the Bebras Challenge takes place in March and August-September each year. As of 2020, different challenges are offered for each round.
Years 3-4 and 5-6 can complete the Bebras Challenge during lunch break from Monday 14 March until Friday 18 March.
Students have 45 minutes to complete the Bebras Challenge, however Years 3-4 are given an additional 15 minutes to bring their total to 60 minutes.
Each challenge has 15 questions with the highest possible score being 135 points. The level of difficulty of a question determines how it will be scored. Easy questions are worth 6 points, medium questions are worth 9 points, and hard questions are worth 12 points. Any incorrect or unanswered questions are awarded zero points.
The Bebras achievement level breakdown is as follows:
- Participation 0-59 points
- Merit 60-86 points
- Credit 87-101 points
- Distinction 102-113 points
- High Distinction 114-134 points
- Honour Roll 135 points
Students who receive full marks in the Bebras Challenge are awarded a place on the Bebras Honour Roll.
Please contact Rebekah Bruyn via SEQTA for further details.
Interviews for Prep 2023 to Commence Shortly
Interviews for all Prep 2023 students will commence shortly. If you have not already registered your child, please complete in this Online Enrolment Form (you can also access it on our website home page).
If you have any friends who are interested in learning about the College, they can also fill in the Enrolment application or attend our next Junior Campus Open Morning on Thursday 9 June at 8:45am. If you have any questions, please contact our Community Development and Enrolments Manager Donna Cook on 3872 5710 or via email enrolments@princeofpeace.qld.edu.au.
Student Information Collection Notice for Parents/Guardians
The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (the department) would like to notify you that a request has been made for your child’s school to provide residential address and other information as required under the Australian Education Regulation 2013.
The school is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school:
- Names and residential addresses of student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
- Student residential address (excluding student names)
- Whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
- Whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status)
The school collects the above information by generating a unique and unidentifiable – student reference number (SRN) for each student record. The SRN is also only used by the school for this collection. It is not allowed to be used for any other purpose. The number only indicates to the department that each record provided is for one student.
Where everybody is somebody
I have had the privilege to be involved in the Middle School Captains’ and House Captains’ interviews this last week. One of the questions that we ask is; what is so special about Prince of Peace? What was lovely to hear from our young people is how they feel so connected with their peers and teachers. Each of them could talk about a significant peer they had met or teacher who made them feel welcomed and accepted for who they are.
It made me think about how much they have grown since starting in Year 7 or 8 and the confidence to make a difference in the lives of others in their community. It is not until we look back on ourselves that we see our growth and I encourage parents of new students in our community to know that their child will start to feel these connections too as time goes on.
These students’ stories give us hope at Prince of Peace that everybody is somebody.
Academic Awards
We have much to celebrate and be thankful for as we have had the opportunity in the last fortnight to recognise student academic achievements from Semester 2 in 2021. We were able to gather in Year Level Assemblies to present Academic Honours and Excellence Awards. We congratulate students who received these awards and they are listed in this edition of POPCORN. I would like to congratulate all of our young people in pursuing their personal excellence and pathway with us at Prince of Peace in 2021, and hope they can reflect on their proud moments that bring hope into the new year.
2021 Semester 2 Academic Honours Awards
Year 7
Brooke Eaglestone
Thomas Gilfillan
Chai Harvey
Louise Hegner
Aye Mi Htoo
Thea McIver
Olivia Phillips
Holly Starr
Katie Turner
Emma Tyson
Year 8
Jasmine Holland
Emma Labuschagne
Elliot Schmidtchen
Lily Stokes
Zabelle Warriner-Banner
Ashleigh Bleckwehl
Jessica Deb
Keely Fraser
Sophie Glenworth
Nicholas Horsington
Isla Rogers
Liam Bell
Isaac Chen
Anuksha Sengupta
Hannah Vayro
Year 9
Chloe Burns
Lucas Cantarella
Giaan Cook
Ella Forbes
Sophie Gardiner
Harrison Haines
Abbi Hewitt
Lucinda Hocking
Diezel Paget
Amber Paul
Charlotte Scott
Dylan Turley
Harry Valencia
Year 10
Keira Andretzke
Siena Bramwell
Ella Bunn
Jett Cargill
Jonas Forbes-Schutz
Phoebe Tobin
Madeleine Winn
Year 11
Elsie Corlis
Lauren Horswill
2021 Semester 2 Academic Excellence Awards
Year 7
Georgia Bean
Pippy Bohan
Ava Downie
Freya Garrad
Connor Rhind
Audrey Seilo
Hannah Selwood
Aleisha Sivyer
Year 8
Georgia East
Hannes Forbes-Schutz
Chloe Selwood
Amelia Swift
Amelia Watkins
Jemima Sutherland
Bella Turner
Jacob Howard-Taylor
Lara Savaille
Erin Scott
Year 9
Flynn Bohan
Alana Bomgaars
Tara Bowman
Ryan Eaglestone
Jasmine Everitt
Freya Forbes-Schutz
Ellen Hamilton
Alexis Hulcombe
Nathan Lilly
Mercedes McIver
Chloe Noon
Ryan Pustolla
Abigail Tay
Year 10
Patrick Austin
Xavier Sivyer
Mikayla Swift
Year 11
Ashleigh Eaglestone
Rosina Floriani
Georgia Glentworth
Austin Haines
Andrew Klimenko
Jordan Muduioa
Heidi Noon
Holly Strachan
Josie Swift
Mackenna Tom
Jacob Williams
Zachary Williams
Year 9 Ubuntu Calling Ceremony
It was also a delight to be able to share with Year 9 students in their Ubuntu Calling Ceremony and the Ubuntu teachers Sharon Grimes, Norm Russell and Richard Stevens. Although we were unable to have parents join us, we were able to live stream this special ceremony. Ubuntu is a unique rites of passage program that encourages our young women and men to recognise they have moved out of the stage of childhood development into the next stage of their life development in becoming a young adult.
So what is significant about the call that our young people made in this ceremony? It is a call to act, reflecting on what is the need or cause for action. It is a call to an adventure. A call to go on a journey of growth and reflection.
We pray that every student in Year 9 this year works towards developing a sense of who each of us are individually and who we are as part of the wider group. The word Ubuntu means “I am because we are”. These two questions become a foundation in their lives: Who are you? Who are we becoming?
Wellbeing Support
Each edition of POPCORN we will be starting to share some wellbeing support for parents to assist their young person. This edition we have selected an article from Maggie Dent who is one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators. She has a particular interest in the early years, adolescence, and resilience. Maggie is an advocate for the healthy, common-sense raising of children to strengthen families and communities. Maggie is the host of the ABC podcast Parental As Anything. Two of her bestselling books was Mothering Our Boys (2018) and From Boys to Men (2020).
The focus of this article is on parenting through a pandemic and how to keep on balancing the demands that are placed on parents and their children. Although we may not be experiencing a lockdown now due to COVID, the extreme weather that we have encountered this last week throws another challenge into our lives. Click on the link below to access the article.
https://www.maggiedent.com/blog/navigating-these-crazy-crappy-uncertain-times-as-a-family/
Final thoughts
Our thoughts and prayers remain with all our families as we find the strength and courage to restore our homes and community through the floods and daily living through the pandemic.
May these words from Joshua 1:9 stay with you:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Sarah Hoff-Zweck
Head of Middle and Senior Campus
Careers @ PoP
Last week saw the Year 10 cohort complete a ‘Morrisby Career Profile’. The Morrisby Profile has been designed to help guide students in their academic and professional pursuits. It provided students with a detailed insight into their abilities, personality preferences as well as the environment that they would work best in.
The Morrisby Profile is widely used in Australia. We at Prince of Peace have made the decision to offer this as our commitment to offering effective career development to our students. The tests were completed online with the results to be used progressively this year within the Careers subject as well as over the next three years as students prepare for their post-school decision making.
We spent a lesson dissecting their results, so if your student is in Year 10, I would encourage you to ask them about this assessment and have a look at how accurate the reports have been.
If your student was away, we will be following up on this when they return. If you have any questions about this assessment, please contact myself or one of the other two Careers teachers, Mr Russell or Mrs Anderson via a SEQTA message.
Kind regards,
Mrs Julie Grosas
Careers and VET Leader
Junior Campus Sport
Met North District Swimming Representatives
Congratulations to our Met North District Swimming Representatives: Lachlan Larder, Matthew Labuschagne, Nate Christison and Thomas Forbes-Schutz who did us proud with their performances in the pool. Special mention to Nate Christison who swam the house down and placed 1st in the 100m Freestyle and 3rd in the 100m Backstroke. You are all amazing!
Matthew Barben
Junior Campus HPE and Sport
Senior Campus Sport
Track and Field
Congratulations to Jonas Forbes-Schutz (Year 11), Freya Forbes-Schutz (Year 10) and Hannes Forbes-Schutz (Year 9) who have qualified to compete in the 2000m Steeplechase at the Australian Junior Track and Field Championships in Sydney, next month. This is a fantastic achievement and just reward for their dedication and commitment to training. Well done and best of luck!
Cricket
We would also like to acknowledge and congratulate Elijah Walsh (Year 10) who has been selected in the Met North 16-19 years Boys Cricket Team. Elijah was one of the younger participants at the trials, which makes his selection even more impressive. He will be competing in the State Championships in Rockhampton from the 6th-8th March. Good luck Elijah!
Metropolitan North Swimming
We had a number of PoP Middle and Senior School students attend the Met North Swimming carnival held last week.
In inclement weather and without a school swim carnival leading in, our students achieved great results, with quite a few personal best times recorded. Congratulations to Jade Lewis (Year 7), Levi Larder (Year 8), Hannes Forbes-Schutz (Year 9), Freya Forbes-Schutz (Year 10) and Jonas Forbes-Schutz (Year 11).
Nominations open for district trials
Nominations are now open for a number of different district trials. All trial information will be uploaded onto SEQTA notices. Please ensure you check these regularly so as not to miss out on any opportunities.
Has your child achieved something special in sport?
We love to celebrate the sporting success of our students so please do let us know when a student has achieved something special in the sporting arena so that we can share their story with our school community!
Gabby Collman
Sports Coordinator
HPE, Science and Mathematics Teacher
Junior Campus Music News
Welcome to another great year in the Music Program.
Junior Campus Choirs will now commence in Week 7 (March 8 and 9). A note has been sent via SEQTA, if you have any questions, please message me.
Rehearsal times are as follows:
- Tuesday: JC Upper Primary Choir (Years 4-6), 7:40am in the Music Room
- Wednesday: PoP Junior Voices (Years 2-3), 7:40am in the Music Room
Classroom Music
It’s RECORDER TIME. Woohoo. The Year 4 students were super excited to start the recorder last week. Parents – maybe not as keen 🙂 Recorder Karate has been introduced and students may come in at morning tea / lunch to earn belts. My door has almost fallen off its hinges with the amount of students playing Hot Cross Buns to receive their White Belt.
Preps are learning a lot of new vocabulary in the Music classroom.
- beat
- rhythm
- high, low
- loud, quiet
- fast, slow
They’re also learning the difference between their speaking and singing voices, different ways to move to the music and play different percussion instruments.
Should you have any questions about the instrumental, choral or classroom music program on the Junior Campus, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sherree Cudney
Junior Campus Music
Senior Campus Music News
‘Soloists on Show’ performances will be on Wednesday 16 March, 6.30pm in M1.
If your child would like to be a performer at the Soloists On Show Soiree make sure that they ask their tutor to put them forward or audition for Ms Brady.
The performances need to be finalised by 9 March; of course if this event is to go ahead Queensland will need to move into a new phase lifting some of the current COVID-19 restrictions. I will continue to plan as though it will go ahead but keep an ear out as the date draws closer.
Lights Camera Action!
We are going to hear the Queensland Symphony Orchestra play music from the stage and screen. Students from the elective music classroom and Extra Curricular Ensembles Program will get an invitation this week to join us on an excursion to QPAC Concert Hall to hear the orchestra play LIVE! This is a great opportunity for any music enthusiast but especially for students who are learning an instrument or playing in an ensemble. The excursion is during school time, and being invited is one of the benefits of being a part of this vibrant program. YAY!
Private Tuition and Ensemble Rehearsal
SEQTA is now being used for all notifications of private tuition and ensemble rehearsals. Ensemble rehearsals for 2022 are as per the schedule below. Each week, students will receive invitations to appointments for their rehearsals. It is important that they learn to accept the invitation if they are coming, and decline the invitation if for some reason they cannot attend. A Direct Message on SEQTA should follow up with an explanation. Private Lessons will appear as a timetabled lesson in the student’s timetable. If in doubt see Ms Brady in M1.
It is wonderful how students are all remembering how important it is for the team that everyone is at all rehearsals. The music just isn’t the same without you! Being on time and having all of your music and gear is all a part of the learning experience and develops discipline and skills which will be useful in all aspect of life. WELL DONE!
Let’s make music!
Linda Brady
Senior Campus Curriculum Leader of Music and Coordinator of Extra-Curricular Music
Worship
6 March
9am Worship
3:00pm Youth@PoP – Meet at 3pm to watch Encanto! Bring some money for popcorn and drinks. All year levels are welcome to come along. Questions? Email youth@princeofpeace.org.au
5pm Together@5
Please keep an eye on the Prince of Peace Church Facebook page for service updates.
OSHC – April Vacation Care
Download the information program for April 2022 Vacation Care »
