Dear Parents and Guardians,   

  Welcome back to Term 4. I hope you had a wonderful break and I look forwarding to seeing you all throughout the Term. 

I had the privilege of being a Foundation member of the School to attend the Year 6 Camp last week to Camp Paterson, near Mareeba and what  a wonderful opportunity it was. 

The experience over the 4 days was filled with lots of activities, challenges and laughter. Scott and Lyn (Camp owners) were incredibly friendly and helpful. 

The Year 6 students demonstrated throughout the 4 days the skills of: Persistence, Confidence, Getting Along, Organisation and Resilience. 

Social Emotional Learning  

This Semester in SEL in the Seconds Steps Program we will be focusing on Emotional Management.  

Second Step   

Second Step SEL is research-based, teacher-informed, and classroom-tested to promote the social-emotional development, safety, and well-being of children from Early Learning through Grade 8. Children learn and practice vital skills for listening and paying attention, having empathy, managing emotions, building friendships, and solving problems with others. The 25-minute interactive lessons and discussion-based activities with distinct grade-level experiences. The lessons focus on Social-Emotional Learning:   

• Mindsets & Goals  
•  Recognising Bullying & Harassment  
• Thoughts, Emotions, & Decisions  
• Managing Relationships & Social Conflict  

This Semester in SEL in the Seconds Steps Program we will be focusing on Problem Solving. These lessons will continue throughout the Year for Prep to Year 6.  

 Positive Behaviour for Learning   

Our school community has identified the following school wide expectations to teach and promote our high standards of responsible behaviour:   

• Be Respectful  
• Be Responsible  
• Be Resilient  
• Be Ready for Learning  

PB4L assemblies take place on Monday at 1.45pm followed by Second Step lessons.  

 Visitors 

 This week Tosca Grainger - Dee our School Counsellor is visiting us again in Weipa providing her service to St. Joseph's School from Monday 10th October – Friday 14th October.  

We also have Vicki Reimann- Psychologist from Cairns Catholic Education visiting this week. 

  Next week we have Lorraine Carroll - Speech Language Pathologist and Zinna Aylward - Occupational Therapist from Cairns Catholic Education visiting and supporting teachers and students. 

 In week 5 Tosca Grainger - Dee our School Counsellor will be visiting us again in Weipa providing her service to St. Joseph's School from Monday 31st October – Friday 4th November. 

  If you have any questions, please feel free to make contact with myself at a convenient time that suits. My email address is   mturner@cns.catholic.edu.au    
    

Kind Regards,    

Melanie Turner.