Shining Lights Week 7, Term 3, 31/8/2023
The Season of Creation
Last week, Shane Giles, Eileen Reckord and myself attended the Key Leaders’ Day in Canberra, along with priests, principals and RECs from across the Archdiocese. The focus of the day was Faith in Learning: examining the centrality of Encounter, Discipleship and Mission within Catholic education and how the Spirit of God “disrupts our lives” and inspires us to move from head knowledge to heart vocation.
In the afternoon we heard from a panel of teachers, principals and CE staff who attended World Youth Day recently in Portugal or visited the Holy Land earlier in the year. They were inspired by the shared experience to reflect on how they can be more intentional and invitational in the way that they help others encounter Christ through dialogue and walking together. It was fantastic to catch up with Fr Michael Lim, former parish priest of Bega whose own conversion from Buddhism to Catholicism and sharing of Christian meditation has influenced so many.
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)
Let Justice and Peace flow, the theme for this year’s Season of Creation, which runs from 1st September to St Francis’ Feast Day 4th October, is a great summation of the purpose of Catholic Education.
“We are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. The urgency grows and we must make visible peace with Earth and on Earth, at the same time that justice calls us to repentance and a change of attitude and actions. As we join the river of justice and peace with others then hope is created instead of despair.” https://seasonofcreation.org/
To our Lumen Christi Catholic College Parents - thank you !
It brings us great joy to acknowledge and express our heartfelt gratitude to the remarkable parents who have generously shared their talents with our primary students. Our school community is enriched and uplifted by the diverse skills and passions that parents have brought to our learning environment.
At Lumen Christi, we believe that education extends beyond the classroom walls. The involvement of parents in nurturing and guiding our students is invaluable, and when parents bring their unique talents to the table, it creates a dynamic and engaging atmosphere for our young learners.
Over the past months, we've witnessed a wonderful array of talents being shared with our primary students. From informative health lessons given by Stephanie Parry and clay dish making with Alice Ross, to set design with Sarah Bowden working with student designs to bring them to life by sketching them on our Shrek sets ready for students to paint. We also have a wide range of parents who come into the classes and help with reading groups and activities within the classroom.
The impact of your contributions reaches far beyond the lessons themselves. Your involvement shows our students the importance of community, cooperation, and collaboration. It instils in them a sense of belonging and teaches them that every individual has something unique to offer. As our students grow, they will remember these experiences and carry forward the spirit of giving and sharing.
We'd like to express our deepest gratitude to all the parents who have shared and continue to share their talents with Primary. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we applaud your dedication to enriching the education of our students. Together, we are building a strong foundation for their future success, and your involvement is an essential piece of that puzzle.
As we move forward, we look forward to more exciting and enlightening moments with our parents. We encourage all parents who have a skill or talent to share to reach out and be a part of this collaborative educational journey.
Thank you once again for your remarkable contributions. Your talents have made a lasting impact on our primary students, and we are truly grateful for your presence in our Lumen Christi Catholic College family.
Sleep
It is easy to underestimate the importance of sleep. Yet, getting a good night’s sleep lays a good foundation for growth, learning, development, behaviour, mood, health and day-to-day functioning.
How much sleep do young people actually need each night?
The amount of sleep we need changes. Everyone is different, but as a rough guide, young people need the following amounts of sleep every night:
- ages 3 to 5: 10 to 13 hours
- ages 6 to 13: 9 to 11 hours
- ages 14 to 17: 8 to 10 hours
Not having enough sleep or getting poor quality sleep can affect how children and teenagers learn as well as having a significant impact on their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
How can we help our young people to get the sleep they need?
- Create a sleep schedule: Making sure that young people go to bed at a time which will allow them to get the amount of sleep they need. It helps if you can stick to the same bedtime and wake-up times. Though it can be tempting to try and ‘catch up’ on missed sleep at the weekend, it is recommended to stick to the same schedule every day.
- Create and stick to a bedtime routine: Following the same routine every day can be helpful in telling our brain that it is time to get ready for sleep. Your routine could include: a bath or shower, changing into comfy pyjamas, brushing teeth, reading a book or spending quiet time in the bedroom before turning out lights and going to sleep.
- Help with winding down: Busy people need some time to relax before bed. Consider playing soft music, reading together or using an app such as Smiling Mind to practice some quiet mindfulness before bed.
- Make sure the bedroom is set up for sleep: Ensuring bedrooms are dark and quiet is a signal to our brain that it is time for sleep. However, if your child or teenager is anxious or afraid at night, use a night light.
- Avoid stimulants: Making sure to avoid tea, coffee, chocolate and sports drinks, especially in the afternoon.
- Turn off technology: Turning off computers, tablets and television at least 1 hour before bedtime should help to improve quality of sleep.
Thanks for reading – Sam & Jess, College Counsellors.
