Welcome to our Week 7 Newsletter for Term 1. We are certainly racing towards the end of our first term, and we hope that the worst of the interruptions are behind us. We have settled into a routine in most classes with students and staff returning to school. Thank you for your help in following the requirements to keep our school healthy.
The nature play development is coming along well and students are seeing how this is being built. We hope to have this space open for use early next term.
The final part of our 3-6 Learning Block will be completed with what we call our ‘backyard’ project. This is the final stage of the building and will be fitted with art sinks, tables, an island bench, and barbeques for; Art, Science, Design and Technology and many other learning that requires these kinds of facilities. At Bethany we enjoy providing flexible learning opportunities for students to explore their strengths, interests and brilliance, and we look forward to the way this space will support this in a new way.
Athletics events and Cross Country have both been interrupted due to staffing and we will let you know if we are able to reschedule these events. Our Year 5 camp and our Reception swimming lessons have been postponed until later in the year. We continue to assess all events to ensure that we minimise health risks while optimising learning opportunities for students. We will keep you up to date as the year continues.
Choir begins again, and we are very excited to welcome Ms Grace Thang who is a vocal coach and will be leading choir for us this year. If you have not registered your child for choir, please register here. We will have Dental for School with us next week and if you have any questions, please call them to discuss the service.
Parent teacher interviews will be held on Thursday 7th April and Tuesday 12th April. These interviews will be held online. This will be a meeting with you and your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s progress. Each interview is 10 minutes long and you will receive a link via email so that you can book a time that works for your schedule. Please make sure that your email address is up to date to ensure you receive the invitation and we look forward to meeting with you online.
On Monday 11th April, we have a Pupil Free day to provide compulsory training for teachers about Keeping our Children safe. This day is to replace some time in January when we were unable to meet for Professional Development due to restrictions. Camp Australia OSHC is available for bookings on this day.
The term ends on Thursday 14th April with an early dismissal at 12:10pm. Temple Christian College also finish early as it is the day before Good Friday. Easter is one of the most important weekends in the Christian calendar. If you would like to attend an Easter service that weekend, Base Church hold services held in our Performing Arts Centre on Friday 15th April (Good Friday) at 10-11am and Sunday 17th April (Easter Sunday) at 10-11am. Base Church meets weekly on Sundays at 10am and you would be most welcome to attend.
I pray that you enjoy the wonderful weather and a restful weekend.
God bless,
Wendy Matear
Memory Verse:
Jesus answered, "I am the way the truth and the life."
John 14:6a
This term our Year 5 students have started Student Leadership, looking at the teaching of author and leadership mentor, John Maxwell. In their lessons they have been looking at the DISC personality types. In their last leadership lesson, they looked at the cost of being a leader, and were able to see that being a leader means they may have to give up things, such as their own personal time and effort in order to lead others.
This week the Year 5 students looked at truth and honesty as a value of leadership. They learned that people follow leaders who they can believe in and trust what they say and do. To be a great leader is to be a person of great integrity, and good leaders are trustworthy.
Road Safety
The Salisbury Council has been in contact with Bethany Christian School. They have provided a, “Parking Around Schools” brochure which has been included in this newsletter. As part of the council’s service to the schools in the area, Council Inspectors will be patrolling the school areas to assist in keeping our areas safe.
Thank you to everyone who has been practicing safe driving and road safety behaviours in order to keep our students safe.
Dealing with ‘Scary Stuff’
It seems that some really scary world and national events have bombarded us over the past few years, and recently the war in Ukraine, the additions of newer COVID19 variants and recent flooding events have been covered in detail in the news. Most of us now have had a personal experience with COVID19 and it has caused a disruption to our normal lives.
Children are really good at hearing and absorbing information around them, but often they are not old enough to process this information at the same level an adult will, leading them to become unduly fearful of the world around them.
The article from ‘Healthy Families - Beyond Blue’ has a terrific article about how you can talk about the ‘scary stuff’ our children will either see or hear on the news. Please also remember, if your family was affected by a traumatic event over the school break, we have support systems at school to help. Come in and let the office know if you would like to access some support and they will direct you to the correct person.
I do wish you and your family a very safe and successful start to the school year!
God bless you,
Deb Clifford
Talking About Scary Stuff in the News
Digital media means we increasingly witness wars, terrorist attacks, accidents and natural disasters as they happen – through our phones, TVs and social media feeds. And while this coverage helps us stay informed about what’s going on, it can be distressing – especially for kids.
It’s pretty much impossible to shield children completely from upsetting news. And keeping things secret can mean kids get snippets of information, adding to their sense of anxiety. Your best option is to monitor what kids are seeing and reading, and support them to understand what’s happening.
Be aware of what kids are watching
On average, adults in Australia spend nearly 100 hours watching TV or browsing online – and that’s not including work-related stuff. Think about how often kids are in the room or watching over your shoulder, and be proactive about switching off when they’re around.
Put some age-appropriate boundaries around how much news kids are seeing. For example, children under the age of six should have very limited or no access to upsetting media. As kids mature, supervise what they’re watching and talk through what you’re seeing together.
Help them understand
- Encourage your child to ask questions about what they’re seeing.
- Explain that sometimes scary things happen in the world and it can be hard to understand why – and it’s really normal to feel scared and worried.
- Often children aren’t able to fully understand what’s happening, and this can add to their distress. It can help to explain things in concrete ways, such as by showing them on a map how far away the event was from your neighbourhood, or explaining that what they’re seeing on TV is a replay of something that happened before, not a new incident.
Provide plenty of reassurance
Traumatic events can challenge our belief that the world is a safe place – whether we’re five or 50. Reassure your child that you’re looking out for them and help them see that these kinds of scary things happen very, very rarely.
Stick to your regular family routines – these help kids feel secure.
Focus on the helpers
Help your child see the positives – that there are lots of people working to fix the frightening situation and stop it happening again. Point out the helpers – the emergency workers and volunteers – as examples of the goodness in people.
Find something they can do to make a difference, such as writing a thank you letter to emergency workers or donating pocket money to a charity.
Take care of yourself
You don't need to be directly involved in a tragedy to feel its effects. It's important to take care of yourself so you can continue to support your family.
Allow yourself to feel. It’s a normal reaction to upsetting news. It shows compassion.
Limit how much news you watch if you’re becoming pre-occupied or feeling overwhelmed.
Talk to others about how this event has affected you.
Calm yourself. Go for walk. Take deep breaths. Do things that relax you.
Think helpfully. Tragic things happen but remember most of the time we’re safe and most people are good.
Take care of yourself. Sleep. See friends and family. Do things you enjoy.
Re-direct your energy into things that will make a positive difference. Donate money. Volunteer your time. Raise awareness about the response efforts and available support.
Don’t be afraid to seek professional support if you need it.
Children often learn how to feel about something by watching and modelling adults’ reactions. Share your feelings, but show that you’re managing them. If you’re feeling upset or distressed, talk privately with another adult you trust or a health professional.
When children are confronted with something stressful, like news of a traumatic event, they’re not always able to express their feelings in the same way adults can. Instead, kids show how they’re feeling through their behaviour.
Common reactions include:
becoming clingier
having more tantrums or outbursts
acting younger than their age
not sleeping as well
being more irritable
talking more about death and dying.
If your child is acting differently and you’re worried about their reaction to distressing news, seek support from a health professional or contact the Beyond Blue Support Service.
Year 2 - 6 | Nominations Open
The BCS Choir is a group of Year 2-6s who love to sing. It is a great opportunity, no matter your current ability, to learn to sing, learn about music and to create amazing things as a team. We meet each Wednesday in the PAC balcony with the vocal coach Grace Thang and a team of BCS Staff.
Choir takes place on Wednesdays from 3:15-4:15pm
Students need to be picked up from the Performing Arts Centre foyer at 4:15pm. Please also observe the 1.5m social-distancing rule while waiting around other adults. Please ensure that you are no later than 4:30pm as there is limited staff onsite after this time. If your child is booked into OSHC we will walk them over and sign them in. Another important note is that the playground is not allowed to be used after school, even with adult supervision (this includes siblings of choir students).
If your child is interested in being part of our choir, can you please complete the form below. Fees are added directly to your school fees. Fees are $5 per week.
We hope the program will run between 6 and 8 weeks each term. We ask that your child commits to attending the full term. We are waiting to confirm the start date for this term due to COVID-19 cases.
Please use the link to go to the online form to nominate.
If you would like any further information, please contact pwilson@bethany.sa.edu.au (click the link to send an email)
We are looking forward to you joining us!
The BCS Choir Team.
For children aged 2-12
Our programs are 8 weeks long and run each school term throughout the year. For more information, scan the QR code or call 0422 075 500.
Playgroup has re-commenced. Please see the flyer below for more details.
SACSA will be holding their annual Soccer Carnival in Term 2. Students who would like to trial, and are eligible please use the link to nominate.
Below are the expected dates for the Carnival(s):
SACSA | Year 3/4 Carnival
Tuesday 7th June | Wk 6 | T2
SACSA Year 5|6 Carnival
Wednesday 8th June | Wk 6 | T2
Year 3|4 Tryouts:
Monday 28|03 and 04 |04 | Weeks 8 & 9, T1 | 3.20 - 4.20pm
Year 5|6 Tryouts:
Wednesday 30|03 & 06|04 | Weeks 8 & 9, T1 | 3.20 - 4.20pm
BCS Oval | TCC Oval
Meet near oval verandah before the beginning of tryouts.
Reception – Year 6
(must already be 5 years old)
Bethany Christian School offers a Weekly Basketball program.
This is a user pay program staffed by approved volunteer coaches
| Sport | Grade | Div | Team | Opponent | Coach's Pick | Match Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netball | U08 | U08 | Wild Stars | Salisbury North Hawks Green | Elise B | L | 1 | 6 |
| Netball | U10 | U10 | Bright Stars | Renegades Gold | Ira P | L | 0 | 6 |
| Netball | U12 | U12 | Diamonds | Forfeit | - | |||
| Basketball | U08 | Blue | Bulls | 76ers Dolphins | Blake H | W | 8 | 7 |
| Basketball | U10 | Orange | Boomers | Kings Eagles | Charlie M | W | 13 | 7 |
| Basketball | U10 | Blue | Blazers | Forfeit | - | |||
| Basketball | U12 | 3Blue | Lakers | Forfeit | - | |||
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 28th March to Friday 8th April | School Dental Visits |
| Thursday 7th April | Parent Teacher Interviews |
| Monday 11th April | Pupil Free Day |
| Tuesday 12th April | Parent Teacher Interviews |
| Thursday 14th April | Last day of term - 12.10pm dismissal |
| 2022 Term Dates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Monday 14th February to Thursday 14th April | |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 3rd May to Friday 8th July | |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 26th July to Friday 30th September | |
| Term 4 | Monday 17th October to Wednesday 14th December | |
| Class | Days | |
|---|---|---|
| ELC | Monday to Friday | |
| RHan | Tuesday and Thursday | |
| RHay | Monday and Friday | |
| RK | Tuesday and Thursday | |
| 1TC | Thursday and Friday | |
| 1D | Thursday and Friday | |
| 1P | Thursday and Friday | |
| 2WS | Thursday and Friday | |
| 2R | Thursday and Friday | |
| 2Z | Thursday and Friday | |
| 3HR | Monday and Friday | |
| 3M | Monday and Thursday | |
| 3T | Tuesday and Friday | |
| 4G | Tuesday and Thursday | |
| 4PS | Monday and Wednesday | |
| 4W | Monday and Friday | |
| 5R | Wednesday and Friday | |
| 5K | Tuesday and Thursday | |
| 5T | Wednesday and Friday | |
| 6SC | Wednesday and Friday | |
| 6T | Wednesday and Friday | |
| 6W | Wednesday and Friday |
PO Box 2125
Salisbury Downs SA 5108
37 Countess St
Paralowie, SA, 5108
Newsletter published: Friday, March 25 2022
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Keeping your child safe
