Welcome back to Term 4 - Motivation and Organisation

We warmly welcome you to our last term of the year, and we especially welcome our new students and families to the Loreto community! We hope you all enjoyed the Spring break and took some time recharging the batteries in preparation for what will no doubt be a busy term for us all.

Mental Health Month: This year’s theme is ‘Tune In’

October is Mental Health Month. At Loreto, we have planned a series of activities and conversations to help educate our community about the importance of understanding mental health issues. It is important that we learn about the role we all play in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, as well as about how to look after our mental health using protective strategies. At this week’s assembly, Ms Emily Sharpe (School Counsellor-Psychologist) and Isobel Chambers, Year 12 Kendall, introduced the school to the theme and outlined some of the activities that are planned for the next two weeks during House time. As always, we come from an educational lens and anticipate that the activities will generate much discussion among the students and their teachers.

Preparing to return to school after remote learning

As we transition out of lockdown from Monday, the return to school following remote learning is going to require a significant adjustment for our students. Look out for some tips and suggestions that you may wish to discuss with your daughter in the Week 3 Pastoral newsletter.

Local Free Counselling support for teenagers and families: KYDS 

During next week’s House session, we plan to hear from Nick Kenny, counsellor and speaker from KYDS organisation. KYDS is a non-profit, local, free and confidential counselling service for young people. Nick will continue our discussions about Mental Health Month on the theme of ‘tuning in’ to ourselves and the world around us. He will cover maintaining motivation, protective factors for our mental health and appropriate ways to seek support as we transition back to onsite learning. Nick will encourage the students to understand their boundaries when it comes to supporting their friends and not feel as though they need to provide therapy for their peers.

Please consider supporting KYDS in their current drive for donations in their ‘Loud and Clear Campaign’ which aims to raise money to employ more counsellors, providing up to 300 free sessions a year for our young people.

KYDS are also offering free webinars for parents and teenagers during October as part of their “Loud and Clear” campaign. Click here to see a list of webinars in October, including details and links to register.

Tips to assist your daughter as she begins the term in remote learning

During these first few weeks of remote learning in Term 4, it is important to have a routine that sets you up for a good day of learning. Jumping out of bed at 8:10am and being online by 8:25am is perhaps not the best way to start the day. We suggest a more mindful and gentle way to start the day. You could consider the following a routine for learning:

• 7:00am – Shower and breakfast
• 8:00am – Sit at your desk, log on and plan the day ahead. Check your emails, Zoom invitations and respond to your teachers where necessary. Make a to do list for the day to get organised and have your books, Student Handbook and notes ready for the lessons ahead.
• 8:15am – Quench your thirst and remember to put your mobile phone away during class time.
• 8:20am – Log on to class happy in the knowledge you are ready for the day.

It is important that we start the term well so please encourage your daughter to adopt this routine while we learn from home and take regular stretches and mind breaks away from the desk.

Butterfly Foundation: Body Kind Families

It can be difficult to model positive body image to our children if we are finding it hard to be accepting and appreciative of our own body. But striving to have a positive and kind relationship with your body is a really positive step for yourself and for your family.

Body Kind Families is a health promotion initiative from the body image experts at Butterfly Foundation, who we work with at Loreto. It includes a free video series to help strengthen your self-compassion and body appreciation skills. See below for how to join Body Kind Families:

• JOIN by clicking here.
• Receive an email linking you to the Body Kind Families resources.
• Explore the videos, factsheets, family resources and more!
• Practise being body kind as a family; kind to your own body and to others.

In addition to the content on body appreciation and self-compassion, you’ll find other videos on important body image related topics, tips sheets and family activities to encourage conversation and explore being body kind. Not sure what it means to Body Kind? Check out the organisation's clip here.

Hillsbus School Services

All Hillsbus school services will recommence from Monday 18 October 2021.

From that date, Hillsbus will also recommence School Term timetables for all public routes for students who use public routes to school.

Finally, from the 18th October, route 610X peak extensions to and from Kellyville will be curtailed to operate between Castle Hill and the City. There will also be minor timing changes to routes: 602X, 607X, 610X, 611, 612X, 613X, 614X, 615X, 616X, 619, 620X, 622, 642X and 652X. Schools that are directly affected by any of these changes have been informed with new school advice sheets.

Travellers are encouraged to plan their trips on Transport NSW Info or call 131500 for travel options.

Changes to the pedestrian access at Thornleigh Station

Please find attached information relating to the pedestrian access change at Thornleigh Station.

Following the one month closure of the Benowie Walkway in August, the closure of the walkway is extended until April 2022, to allow for the construction work in and around the Benowie Walkway.

Please note that there are detour signs on site to assist with pedestrians through the detour route on Pennant Hills Road, Wells Street and through to The Esplanade. 

Mrs Marysa Boland and Mr Justin Madigan

Deans of Pastoral Care