Dear Parents,

Over the past few years we have had a number of creative labels such as “Affluenza”, “Activity Overload” and “Downsizing”, which were meant to bait our curiosity and have us investigate what was behind the label. Amongst last year’s “creative labels” was “Nature Deficit Disorder”, which sounds as if it is describing a medical condition but is really a description of the human cost of separation from nature.

Richard Louv in his book, “Last Child in the Woods”, coined the phrase to draw our attention to how our “disconnect” with nature is affecting today’s children. Another phrase coined by the author is “Protected House Arrest” and this was to point out how parents’ fear for the safety of their children does not allow their children to play outdoors as they once did. Many children today are hooked into the electronic umbilical cord of the “Modern Lifestyle” and have little unstructured time for natural play, when they are in real contact with nature and not simply bouncing or hitting a ball on concrete or asphalt.

Research tells us that today’s children, glued to video screens and other electronic outlets, are losing touch with nature. Paediatricians warn that this generation of children could be the first to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Obesity, stress and depression are on the increase in our young people, while research has shown that getting outdoors and into real contact with nature, will reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

“Unlike television, nature does not steal time, it amplifies it.” Richard Louv. Today’s children can talk about rainforests and wetlands and their importance as habitats to some of the rarest animals on earth; young children can even explain the difference between endangered and extinct.

Children today have more information about nature and the environment than we had at their age but, sadly, they have little or no relationship with nature. If they are deprived of time outdoors, they are deprived of nature.

Another coined term is “Controlled Risk”, whereby parents go outdoors with their children but allow their children unencumbered time to roam around, explore and make contact with nature. We can’t keep our children so “safe” and controlled that they can’t experience with all their senses the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Nature has restorative qualities and can give busy families a sense of rebalance and connection. Much does not happen to our children’s imagination and inner-life, if we always keep them indoors.

There is something in encounters with nature that nourishes us from the inside out, that builds reverence for life and allows us to rejoice in our own aliveness. Time outside allows us to see that we are part of the unfolding of something beyond ourselves; we are part of the great story of creation and savouring the natural world can be a healing prayer of gratitude.

“God, our Father and Creator of us all, help us to be better aware of our connectedness with the earth and our natural environment and of the relationship between visitor and host. Help us to cherish the earth’s treasures and to be grateful for the wonder of it all. Amen.”

PROUILLE NEWSletter

Prouille Catholic School 5 Water Street Wahroonga NSW 2076

Phone: 02 9489 3233 prouille@dbb.catholic.edu.au www.prouilledbb.catholic.edu.au

22nd

May 2019 Week 4 Term 2

It certainly has been a busy week for our Year 3 and Year 5 students with their participation in NAPLAN last week. My thanks to Mrs. Townsend, Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Neilson for all their class

preparation for NAPLAN. Special thank you to Mrs. Townsend for organising the online component of the test. Thank you also to parents for ensuring the students were calm, rested and ready for the tests. Congratulations to the children for their focus, enthusiasm and positive attitude as well as their flexibility with completing the test online.

P&F MEETING Unfortunately the P&F meeting this morning was cancelled. Apologies to everyone for any inconvenience caused. We will reschedule the meeting and forward you those details.

DIOCESAN CROSS COUNTRY Congratulations to Jenson Whitby, Yohann Pereira, Billy-Mae McGrath and Matthew Ringrose who made it to the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival. We wish these children the best of luck as they go to compete in this event on Tuesday 28

th May at Fagan Park, Galston.

ILLNESS Parents, at present we have many children who have fallen ill to the Flu and various viral infections. Could we please ask your assistance in keeping children at home until they are fully recovered and fit enough to resume school.

LEARNING TOGETHER PLAYGROUPS @ PROUILLE Commencing next Tuesday 28

th May, Prouille will be holding the first of its Learning

Together Playgroups. This will be run in the style of a Pop-Up Play situation. This will be facilitated by Prouille Staff and Early Learning Educators from CSO. This is a free service from 9.00am-10.30am. All pre-schoolers are invited to attend, there is no need to book.

YEARS 5 & 6 EXCURSION TO CANBERRA On Thursday and Friday our students in Years 5 & 6 will be travelling to Canberra to complement their study on the Government in Australia. The children will be accompanied by, Mrs. Jo Neilson and Mrs. Louise O’Brien-Pounde. We wish them a very safe trip and look forward to hearing about their learning on their return.

SCHOOL SAFETY WHILST ENTERING AND LEAVING SCHOOL Parents the staff at Prouille are concerned about the safety of all the students with regards to entering and departing the school. We ask that you do not enter or leave the school via the gate and driveway that leads to the staff carpark. You must enter and leave the school via the main gate.

Another safety reminder is to cross Water St. at the crossing, do not weave through the traffic.

Parents are not permitted to drive into the school and park unless they have the Principal’s permission. Parents please take the time to read the following article regarding Kiss and Ride rules. It has been brought to our attention that a number of parents have been leaving their cars unattended in the Kiss and Ride Zone – please note that the driver must stay with their car. Total stopping time is a maximum of 2 minutes. PREMERIERS READING CHALLENGE Congratulations to the following students who have completed the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge: Sofia Campisi, Annabelle Goodwin, Sophie Graham, Zoe Haigh, Monica Maric, Alisha Senn, Lewis Willet, Madeleine Goodwin, Freddie Gosling and Evie Kirby.

Congratulations to all the children who received awards last week

CLASS

K Kangaroo Benjamin Neves Botelho, Alisha Senn

K Koala Fernando Carrillo, Kobe Johnston, Dallas Palmer

1 Rosella Hannah Hedjripour, Abigail Gorman, Zander Brinkmann

2 Wombat Kate Chappel, Emma Murray

2 Emu Harrison Duque, Emily Littleford

3 Platypus Ava Gillies, Jack Graham, Dar

4 Kookaburra Henry Quilkey, Harrison Luca

4/5 Echidna Xavier Munce, Evie Kirby

6 Wallaby Simone Thake, Holly Paul

STAR OF THE WEEK Congratulations to Harrison Dillon Yr 3 Platypus who is our Star of the Week. Please visit the school walkway to see Harrison’s fabulous work!

Yours sincerely

Sue Bevan Ms. Sue Bevan PRINCIPAL

UPCOMING DIARY DATES

A WEEK OF NAPLAN Although we battled with illness throughout the week and on the first day computer glitches, the Year 3 and 5 students survived NAPLAN 2019. As teachers we were very proud of all the students, who for the first time completed the exams online (except Year 3 writing). The students listened to instructions helping them to navigate the

website successfully. Most impressive of all was the concentration all students showed. Well

done Years 3 and 5. We are extremely proud of you all! God Bless Karen Townsend

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Special Dates for your Diary

Wednesday 22nd

May

Maths Olympiad 1 & Maths Games 1

P&F Meeting @ 7.00pm in School Library

Thursday 23rd

May – Friday 24th

May

Yr. 5 & 6 Trip to Canberra

Friday 24th

May

Assembly @ 2.40pm

Tuesday 28th

May

Learning Together Playgroups @ Prouille 9.00 -10.30am All pre-schoolers welcome!

Dear Parents and Friends, FIRST EUCHARIST We are keeping all of these children in our thoughts and prayers during this beautiful time in their Sacramental journey. Thank you to Mrs Sally Oong (Parish Sacramental Coordinator), Fr David and Fr Anselam, Mrs Catherine Davidson (Our Year 3 Teacher) and all our parent volunteers for the work they do in making this program such a success.

Sacramental Preparation Groups:

Saturday 25th May @ 3:45pm

Followed by a Mass at Church.

Children will be partaking in this celebration on Saturday 1st

June @ 5pm Mass or Sunday 2nd

June @ 9:15am.

MOTHER’S DAY STALL AND LITURGY THANK YOU to all of our beautiful families for joining us in our celebration of the significant women in our lives, our Mums! We are so grateful to you all, for all that you do and all that you are. We hope you had a memorable weekend surrounded by love, laughs and happiness.

WEEK WITHOUT WORDS – Stall from Week 3 Wednesday, Thursday and Friday! The Week Without Words Campaign is a wonderful way for Prouille to walk in the shoes of children, living in our community, who have difficulty communicating.

All of our Year 6 2019 Leaders attended a Student Awareness Session with Mrs O’Brien-Pounde on Tuesday 7

th May, 2019 at St Lucy’s. By all accounts, it was a very special morning, with the

children engaging in various activities and discussions about our friends at St Lucy’s.

Our Week Without Words Stall (lead by our 2019 Mission Leaders and beautiful helpers!) happened last week – THANK YOU to all who so generously contributed to such a worthwhile cause!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND PASTORAL CARE NEWS

ST VINCENT DE PAUL WINTER APPEAL On Monday 13

th May we began our St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal.

There are many people within our community who need support for costs of food, clothing and heating during the cold winter months. Those who are homeless or marginalised especially feel the effects of winter and they often develop serious illnesses.

For many people, today is filled with despair and hopelessness. But with your support, we can help bring hope, comfort and relief to their lives. The Winter Appeal is for people in need of clean warm clothing, blankets, beanies, gloves, socks and non-perishable food. All contributions will be presented to our St Vincent de Paul parish group at our whole school Mass on Friday 28

th June –

the Feast of the Sacred Heart @ 11:30am.

Your child would’ve received a note earlier in the Term regarding the Winter Appeal. The specific items to be brought in as well as tokens have been supplied in the letter. Please take a moment to read through it and continue the role of being a ‘missionary disciple’ in this vital cause. YEAR 1 CLASS LITURGY WITH FR ANSELAM On Tuesday 14

th May (Week 3), Year 1 were joined by Fr Anselam for a Liturgy in our School

Chapel from 2:10pm. As always, it was a lovely experience for all who were able to come – thank you!

Year 3 Class Mass with Fr Anselam On Tuesday 11

th June (Week 7), Year 3 will be joined by Fr Anselam for a Mass in our School

Chapel from 2:10pm. As always, all parents and friends are welcome to join us in celebration!

WALKING THE WAY PARENT REFLECTION MORNING – Cancelled Due to a lack of RSVPs, our Parent Reflection Morning based around ‘Wellbeing’ for this Wednesday 22

nd May has been cancelled. We will inform you of any other Parent Reflection

opportunities throughout the year.

Quote of the Week

This week, we place our minds in the headspace of how fortunate we truly are to have all the necessities of life – and more! We think of those who are far less fortunate than us and we pray that they may be hopeful and comforted in our actions of Discipleship this Winter;

Warm regards,

Jessica Russell

Religious Education Coordinator

LOST PROPERTY Sports jacket with the name Elly Williams at the school office – if this belongs to your child please have them collect it.

MOTHER’S DAY AT PROUILLE 2019

SCHOOL NEWS